Assembly Bill A1259

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Relates to watchers during election

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2017-A1259 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Elections
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §8-500, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2015-2016: A10317
2019-2020: A1525

2017-A1259 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to watchers during election; any two or more candidates on the ballot and any political committee may have for each election district three watchers at any one time, not more than one of whom may be within the guard rail at any one time.

2017-A1259 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1259
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 11, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Election Law
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election  law,  in  relation to watchers during
   election
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1. Section 8-500 of the election law, as amended by chapter 9
 of the laws of 1978, subdivisions 1 and 3 as amended by chapter  373  of
 the  laws  of  1978,  and subdivision 4 as amended by chapter 254 of the
 laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   § 8-500. Watchers; provision for. 1. At any general, special, town  or
 village  election,  any  party  committee  [or] AND ANY independent body
 whose candidates are upon the ballot, [and at any primary election,  any
 two  or  more  candidates and any political committee] may have for each
 election district three watchers at any one time, not more than  one  of
 whom  may  be  within  the guard rail at any one time. Watchers shall be
 appointed by the [chairman] CHAIR OR OTHER OFFICER of  any  such  party,
 committee or independent body [or by the candidates].
   2.  AT  ANY  PRIMARY  ELECTION,  ANY  PARTY COMMITTEE, ANY TWO OR MORE
 CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT AND ANY POLITICAL COMMITTEE MAY HAVE  FOR  EACH
 ELECTION  DISTRICT  THREE WATCHERS AT ANY ONE TIME, NOT MORE THAN ONE OF
 WHOM MAY BE WITHIN THE GUARD RAIL AT ANY ONE  TIME.  WATCHERS  SHALL  BE
 APPOINTED  BY THE CHAIR OR OTHER OFFICER OF ANY SUCH PARTY, COMMITTEE OR
 BY ANY TWO CANDIDATES.
   3. Watchers may be present at  the  polling  place  at  least  fifteen
 minutes  before  the  unlocking and examination of any voting machine or
 ballot box at the opening of the polls, until after the signing  of  the
 inspectors' returns and proclamation of the result.
   [3.]  4.  The  appointment  of watchers for any election shall be by a
 certificate in writing issued by the [chairman or secretary of the poli-
 tical  party  or  independent  body,  or  the   candidates]   APPOINTING
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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