NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2057A

Senate Bill S2057A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Includes a statement on the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special presidential voters for signature affirmation

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Assembly 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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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 30, 2024	referred to election law delivered to assembly passed senate
May 21, 2024	amended on third reading 2057a
May 20, 2024	advanced to third reading
May 16, 2024	2nd report cal.
May 15, 2024	1st report cal.1147
Jan 03, 2024	referred to elections
Jan 18, 2023	referred to elections

Votes

- May 30, 2024 - Floor Vote
  S2057A
  
  57
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Absent
  
  4
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: May 30, 2024
      
      aye (57)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Ashby
      
      Bailey
      
      Borrello
      
      Breslin
      
      Brisport
      
      Brouk
      
      Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
      
      Chu
      
      Cleare
      
      Comrie
      
      Cooney
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Gounardes
      
      Griffo
      
      Harckham
      
      Helming
      
      Hinchey
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jackson
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Krueger
      
      Lanza
      
      Liu
      
      Mannion
      
      Martinez
      
      Martins
      
      Mattera
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Murray
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oberacker
      
      Ortt
      
      Palumbo
      
      Parker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      Rhoads
      
      Rivera
      
      Rolison
      
      Ryan
      
      Salazar
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serrano
      
      Skoufis
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stec
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Tedisco
      
      Webb
      
      Weber
      
      Weik
      
      absent (1)
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      excused (4)
      
      Felder
      
      Myrie
      
      Thomas
      
      Walczyk
  May 15, 2024 - Elections Committee Vote
  S2057A
  
  6
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Elections Committee Vote: May 15, 2024
      
      aye (6)
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Martinez
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Myrie
      
      Weber
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Borrello

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

2023-S2057 - Details

Current Committee:: Assembly Election Law
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§7-122 & 7-125, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S8850
2021-2022: S1992

2023-S2057 - Summary

Includes a statement on the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special presidential voters for signature affirmation.

2023-S2057 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2057

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to including a statement
on the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special presidential
voters for signature affirmation

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to provide conspicuous language on
absentee ballot envelopes to remind voters that they need to sign the
envelope.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Subdivision 6 of Section 7-122 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the affirmation statement that says
"IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
ENVELOPE."

Section 2 amends Subdivision 3 of Section 7-125 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the affirmation statement that says
"IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
ENVELOPE."

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive increase in absentee votes to be
cast. Many people choose to vote by mail rather than at polling stations
due to health concerns. When they cast their votes either by mailing
their absentee ballots, handing them in at polling stations, or deliver-
ing them to the Board of Elections, many of these voters did not sign
the back of the absentee ballot envelope. Thousands of ballots were
deemed invalid because voters did not sign the back of the absentee
ballot envelope.  This legislation is designed to address this issue.
Conspicuous language beneath the signature line that tells voters to
sign the absentee ballot envelope will inform and remind voters to sign
the envelope. This will help to ensure that absentee ballots cast will
be counted.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S.1992 - Referred to Elections/A.6122 - Referred to Election
Law

2019-2020: S.8850 - Referred to Rules/A.10875 - Referred to Election Law

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S2057 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2057
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. JACKSON, BAILEY, FELDER, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and
   ordered  printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
   Elections
 
 AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to including  a  statement
   on  the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special presiden-
   tial voters for signature affirmation

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  6  of  section 7-122 of the election law, as
 amended by chapter 411 of the laws  of  2019,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   6.  On  the  reverse  side of such inner affirmation envelope shall be
 printed the following statement:
                                AFFIRMATION
   I do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, that I am  duly
 registered  in  the  election district shown on the reverse side of this
 envelope and I am qualified to vote in such district;  that  I  will  be
 unable  to  appear  personally on the day of the election for which this
 ballot is voted at the polling place of the election district in which I
 am a qualified voter because of the reason given on my application here-
 tofore submitted; that I have not qualified nor  do  I  intend  to  vote
 elsewhere,  that  I have not committed any act nor am I under any imped-
 iment which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I  make  any  material
 false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be
 guilty of a misdemeanor.
 
 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05614-01-3
 S. 2057                             2

                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness
 
   IMPORTANT  TO  ABSENTEE  VOTER:  YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
 ENVELOPE.
   § 2. Subdivision 3 of section 7-125 of the election law, as amended by
 chapter 411 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the  follow-
 ing statement:
 
                  STATEMENT OF SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTER
 
   I  do  declare  I  am  a  qualified special presidential voter of said
 district; that I am not qualified and am not able  to  qualify  to  vote
 elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I
 am  a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the election for
 which this ballot is voted, I will be at least eighteen  years  of  age;
 and  that  I  have not committed any act, nor am I under any impediment,
 which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I  make  any  material
 false  statement  in  the  foregoing  statement,  I shall be guilty of a
 misdemeanor.
 
 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness
 
   IMPORTANT TO SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION
 ON THIS ENVELOPE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

co-Sponsors

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Assembly Election Law
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §§7-122 & 7-125, El L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S8850
2021-2022: S1992

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Includes a statement on the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special presidential voters for signature affirmation.

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2057A

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to including a statement
on the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special presidential
voters for signature affirmation

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this legislation is to provide conspicuous language on
absentee ballot envelopes to remind voters that they need to sign the
envelope.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Subdivision 6 of Section 7-122 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the affirmation statement that says
"IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
ENVELOPE."

Section 2 amends Subdivision 3 of Section 7-125 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the affirmation statement t hat says
"IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
ENVELOPE."

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive increase in absentee votes to be
cast. Many people choose to vote by mail rather than at polling stations
due to health concerns. When they cast their votes either by mailing
their absentee ballots, handing them in at polling stations, or deliver-
ing them to the Board of Elections, many of these voters did not sign
the back of the absentee ballot envelope. Thousands of ballots were
deemed invalid because voters did not sign the back of the absentee
ballot envelope. This legislation is designed to address this issue.
Conspicuous language beneath the signature line that tells voters to
sign the absentee ballot envelope will inform and remind voters to sign
the envelope. This will help to ensure that absentee ballots cast will
be counted.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-2022: S.1992 - Referred to Elections/A.6122 - Referred to Election
Law

2019-2020: S.8850 - Referred to Rules/A.10875 - Referred to Election Law

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2057--A
     Cal. No. 1147
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  JACKSON,  BAILEY, FELDER, FERNANDEZ, SEPULVEDA --
   read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to
   the  Committee  on  Elections  --  recommitted  to  the  Committee  on
   Elections in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported favora-
   bly from said committee, ordered to first and second  report,  ordered
   to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place
   in the order of third reading
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the election law, in relation to including a statement
   on the envelopes of ballots for absentee voters and special  presiden-
   tial voters for signature affirmation
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 7-122  of  the  election  law,  as
 amended  by  chapter  411  of  the  laws  of 2019, is amended to read as
 follows:
   6. On the reverse side of such inner  affirmation  envelope  shall  be
 printed the following statement:
                                AFFIRMATION
   I  do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, that I am duly
 registered in the election district shown on the reverse  side  of  this
 envelope  and  I  am  qualified to vote in such district; that I will be
 unable to appear personally on the day of the election  for  which  this
 ballot is voted at the polling place of the election district in which I
 am a qualified voter because of the reason given on my application here-
 tofore  submitted;  that  I  have  not qualified nor do I intend to vote
 elsewhere, that I have not committed any act nor am I under  any  imped-
 iment which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my  knowledge  and  belief, and I understand that if I make any material
 false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be
 guilty of a misdemeanor.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD05614-02-4
 S. 2057--A                          2
 
 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness
 
   IMPORTANT  TO  ABSENTEE  VOTER:  YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
 ENVELOPE.
   § 2. Subdivision 3 of section 7-125 of the election law, as amended by
 chapter 411 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   3.  On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the  follow-
 ing statement:
 
                  STATEMENT OF SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTER
 
   I  do  declare  I  am  a  qualified special presidential voter of said
 district; that I am not qualified and am not able  to  qualify  to  vote
 elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I
 am  a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the election for
 which this ballot is voted, I will be at least eighteen  years  of  age;
 and  that  I  have not committed any act, nor am I under any impediment,
 which denies me the right to vote.
   I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
 my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I  make  any  material
 false  statement  in  the  foregoing  statement,  I shall be guilty of a
 misdemeanor.
 
 Date.................20.....       .....................................
                                    Signature or mark of voter
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Signature of Witness (required only
                                    if voter does not sign his or her own
                                    name)
 
                                    .....................................
                                    Address of Witness
 
   IMPORTANT TO SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION
 ON THIS ENVELOPE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become  a
 law.

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Senate Bill S2057A

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Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2023-S2057 - Details

2023-S2057 - Summary

2023-S2057 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S2057 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S2057A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments