S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  4270

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 2, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. BRODSKY, CAHILL, HOYT, GALEF, PAULIN -- Multi-
  Sponsored by -- M. of A.   COLTON -- read once  and  referred  to  the
  Committee on Election Law

            CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY

proposing  amendments  to  sections  1,  2,  5, 6 and 8 and adding a new
  section 10 to article 2 of the constitution, in relation to elections

  Section 1.  Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article
2 of the constitution be amended by adding a new undesignated  paragraph
to read as follows:
  THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUALS TO VOTE IN ANY STATE ELECTION OR ANY ELECTION
OF  ANY  SUBDIVISION  OR SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICT WITHIN THE STATE SHALL
NOT BE ABRIDGED BY THE IMPOSITION OF A PROPERTY QUALIFICATION.
  S 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 2 of article  2  of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
  S  2. The legislature [may] SHALL, by general law, provide a manner in
which, and the time and place at which, qualified  voters  who,  on  the
occurrence of any election, may be absent from the county of their resi-
dence or, if residents of the city of New York, from the city, and qual-
ified  voters  who,  on the occurrence of any election, may be unable to
appear personally at the polling place [because of illness  or  physical
disability,]  may  vote  and  for the return and canvass of their votes.
THE LEGISLATURE SHALL BY LAW ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE RESOURCES  ARE  AVAIL-
ABLE TO NOTIFY THE VOTERS OF THIS RIGHT.
  S  3.  Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 5 of article 2 of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
  S 5. Laws shall be made for ascertaining, by proper proofs, the  citi-
zens  who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage hereby established,
and  for  the  registration  of  voters;  which  registration  shall  be
completed [at least ten days before each election] AT ANY TIME UP TO THE
ELECTION.  Such  registration shall not be required for town and village
elections except by express provision of law.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD89088-01-9
              

A. 4270                             2

  S 4. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 6 of article  2  of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
  S  6.  The  legislature  [may]  SHALL  provide  by law for a system or
systems of registration whereby upon personal application a voter may be
registered and his or her registration continued so long as  he  or  she
shall  remain  qualified to vote from an address within the jurisdiction
of the board with which such voter is registered.
  S 5. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 8 of article  2  of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
  S  8.  All  laws  creating, regulating or affecting boards or officers
charged with the duty of qualifying voters, or of  distributing  ballots
to  voters,  or  of receiving, recording or counting votes at elections,
shall [secure equal representation of the two political  parties  which,
at  the  general  election  next preceding that for which such boards or
officers are to serve, cast the highest and the next highest  number  of
votes.  All  such  boards  and officers shall be appointed or elected in
such manner, and upon the nomination of  such  representatives  of  said
parties  respectively,  as  the legislature may direct. Existing laws on
this subject  shall  continue  until  the  legislature  shall  otherwise
provide.  This  section  shall  not apply to town, or village elections]
ENSURE THAT MEMBERS OF SUCH BOARDS ARE CHOSEN THROUGH A MERIT  SELECTION
PROCESS.
  S  6. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That article 2 of the constitu-
tion be amended by adding a new section 10 to read as follows:
  S 10. THE LEGISLATURE SHALL ENACT LAWS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE OUTCOME
OF STATE ELECTIONS THAT ARE NOT SUBSTANTIALLY AND UNDULY  INFLUENCED  BY
SPECIAL  INTERESTS  AND  CONCENTRATIONS OF WEALTH BY SETTING APPROPRIATE
CONTRIBUTION AND EXPENDITURE LIMITS.
  S 7.  Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be
referred to the first regular legislative session  convening  after  the
next  succeeding  general  election  of members of the assembly, and, in
conformity with  section  1  of  article  19  of  the  constitution,  be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.