Election legislation roundup: New York State Assembly

As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 160 election-related bills in the New York State Assembly since the beginning of the year. Of the 160, Ballotpedia tracked 10 from April 3-9. Republicans sponsored six, while Democrats sponsored four. Five of 10 bills are below:   

• NY A06076: Relates to absentee voting in nursing homes and senior citizen residences; requires board of inspectors to deliver and help complete applications for absentee ballots to residents of such facilities, Assembly Member David Weprin (D). 
  • As introduced, this bill:
    • Requires the board of elections to deliver an additional supply of related absentee ballots, absentee ballot envelopes, and applications for absentee ballots to a board of inspectors attending residential facilities.
    • Requires the board of inspectors to deliver an application for an absentee ballot to any facility resident who does not have an absentee ballot and who requests an application.
    • Allows the inspectors to assist residents who request assistance to complete the application.
    • Requires an inspector to deliver an absentee ballot and envelope to anyone completing the application.
    • Requires inspectors to obtain and deliver appropriate ballots if a resident submits an application for a different election district.
• NY A06132: Provides for conditional registration of voters during early voting, Assembly Member Robert Carroll (D).
  • As introduced, this bill:
    • Requires the election inspector or poll clerk to ensure an affidavit voter seals the envelope, and seal it for him or her if the voter does not seal it.
    • Provides that an affidavit ballot must be counted if a valid voter registration was received at least 10 days before the election.
    • Allows residents to complete a “conditional registration” to vote at early voting sites up to ten days before election day.
    • Outlines procedures for the board of elections related to the conditional registration.
    • Click the hyperlinked bill number above for more information.
• NY A06194: Requires bi-monthly reporting on deceased voters and certain persons subject to forfeiture of the right to vote in order to accurately maintain the statewide voter registration list, Assembly Members Karl Brabenec (R) and Michael Norris (R).
  • As introduced, this bill requires the state board of elections to obtain and transmit to local boards of elections bimonthly a list of deceased voters and persons subject to forfeiture of the right to vote to remove the names from voter registration lists. Each local board of elections shall remove these names from voter registration lists within 14 days of receiving them.
• NY A06207: Establishes a notarial recordkeeping and reporting exemption for acts relating to the designation and nomination of candidates, Assembly Members Karl Brabenec (R) and Michael Norris (R).
  • As introduced, this bill exempts a notary public that performs a transaction related to the designation and nomination of candidates from needing to record or maintain the transaction.
• NY A06315: Restructures the form of ballot proposals on election ballots; requires the creation and distribution of ballot publicity pamphlets; creates ballot proposal hearings, Assembly Member Keith Brown (R).
  • As introduced, this bill:
    • Requires ballot proposals to include an official title and description on the ballot, and that they appear on the ballot in the order determined by the secretary of state.
    • Requires the secretary of state to assign each proposal a number and use the number for identification purposes on election materials.
    • Requires an explanation for a “yes” or “no” vote be printed on the ballot.
    • Codifies specific ballot design requirements for proposals, including location of title, number, description, and word limits for the description.

During the week of April 3-9, Ballotpedia tracked 65 House election-related bills nationally. As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 1,360 House bills nationally. Ballotpedia tracked the most House bills this year in the Texas House of Representatives with 185, while Ballotpedia tracked the fewest House bills in the Massachusetts House of Representatives with zero.

As of April 9, Ballotpedia has tracked 609 House bills in Democratic trifectas and 596 House bills in Republican trifectas. A trifecta is when one political party holds the governorship and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. Ballotpedia has tracked 155 House bills in states where neither party holds trifecta control.

The New York House is scheduled to be in session from Jan. 4 to June 8 this year. In 2022, Ballotpedia tracked 226 House bills related to election administration. Seven of these bills passed both chambers and five were enacted into law. New York is a Democratic trifecta.

Additional reading: 

• New York State Assembly
• New York
• State Politics

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