BILL NUMBER: S7046

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 make permanent 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 2020 to remove
the expiration and repealing provision from the effective date from
legislation which included within the definition of "illness" as it
              

relates to absentee voting in instances where a voter who is unable to
appear personally at the polling place of the election district in which
they are a qualified voter because there is a risk of contracting or
spreading a disease-causing illness to the voter or to other members of
the public.

Section two of the bill amends section four of chapter 2 of the laws of
2022 to remove the expiration and repealing provision from the effective
date from legislation which included within the definition of "illness"
as it relates to absentee voting in village elections in instances where
a voter who is unable to appear personally at the polling place of the
election district in which they are a qualified voter because there is a
risk of contracting or spreading a disease-causing illness to the voter
or to other members of the public.

Section three of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

COVID-19 is still a risk and reminded us how lethal contagious diseases
can be. Voters should never 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 2821, this legislation only makes permanent provisions
which have allowed voters to cast their ballot when there is a risk of
contracting or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter
or to other members of the public, which they have specifically been
able to do since 2020.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL, IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately