NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9117

Senate Bill S9117

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires colleges in the state to communicate all absentee deadlines for New York state elections

download bill text pdf

Current 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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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 26, 2024	referred to elections

2023-S9117 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §4-120, El L

2023-S9117 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires colleges in the state to communicate all absentee deadlines for New York state elections to all enrolled students.

2023-S9117 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9117

SPONSOR: CHU
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to requiring educational
institutions in the state to communicate all absentee ballot deadlines
for New York state elections

 
PURPOSE:

Requires public and private universities in the state of New York to
inform their students of the deadline to apply for absentee ballots
through the university websites or via emails.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the election law to require all public and private
universities in the state of New York to inform students of the deadline
for absentee ballot applications at least three times by email or on the
university website within a month of the application due date.

Section 2 sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

For university students who will not be in their home counties on
Election Day, voting by mail gives them the opportunity to vote away
from home. Since many college students have busy schedules and the cost
and time for traveling back to their respective homes can be a barrier,
voting by mail is an easier and more accessible option than traveling to
polling place in their hometown. It also gives added incentive and acts
as a reminder for students to research the candidates listed on the
ballot before making their decisions.

This bill will require colleges and universities in the state of New
York to share the deadline for absentee ballot applications on their
websites and through emails at least three times within a month before
the applications are due to the board of elections. Students rely on
their school websites and emails for information and updates about
assignments and other activities. With busy schedules, it is easy for
college students to forget to check online for the deadline and make
possible travel arrangements ahead of time. This bill will help remind
college students without them needing to check the board of elections
website and encourage participation through civic duty.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S9117 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9117
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 26, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CHU  --  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  requiring  educational
   institutions in the state to communicate all absentee ballot deadlines
   for New York state elections
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 4-120 of the election law is amended  by  adding  a
 new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
   4. (A) ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES IN THE STATE SHALL SEND NOTIFI-
 CATIONS  TO  ALL ENROLLED STUDENTS OF THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR ABSENTEE
 BALLOTS ON SUCH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WEBSITES  OR  THROUGH  EMAIL  AT
 LEAST  THREE  TIMES ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE,
 FOR ALL VILLAGE, CITY, PRIMARY, SPECIAL, AND GENERAL  ELECTIONS  IN  NEW
 YORK STATE.
   (B)  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "COLLEGE" SHALL MEAN ANY
 INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, RECOGNIZED AND APPROVED BY THE  REGENTS
 OF  THE  UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WHICH PROVIDES A COURSE OF
 STUDY LEADING TO THE GRANTING OF A POST-SECONDARY DEGREE OR DIPLOMA.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15274-01-4

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