BILL NUMBER: S600

SPONSOR: BENJAMIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to requiring the state
board of elections to develop a program to be administered by all boards
of elections to notify voters of certain information where their area
has been redistricted

 
PURPOSE:

This bill ensures that, following redistricting, citizens are informed
that their district may have undergone changes.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one amends section 3-102 of the election law by adding a new
subdivision I6-b that instructs the state board of elections to require
local boards of elections to develop a program to notify voters that
their election districts may have changed.
              

Section two sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, following the decennial United States Census, governmental
district lines and boundaries at all levels of government are redrawn
and reshaped. Districts are altered based not only on population, but
also on demographics and controlling political party.

While the process itself may receive attention, rarely are the changes
to existing districts specified to citizens. Often, citizens, some of
whom have been lifetime residents of their districts, are removed from
one district and placed into another without notification. For these, a
change in their district or representative for whom they have voted for
many years leads to confusion on Election Day. Lacking proper notifica-
tion can result in decreased trust in the government, confusion during
the electoral process and low voter turnout.

This bill would require the State Board of Elections to develop a
program to notify voters of these changes. Specifically, the bill would
direct the State Board of Elections to develop a notification program
that includes, but not limited to mailings, online, telephone or other
resources available to assist voters.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S.7759/A274
2017-18: A.3539 - Referred to Election Law
2015-16: A.578 - Referred to Election Law
2013-14: A.5131 - Referred to Election Law

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect immediately.