Requires a board of elections to establish at least one ballot drop-off location in its jurisdiction; requires the ballot drop boxes to be placed 45 days before the election.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9626A
SPONSOR: Carroll P TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to absentee ballot drop
boxes
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require boards of elections to establish at least one
absentee ballot drop box location per county or city.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the election law to require boards of elections to
establish at least one absentee ballot drop box for each county or city.
Absentee ballot drop boxes would be placed at public facilities at the
discretion of the board of elections.
Section two is the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The a-print amendments would remove the provision requiring an addi-
tional absentee ballot drop box to be established for every fifteen
thousand registered voters in a jurisdiction.
JUSTIFICATION:
The United States Postal Service recently implemented new postmarking
regulations that reflect when mail is processed rather than dropped off.
These changes will increase voter uncertainty about whether mailed
absentee ballots will be valid and counted. At a time when our democrat-
ic processes are under attack, voters must have the utmost confidence
and trust in our election administration. By requiring the board of
elections to establish and maintain secure absentee ballot drop boxes,
we will ensure voters have a clear and reliable method of casting absen-
tee ballots and therefore preserve public trust in our elections.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law and shall apply to elections conducted on and after such
effective date. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.
