BILL NUMBER: S7047

SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend chapter 139 of the laws of 2020 amending the election
law relating to absentee voting, in relation to the effectiveness there-
of; and to amend chapter 2 of the laws of 2022 amending the election law
relating to absentee voting in village elections, in relation to the
effectiveness thereof

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would temporarily extend (until December 31, 2023) absentee
voting due to the risk of 'contracting or spreading a disease.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends section one of chapter 2 of the laws of
2022 amending section two of Chapter 139 of the laws of 2820 to change
the repeal date from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023.  Chapter
139 amended the Election Law to define "illness" as "instances where a
              

voter who is unable to appear personally at the polling place ...
because there is a risk of contracting or spreading a disease-causing
illness." Without Chapter 139, Election Law authorizes absentee voting
because of "illness" but does not define such term.

Section two of the bill amends section four of chapter 2 of the laws of
2022 to change the repeal date from December 31, 2022 to December 31,
2023. Chapter 2 amended the Election Law to define "illness" as it
relates to absentee voting in village elections to "instances where a
voter who is unable to appear personally at the polling place there is a
risk of contracting or spreading a disease-causing illness."

Section three of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

COVID-19 is still a risk. Voters should not have to choose between their
health and their right to participate in our democracy. While the ballot
measure that would have permanently allowed no-excuse absentee voting
was voted down in November 2021, there is still a need - because of the
ongoing pandemic - for New Yorkers to be able to request ballots on a
temporary basis. This bill would extend until December 31, 2023 the
ability to vote by absentee ballot if a voter is concerned about voting
in-person due to an epidemic or disease outbreak.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately