NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4602A

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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 07, 2025	print number 4602a
Apr 07, 2025	amend and recommit to elections
Feb 10, 2025	referred to elections

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2025-S4602 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3-109, amd §§8-100, 8-102 & 8-600, El L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7856

2025-S4602 - Summary

Provides remedies for disrupted voting times and locations during elections; directs that the BOE extend voting to account for the disruption.

2025-S4602 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4602

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to providing a remedy for
election disruptions

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To provide a flexible remedy for local bipartisan election officials to
extend the time for balloting at impacted polling places, where an emer-
gency or other disruption to voting lasts more than 15 minutes, subject
to a decision by the Board of Elections that such remedy would be inap-
propriate or unnecessary given the particular circumstances.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill adds a new section 3-109 to the Election Law.
Subdivision one of this section creates a default statutory remedy in
the event of a poll site disruption that interrupts voting for more than
fifteen minutes. When such disruption occurs, the local board of

elections shall toll, adjust, and extend the scheduled time frame for
voting on that day by the number of minutes that were lost due to the
disruption. The "time lost for voting" will be calculated for each
impacted polling place using data and records readily within the
possession of poll site coordinators, election district chairpersons,
and the board of elections.

Where a same-day extension is administratively impracticable, perhaps
because of an especially lengthy delay, the board of elections may sche-
dule the additional voting hours for a successive election day and, as
necessary, designate an alternative nearby location as a poll site.

Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 3-109 provides that poll sites
shall use the same machines and voting systems that were in use prior to
the delay, and that original seals shall not be removed.

Subdivision two of section 3-109 provides a method by which boards of
election can override the default protocol created in subdivision one.
If boards determine that additional voting time is not needed and would
constitute inappropriate or unnecessary relief given the circumstances,
they can convene to take a public vote in a meeting which documents the
cause or nature of the delay and memorializes in writing the results of
the vote and the considerations relied upon by the board. The board must
also notify the State Board of Elections and the Civil Rights Bureau of
the NYS Attorney General of the vote, any alternative remedial action
taken by the board, and a description of all publicity efforts already
made or to be made.

Subdivision three of this section provides that, in the event that poll
hours are extended, the board shall, with the assistance of the State
Board of Elections, publicize the change. Such publication shall involve
notifying the Civil Rights Bureau of the NYS Attorney General's office,
any candidates or committees with items on the ballot, local print and
broadcast news organizations, and local nonpartisan civics organiza-
tions, including organizations that serve non-English proficient voters.
Boards must also use free or paid traditional, website, and social media
channels and networks, including official advisory tools used by local
governments. Boards must also email and text all registered voters
eligible to vote in the election who have not already done so. Such
publicity shall direct attention to any change in location of polling
places, if applicable.

Subdivision four of this section provides that an extension of poll site
hours pursuant to this act shall be dispositive and conclusive evidence
of the fact that an interruption has occurred. Any ballots cast by
voters in the extended timeframe shall not be segregated for heightened
scrutiny, nor may such ballots be challenged or disqualified on the sole
basis that such ballots were cast out of time. However, where the board
of elections fails to act in accordance with subdivision one in appro-
priate circumstances, or where the additional time for voting fails to
adequately compensate for the actual time lost for voting, eligible
voters or candidates or committees with interests on the ballot may seek
independent judicial relief for an order for additional remedial time to
vote, or for review of an adverse agency decision taken under subdivi-
sion two.

Section two of this bill makes conforming changes to subdivision two of
section 8-100 of the Election Law.

Section three of this bill adds a new subdivision 3 to section 8-102 of
the Election Law to mandate that a polling place coordinator, election
district chairperson, or inspector of election immediately notify the
local board of elections when a significant delay as described in this
act has occurred. Intentional failure to notify shall be considered a
violation of section 17-212 of Election Law.

Section four of the bill makes a conforming change to paragraph (f) of
subdivision four of section 8-600 of Election Law, which permits a board
of elections to relocate an early voting location in the narrow circum-
stance of a significant disruption to voting that renders a location
unsafe or unusable, in addition to the existing authorizations to relo-
cate an early voting location in the event of a disaster or state of
emergency.

Section five of the bill sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State has made many reforms in recent years to expand access to
voting, protect voter rights, improve transparency in election adminis-
tration, and shore up confidence in democratic institutions, including
the creation of early voting, consolidation of state and federal prima-
ries, voter preregistration, improvements in the absentee balloting
process, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, and more. Our considerable
progress in this arena is undercut, however, by the fact that we have no
rapid response solution to address natural or human-caused incidents
that interrupt voting at poll sites.

Section 3-108 of Election Law, one of few sections of state law to
contemplate this scenario, allows local or state boards of elections to
schedule an additional day of voting in the event of a "fire, earth-
quake, tornado, explosion, power failure, act of sabotage, enemy attack
or other disaster" and where less than 25% of registered voters city or
countywide have voted. Additionally, subdivision four of § 8-600 of the
Election Law mandates that polling places be open for eight hours each
day of early voting, and one could argue that a failure to adjust for a
disruption which truncates these eight hours is a violation of the law.

There are four very real problems with the existing protections of §
3-108 and 8-600, however. Firstly, there a number of modern-day scenar-
ios which can feasibly impact voting and fall outside of the narrow
definition of disasters described in Election Law § 3-108:  unreasonably
long lines, medical emergencies, bomb threats, inaccessible facilities,
lengthy or large-scale connectivity or equipment malfunctions, flooding
due to a superstorm or torrential downpour, acts of violence, false fire
alarms, and localized emergencies, to name a few. All of these phenomena
have become common in an era of increasingly extreme weather events for
which we are ill-prepared, as well as an era of rising political
violence and polarization. Real-life examples of poll site disruptions
in recent years include: a 2022 bomb threat targeting the Jackie Robin-
son Educational Complex in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood, which
robbed general election voters of at least two hours of early voting
while the NYPD evacuated the area; a polling place fire in the town of
Champion in Jefferson County during the 2022 primary election; and, most
recently, in October 2023, a technological malfunction affecting e-poll
books that canceled voting on a Saturday morning at every polling
station in Orange County. Notably, both Hurricane Sandy and the terror-
ist attacks of September 11th, 2001, happened on election days.

Secondly, the provisions of Election Law § 3-108 apply only if at least
a quarter of voters city or countywide have not turned out, leaving
broad incentive for bad actors to target a few key election districts in
a close election. Thirdly, § 3-108 only permits boards to provide an
additional day of voting, failing to contemplate shorter disruptions
that do not warrant an additional day but nonetheless suppress turnout.
And finally, both § 3-108 and 8-600 require local boards of election to
proactively take action to remedy disruptions, which they have little
incentive to do when at least one party definitionally stands to benefit
from lower voter turnout. Instead, boards typically deadlock along
partisan lines - leaving enforcement of these core tenets of Election
Law to election lawyers, who rush to the courthouse seeking judicial
orders and praying they get them in time.

This bill addresses the disincentive that partisan boards of elections
have to extend voting hours by creating a default statutory remedy for
disruptions of more than fifteen minutes. Once notified of an inter-
ruption affecting voting, boards would be required to toll and extend
the time of the interruption on the back end of that same day, or extend
the hours for a different day if necessary. They would then be required
to publicize the new hours and any change in location, if applicable,
using broadcast and print news, social media, official local government
communication channels, and via email and text to all affected regis-
tered voters who have not yet voted. Boards would be able to override
this default protocol, however, by convening to take a public vote if
they believe that this remedy is inappropriate or unnecessary. They
would need to notify the State Board of Elections and Civil Rights
Bureau of the State Attorney General of the vote, and would need to
publicly document the nature and cause of the disruption as well as the
reasoning that they arrived at in determining that an hours extension is
unnecessary.

When the e-poll book glitch shuttered every polling site in Orange Coun-
ty, voters were issued neither emergency paper ballots nor provisional
ballots by which to "fail-safe" vote. While some local party officials
requested an extender, no additional time was granted by the board of
elections. Despite the fact that the local board had ample time to
advertise extended hours, they took no steps to account for the lost
time. Instead, voters were advised to wait indefinitely until the poll
site again became operative, or to come back later at an unspecified
time. It is to this date unknown how many voters simply failed to reap-
pear.

This bill fixes the political problem that prevents local boards from
extending hours at poll sites while disincentivizing bad actors who wish
to target certain segments of the electorate to suppress a vote.  It
provides an objective, evenly applied yet narrowly tailored default
remedy that will automatically ensure a significant disruption at a poll
site does not wind up robbing the electorate of their ability to exer-
cise a basic civil right.

The remedy of a time extender is already familiar to election officials,
campaign counsel, and voter protection advocates across the country and
is routinely sought and granted by judges where appropriate. But rather
than squander critical additional time and resources awaiting judicial
intervention, this relief can be provided automatically, in real time,
based on information readily available to elections personnel. It is a
common sense solution to address unanticipated incidents that, by design
or happenstance, serve to distort electoral outcomes and infringe upon
civil rights.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024: S7856 - Died in Elections

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S4602 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4602
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GOUNARDES,  CLEARE,  COMRIE,  FERNANDEZ, SALAZAR,
   SKOUFIS -- 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 providing a remedy for
   election disruptions

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-109
 to read as follows:
   § 3-109. DISRUPTION; ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING; PUBLICITY OF  REMEDY.
 1.  (A)  EXCEPT  AS  PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, IN THE
 EVENT THAT EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY VOTING AT ONE  OR  MORE  POLLING
 PLACES,  OR  FOR ONE OR MORE ELECTION DISTRICTS, IS DELAYED OR DISRUPTED
 PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF POLLS ON  ANY  DAY  OF  ELECTION  FOR  A  DURATION
 EXCEEDING  FIFTEEN  CONSECUTIVE  MINUTES,  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL
 TOLL, ADJUST, AND EXTEND THE SCHEDULED TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING ON THAT  DAY
 OF  ELECTION  TO  ACCOUNT FOR AND COMPENSATE THE LOST TIME FOR VOTING AT
 ALL SUCH IMPACTED POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS.
   (B) PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, IN THE  EVENT  THAT
 EARLY  VOTING  OR  ELECTION DAY VOTING AT ONE OR MORE POLLING PLACES, OR
 FOR ONE OR MORE ELECTION DISTRICTS, IS DELAYED OR DISRUPTED, SUCH SCHED-
 ULED TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING SHALL BE TOLLED,  BEGINNING  FROM  THE  ACTUAL
 TIME  OF  COMMENCEMENT OF THE DELAY OR DISRUPTION TO VOTING, OR, IF SUCH
 ACTUAL TIME CANNOT BE REASONABLY DETERMINED BY THE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,
 BEGINNING  AT  THE  LATEST  FROM  THE  TIME  A  REPORT  OF SUCH DELAY OR
 DISRUPTION IS FIRST ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED OR TELEPHONICALLY  COMMU-
 NICATED  TO  THE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS. SUCH TOLLING SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL
 SUCH TIME AS THE DELAY  OR  DISRUPTION  TO  VOTING  HAS  ENDED  AND  THE
 IMPACTED ELECTION DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES HAVE REOPENED FOR VOTING,
 OR  THE  TIME  FOR THE SCHEDULED CLOSE OF POLLS ON THAT DAY OF ELECTION,
 WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE SCHEDULED TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING SHALL THEN BE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07308-02-5

 S. 4602                             2
 
 ADJUSTED, PROPORTIONATELY, FOR  EACH  SUCH  POLLING  PLACE  OR  ELECTION
 DISTRICT,  AND  EXTENDED  ON  THAT DAY OF ELECTION, OR, IF EXTENDING THE
 TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING AT SUCH ELECTION DISTRICTS  OR  POLLING  PLACES  ON
 THAT  DAY  OF  ELECTION,  OR IN THAT LOCATION, WOULD BE ADMINISTRATIVELY
 IMPRACTICABLE, SUCH ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING SHALL BE SCHEDULED ON THE
 NEXT DAY FOR VOTING OR A SUCCESSIVE DAY FOR  VOTING  SCHEDULED  FOR  THE
 SAME  ELECTION,  BUT  NOT  LATER  THAN ELECTION DAY, IN THE SAME POLLING
 PLACE OR, IF SUCH POLLING PLACE IS UNAVAILABLE, AT ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS
 THAT MAY BE DESIGNATED AS POLLING PLACES PURSUANT TO THE  PROVISIONS  OF
 SECTION  4-104  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  AND IS, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, IN
 CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE DELAYED OR DISRUPTED POLLING PLACES  OR  ELECTION
 DISTRICTS,  TO  ACCOUNT  FOR  AND  COMPENSATE  THE LOST TIME AT ALL SUCH
 IMPACTED POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS.
   (C) IN ANY ELECTION DISTRICT  OR  POLLING  PLACE  IN  WHICH  A  VOTING
 MACHINE  OR  VOTING SYSTEM WAS USED PRIOR TO A DELAY OR DISRUPTION, SUCH
 MACHINE OR SYSTEM SHALL BE USED  FOR  THE  ADDITIONAL  TIME  FOR  VOTING
 UNLESS  FOUND  TO BE INOPERABLE, IN WHICH CASE THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION
 7-120 OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL APPLY.  EXCEPT AS DIRECTED BY THE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS,  THE  ORIGINAL SEAL ON SUCH MACHINES SHALL NOT BE REMOVED NOR
 SHALL THE MACHINES BE UNLOCKED UNTIL THE REOPENING OF THE POLLS AND  THE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL  PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SEALS AS NECESSARY TO BE
 USED AS SOON AS THE POLLS ARE CLOSED ON SUCH DAY.  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE FAIR,
 TRANSPARENT, AND UNIFORM ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SECTION.
   2. (A) BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS, THE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS
 MAY  DETERMINE  THAT THE REMEDY OF ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING TO ACCOUNT
 AND COMPENSATE FOR THE LOST TIME FOR VOTING AS PRESCRIBED BY SUBDIVISION
 ONE OF THIS SECTION WOULD CONSTITUTE INAPPROPRIATE OR UNNECESSARY RELIEF
 IN  LIGHT  OF  THE  PARTICULAR  CIRCUMSTANCES  OF  DELAY  OR  DISRUPTION
 PRESENTED  AT  A  SPECIFIC POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT. SUCH VOTE
 SHALL BE TAKEN DURING A PUBLIC MEETING  HELD  FOR  SUCH  PURPOSE,  SHALL
 SPECIFY  THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE DELAY OR DISRUPTION, AND SHALL MEMO-
 RIALIZE IN WRITING THE RESULTS OF  ANY  SUCH  VOTE  AND  THE  PARTICULAR
 CONSIDERATIONS  RELIED  UPON  BY  THE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS IN REACHING A
 DETERMINATION THAT A PROPORTIONATE EXTENSION  OF  TIME  TO  ACCOUNT  AND
 COMPENSATE FOR THE LOST TIME AT SUCH IMPACTED POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION
 DISTRICTS WOULD CONSTITUTE INAPPROPRIATE OR UNNECESSARY RELIEF.
   (B)  IN  THE  EVENT THAT THE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS REACHES SUCH DETERMI-
 NATION, SUCH BOARD SHALL ELECTRONICALLY  OR  TELEPHONICALLY  INFORM  THE
 BIPARTISAN  CO-EXECUTIVE  DIRECTORS  OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND
 THE CIVIL RIGHTS BUREAU OF  THE  OFFICE OF  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARD-
 ING THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED DELAY OR DISRUPTION AND
 AN ACCOUNTING OF THE  POLLING  PLACES  OR ELECTION  DISTRICTS  IMPACTED,
 THE  RESPECTIVE  DURATIONS OF SUCH DELAYS OR DISRUPTIONS, THE RESULTS OF
 SUCH VOTE,  THE  PARTICULAR  CIRCUMSTANCES RELIED UPON BY THE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  IN  REACHING  A DETERMINATION THAT A PROPORTIONATE  EXTENSION
 OF TIME TO ACCOUNT AND COMPENSATE FOR THE LOST  TIME  AT  SUCH  IMPACTED
 POLLING  PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS WOULD CONSTITUTE INAPPROPRIATE  OR
 UNNECESSARY  RELIEF,  ANY   ALTERNATIVE   REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN  BY  THE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES, AND A DESCRIPTION
 OF ALL RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN OR TO BE UNDERTAKEN.
   3. (A) IN THE EVENT THAT THE SCHEDULED TIMEFRAME FOR EARLY  VOTING  OR
 ELECTION  DAY  VOTING  AT ONE OR MORE POLLING PLACES, OR FOR ONE OR MORE
 ELECTION DISTRICTS, IS EXTENDED PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  THIS
 SECTION,  THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE STATE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND UNDER THE COORDINATION OF  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 S. 4602                             3
 
 ELECTIONS IF NECESSARY, MAKE USE OF ALL REASONABLE MEANS AND CHANNELS OF
 COMMUNICATIONS  TO  PUBLICIZE, FORTHWITH, THE REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN WITH
 RESPECT TO THE POLLING PLACES AND/OR ELECTION DISTRICTS IMPACTED,  INDI-
 CATING  IN  PLAIN  LANGUAGE  THE DURATION AND TIMEFRAME OF SUCH REMEDIAL
 ACTION, AS FOLLOWS:
   (I) ELECTRONICALLY OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM THE  BIPARTISAN  CO-EXECU-
 TIVE  DIRECTORS  OF  THE  STATE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS
 BUREAU OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE  CIRCUMSTANCES  THAT
 APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED THE DELAY OR DISRUPTION AT ISSUE, AN ACCOUNTING OF
 THE  POLLING  PLACES  OR  ELECTION DISTRICTS IMPACTED AND THE RESPECTIVE
 DURATIONS OF SUCH DELAYS OR DISRUPTIONS, THE REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN,  AND
 A  DESCRIPTION OF ALL RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN OR TO
 BE UNDERTAKEN;
   (II) ELECTRONICALLY OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM ANY CANDIDATE OR  COMMIT-
 TEE  WITH CANDIDATES OR QUESTIONS APPEARING ON A BALLOT TO BE VOTED UPON
 IN ANY SUCH POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT IMPACTED, OR  THE  DESIG-
 NATED AGENT OF SUCH CANDIDATE OR COMMITTEE OF THE REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN,
 AND  INCLUDING  A  DESCRIPTION  OF ALL RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY
 UNDERTAKEN OR TO BE UNDERTAKEN;
   (III) ELECTRONICALLY OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM LOCAL PRINT  AND  BROAD-
 CAST NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL NON-PARTISAN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
 AND  COMMUNITY-BASED  GROUPS SITUATED WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITIES IMPACTED
 OR SERVING SEGMENTS  OF  THE  VOTING  PUBLIC  OR  COMMUNITIES  IMPACTED,
 INCLUDING  MEDIA  AND  CIVIC  ORGANIZATIONS  PRIMARILY SERVING PREVALENT
 LANGUAGE-MINORITY  COMMUNITIES,  AND  INCLUDING  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  ALL
 RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN OR TO BE UNDERTAKEN; AND
   (IV) UTILIZE FREE OR PAID TRADITIONAL, WEBSITE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHAN-
 NELS  AND  NETWORKS,  INCLUDING OFFICIAL ADVISORY OR PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
 TOOLS OR WEBSITES MADE AVAILABLE  BY  THE  IMPACTED  COUNTY  OR  MUNICI-
 PALITIES,  AND  ISSUE ELECTRONIC MAIL OR PHONE OR TEXT MESSAGES DIRECTLY
 TO IMPACTED VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY VOTED AND WHO HAVE PROVIDED SUCH
 PERSONAL CONTACT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS,  TO  INFORM  THE
 VOTING PUBLIC RESIDING IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE IMPACTED POLLING
 PLACES  OR  ELECTION  DISTRICTS  OF  THE  REMEDIAL  ACTION TAKEN AND THE
 REMAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE.
   (B) PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  SUCH  PUBLICITY
 SHALL DIRECT ATTENTION TO ANY CHANGE OF THE LOCATION OF IMPACTED POLLING
 PLACES  OR  ELECTION  DISTRICTS,  IF  APPLICABLE, AND SHALL CONTAIN SUCH
 OTHER INFORMATION AS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS  SHALL  DEEM  NECESSARY  AND
 PROPER.
   4.  ACTION  BY  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR
 VOTING PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE  DISPOSITIVE
 AND  CONCLUSIVE  OF  THE  ISSUE  OF  WHETHER  A  DELAY OR DISRUPTION HAS
 OCCURRED WARRANTING SUCH REMEDIAL ACTION, AND ANY BALLOTS CAST BY ELIGI-
 BLE VOTERS DURING THE ADJUSTED REMEDIAL TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING  SHALL  NOT
 BE  SEGREGATED  FROM OTHER BALLOTS CAST BY ELIGIBLE VOTERS OR SUBJECT TO
 CHALLENGE OR JUDICIAL REVIEW ON THE BASIS THAT SUCH  BALLOTS  WERE  CAST
 OUT  OF  TIME; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT PREJU-
 DICE THE RIGHT OF ANY REGISTERED  VOTER  ELIGIBLE  TO  VOTE  AT  SUCH  A
 DELAYED  OR  DISRUPTED POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT, OR ANY CANDI-
 DATE OR COMMITTEE WITH CANDIDATES OR QUESTIONS APPEARING ON A BALLOT  TO
 BE  VOTED  UPON  IN ANY SUCH POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT, TO SEEK
 INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL RELIEF FOR AN ORDER  EXTENDING  THE  TIMEFRAME  FOR
 VOTING  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, OR FOR REVIEW OF AN
 ADVERSE AGENCY DECISION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS  SECTION,
 PURSUANT TO STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
 S. 4602                             4
 
   § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 8-100 of the election law, as separately
 amended by chapter 6 and section 1 of part BBB of chapter 55 of the laws
 of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   2. Polls shall be open for voting during the following hours: a prima-
 ry  election  from  six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in the
 evening; the general election from six o'clock in the morning until nine
 o'clock in the evening; a special election called by the governor pursu-
 ant to the public officers law, and, except  as  otherwise  provided  by
 law,  every  other  election, from six o'clock in the morning until nine
 o'clock in the evening; early voting hours shall be as provided in title
 six of this article. Early voting times shall be as provided in  section
 8-600  of this article. IN THE EVENT OF A DELAY OR DISRUPTION TO VOTING,
 THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS AUTHORIZED TO TOLL,  ADJUST,  AND  EXTEND  THE
 TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 3-109 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   §  3.  Section  8-102  of  the election law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 3 to read as follows:
   3. IN THE EVENT THAT EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY VOTING  FOR  ONE  OR
 MORE  ELECTION  DISTRICTS OR POLL SITES IS DELAYED OR DISRUPTED PRIOR TO
 THE CLOSE OF POLLS ON ANY DAY  OF  ELECTION  FOR  A  DURATION  EXCEEDING
 FIFTEEN  CONSECUTIVE  MINUTES,  THE  POLLING PLACE COORDINATOR, ELECTION
 DISTRICT CHAIRPERSON, OR, IF SUCH PERSONS ARE UNAVAILABLE, ANY INSPECTOR
 OF ELECTION, SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY  THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS.  THERE
 SHALL  BE  A  PRESUMPTION  OF  A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION
 17-212 OF THIS CHAPTER WHEN  ANY  PERSON,  BY  COMMISSION  OR  OMISSION,
 INTENTIONALLY FRUSTRATES THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
   §  4.  Paragraph (f) of subdivision 4 of section 8-600 of the election
 law, as added by chapter 480 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read  as
 follows:
   (f)  If  the  location  of an early voting polling place as designated
 pursuant to paragraph (e) of this  subdivision  changes  prior  to  such
 early  voting  period, notice shall be provided to all affected eligible
 voters no later than five days prior to such voting period in accordance
 with the communication plan established pursuant to subdivision five  of
 this  section  or  as soon as practicable if such location change occurs
 within five days of  the  commencement  of  such  early  voting  period;
 provided,  however, no such location change may occur within forty-eight
 hours of such commencement unless there is any disaster within the mean-
 ing of section 3-108 of this chapter OR DISRUPTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF
 SECTION 3-109 OF THIS CHAPTER or a declared state of  emergency  by  the
 governor  or any court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the
 polling place is located.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

co-Sponsors

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2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Add §3-109, amd §§8-100, 8-102 & 8-600, El L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S7856

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides remedies for disrupted voting times and locations during elections; directs that the BOE extend voting to account for the disruption.

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4602A

SPONSOR: GOUNARDES
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to providing a remedy for
election disruptions

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To provide a flexible remedy for local bipartisan election officials to
extend the time for balloting at impacted polling places, where an emer-
gency or other disruption to voting lasts more than 15 minutes, subject
to a decision by the Board of Elections that such remedy would be inap-
propriate or unnecessary given the particular circumstances.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of this bill adds a new section 3-109 to the Election Law.
Subdivision one of this section creates a default statutory remedy in
the event of a poll site disruption that interrupts voting for more than
fifteen minutes. When such disruption occurs, the local board of

elections shall toll, adjust, and extend the scheduled time frame for
voting on that day by the number of minutes that were lost due to the
disruption. The "time lost for voting" will be calculated for each
impacted polling place using data and records readily within the
possession of poll site coordinators, election district chairpersons,
and the board of elections.

Where a same-day extension is administratively impracticable, perhaps
because of an especially lengthy delay, the board of elections may sche-
dule the additional voting hours for a successive election day and, as
necessary, designate an alternative nearby location as a poll site.

Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 3-109 provides that poll sites
shall use the same machines and voting systems that were in use prior to
the delay, and that original seals shall not be removed.

Subdivision two of section 3-109 provides a method by which boards of
election can override the default protocol created in subdivision one.
If boards determine that additional voting time is not needed and would
constitute inappropriate or unnecessary relief given the circumstances,
they can convene to take a public vote in a meeting which documents the
cause or nature of the delay and memorializes in writing the results of
the vote and the considerations relied upon by the board. The board must
also notify the State Board of Elections and the Civil Rights Bureau of
the NYS Attorney General of the vote, any alternative remedial action
taken by the board, and a description of all publicity efforts already
made or to be made.

Subdivision three of this section provides that, in the event that poll
hours are extended, the board shall, with the assistance of the State
Board of Elections, publicize the change. Such publication shall involve
notifying the Civil Rights Bureau of the NYS Attorney General's office,
any candidates or committees with items on the ballot, local print and
broadcast news organizations, and local nonpartisan civics organiza-
tions, including organizations that serve non-English proficient voters.
Boards must also use free or paid traditional, website, and social media
channels and networks, including official advisory tools used by local
governments. Boards must also email and text all registered voters
eligible to vote in the election who have not already done so. Such
publicity shall direct attention to any change in location of polling
places, if applicable.

Subdivision four of this section provides that an extension of poll site
hours pursuant to this act shall be dispositive and conclusive evidence
of the fact that an interruption has occurred. Any ballots cast by
voters in the extended timeframe shall not be segregated for heightened
scrutiny, nor may such ballots be challenged or disqualified on the sole
basis that such ballots were cast out of time. However, where the board
of elections fails to act in accordance with subdivision one in appro-
priate circumstances, or where the additional time for voting fails to
adequately compensate for the actual time lost for voting, eligible
voters or candidates or committees with interests on the ballot may seek
independent judicial relief for an order for additional remedial time to
vote, or for review of an adverse agency decision taken under subdivi-
sion two.

Section two of this bill makes conforming changes to subdivision two of
section 8-100 of the Election Law.

Section three of this bill adds a new subdivision 3 to section 8-102 of
the Election Law to mandate that a polling place coordinator, election
district chairperson, or inspector of election immediately notify the
local board of elections when a significant delay as described in this
act has occurred. Intentional failure to notify shall be considered a
violation of section 17-212 of Election Law.

Section four of the bill makes a conforming change to paragraph (f) of
subdivision four of section 8-600 of Election Law, which permits a board
of elections to relocate an early voting location in the narrow circum-
stance of a significant disruption to voting that renders a location
unsafe or unusable, in addition to the existing authorizations to relo-
cate an early voting location in the event of a disaster or state of
emergency.

Section five of the bill sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State has made many reforms in recent years to expand access to
voting, protect voter rights, improve transparency in election adminis-
tration, and shore up confidence in democratic institutions, including
the creation of early voting, consolidation of state and federal prima-
ries, voter preregistration, improvements in the absentee balloting
process, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, and more. Our considerable
progress in this arena is undercut, however, by the fact that we have no
rapid response solution to address natural or human-caused incidents
that interrupt voting at poll sites.

Section 3-108 of Election Law, one of few sections of state law to
contemplate this scenario, allows local or state boards of elections to
schedule an additional day of voting in the event of a "fire, earth-
quake, tornado, explosion, power failure, act of sabotage, enemy attack
or other disaster" and where less than 25% of registered voters city or
countywide have voted. Additionally, subdivision four of § 8-600 of the
Election Law mandates that polling places be open for eight hours each
day of early voting, and one could argue that a failure to adjust for a
disruption which truncates these eight hours is a violation of the law.

There are four very real problems with the existing protections of §
3-108 and 8-600, however. Firstly, there a number of modern-day scenar-
ios which can feasibly impact voting and fall outside of the narrow
definition of disasters described in Election Law § 3-108:  unreasonably
long lines, medical emergencies, bomb threats, inaccessible facilities,
lengthy or large-scale connectivity or equipment malfunctions, flooding
due to a superstorm or torrential downpour, acts of violence, false fire
alarms, and localized emergencies, to name a few. All of these phenomena
have become common in an era of increasingly extreme weather events for
which we are ill-prepared, as well as an era of rising political
violence and polarization. Real-life examples of poll site disruptions
in recent years include: a 2022 bomb threat targeting the Jackie Robin-
son Educational Complex in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood, which
robbed general election voters of at least two hours of early voting
while the NYPD evacuated the area; a polling place fire in the town of
Champion in Jefferson County during the 2022 primary election; and, most
recently, in October 2023, a technological malfunction affecting e-poll
books that canceled voting on a Saturday morning at every polling
station in Orange County. Notably, both Hurricane Sandy and the terror-
ist attacks of September 11th, 2001, happened on election days.

Secondly, the provisions of Election Law § 3-108 apply only if at least
a quarter of voters city or countywide have not turned out, leaving
broad incentive for bad actors to target a few key election districts in
a close election. Thirdly, § 3-108 only permits boards to provide an
additional day of voting, failing to contemplate shorter disruptions
that do not warrant an additional day but nonetheless suppress turnout.
And finally, both § 3-108 and 8-600 require local boards of election to
proactively take action to remedy disruptions, which they have little
incentive to do when at least one party definitionally stands to benefit
from lower voter turnout. Instead, boards typically deadlock along
partisan lines - leaving enforcement of these core tenets of Election
Law to election lawyers, who rush to the courthouse seeking judicial
orders and praying they get them in time.

This bill addresses the disincentive that partisan boards of elections
have to extend voting hours by creating a default statutory remedy for
disruptions of more than fifteen minutes. Once notified of an inter-
ruption affecting voting, boards would be required to toll and extend
the time of the interruption on the back end of that same day, or extend
the hours for a different day if necessary. They would then be required
to publicize the new hours and any change in location, if applicable,
using broadcast and print news, social media, official local government
communication channels, and via email and text to all affected regis-
tered voters who have not yet voted. Boards would be able to override
this default protocol, however, by convening to take a public vote if
they believe that this remedy is inappropriate or unnecessary. They
would need to notify the State Board of Elections and Civil Rights
Bureau of the State Attorney General of the vote, and would need to
publicly document the nature and cause of the disruption as well as the
reasoning that they arrived at in determining that an hours extension is
unnecessary.

When the e-poll book glitch shuttered every polling site in Orange Coun-
ty, voters were issued neither emergency paper ballots nor provisional
ballots by which to "fail-safe" vote. While some local party officials
requested an extender, no additional time was granted by the board of
elections. Despite the fact that the local board had ample time to
advertise extended hours, they took no steps to account for the lost
time. Instead, voters were advised to wait indefinitely until the poll
site again became operative, or to come back later at an unspecified
time. It is to this date unknown how many voters simply failed to reap-
pear.

This bill fixes the political problem that prevents local boards from
extending hours at poll sites while disincentivizing bad actors who wish
to target certain segments of the electorate to suppress a vote.  It
provides an objective, evenly applied yet narrowly tailored default
remedy that will automatically ensure a significant disruption at a poll
site does not wind up robbing the electorate of their ability to exer-
cise a basic civil right.

The remedy of a time extender is already familiar to election officials,
campaign counsel, and voter protection advocates across the country and
is routinely sought and granted by judges where appropriate. But rather
than squander critical additional time and resources awaiting judicial
intervention, this relief can be provided automatically, in real time,
based on information readily available to elections personnel. It is a
common sense solution to address unanticipated incidents that, by design
or happenstance, serve to distort electoral outcomes and infringe upon
civil rights.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024: S7856 - Died in Elections

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4602--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GOUNARDES,  CLEARE,  COMRIE,  FERNANDEZ, SALAZAR,
   SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed,  and  when  printed  to  be
   committed  to the Committee on Elections -- committee discharged, bill
   amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
   tee

 AN  ACT to amend the election law, in relation to providing a remedy for
   election disruptions
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-109
 to read as follows:
   § 3-109. DISRUPTION; ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING; PUBLICITY OF  REMEDY.
 1.  (A)  EXCEPT  AS  PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, IN THE
 EVENT THAT EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY VOTING AT ONE  OR  MORE  POLLING
 PLACES,  OR  FOR ONE OR MORE ELECTION DISTRICTS, IS DELAYED OR DISRUPTED
 PRIOR TO THE CLOSE OF POLLS ON  ANY  DAY  OF  ELECTION  FOR  A  DURATION
 EXCEEDING  FIFTEEN  CONSECUTIVE  MINUTES,  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL
 TOLL, ADJUST, AND EXTEND THE SCHEDULED TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING ON THAT  DAY
 OF  ELECTION  TO  ACCOUNT FOR AND COMPENSATE THE LOST TIME FOR VOTING AT
 ALL SUCH IMPACTED  POLLING  PLACES  OR  ELECTION  DISTRICTS.    FOR  THE
 PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, "DELAY OR DISRUPTION" AND VARIATIONS THEREOF
 SHALL MEAN WHEN NO VOTING IS OCCURRING DUE TO AN OBSTRUCTION  OR  INTER-
 RUPTION  OF  VOTING AT A POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT FOR A PERIOD
 OF TIME EXCEEDING FIFTEEN CONSECUTIVE MINUTES DURING A  SCHEDULED  TIME-
 FRAME FOR VOTING.
   (B)  PURSUANT  TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, IN THE EVENT THAT
 EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY VOTING AT ONE OR MORE  POLLING  PLACES,  OR
 FOR ONE OR MORE ELECTION DISTRICTS, IS DELAYED OR DISRUPTED, SUCH SCHED-
 ULED  TIMEFRAME  FOR  VOTING  SHALL BE TOLLED, BEGINNING FROM THE ACTUAL
 TIME OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE DELAY OR DISRUPTION TO VOTING, OR,  IF  SUCH
 ACTUAL  TIME  CANNOT BE REASONABLY DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07308-03-5

 S. 4602--A                          2
 
 BEGINNING AT THE LATEST  FROM  THE  TIME  A  REPORT  OF  SUCH  DELAY  OR
 DISRUPTION  IS FIRST ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITTED OR TELEPHONICALLY COMMU-
 NICATED TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. SUCH  TOLLING  SHALL  CONTINUE  UNTIL
 SUCH  TIME  AS  THE  DELAY  OR  DISRUPTION  TO  VOTING HAS ENDED AND THE
 IMPACTED ELECTION DISTRICTS AND POLLING PLACES HAVE REOPENED FOR VOTING,
 OR THE TIME FOR THE SCHEDULED CLOSE OF POLLS ON THAT  DAY  OF  ELECTION,
 WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THE SCHEDULED TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING SHALL THEN BE
 ADJUSTED,  PROPORTIONATELY,  FOR  EACH  SUCH  POLLING  PLACE OR ELECTION
 DISTRICT, AND EXTENDED ON THAT DAY OF ELECTION,  OR,  IF  EXTENDING  THE
 TIMEFRAME  FOR  VOTING  AT  SUCH ELECTION DISTRICTS OR POLLING PLACES ON
 THAT DAY OF ELECTION, OR IN THAT  LOCATION,  WOULD  BE  ADMINISTRATIVELY
 IMPRACTICABLE, SUCH ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING SHALL BE SCHEDULED ON THE
 NEXT  DAY  FOR  VOTING  OR A SUCCESSIVE DAY FOR VOTING SCHEDULED FOR THE
 SAME ELECTION, BUT NOT LATER THAN ELECTION  DAY,  IN  THE  SAME  POLLING
 PLACE OR, IF SUCH POLLING PLACE IS UNAVAILABLE, AT ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS
 THAT  MAY  BE DESIGNATED AS POLLING PLACES PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF
 SECTION 4-104 OF THIS CHAPTER AND IS,  TO  THE  EXTENT  PRACTICABLE,  IN
 CLOSE  PROXIMITY  TO THE DELAYED OR DISRUPTED POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION
 DISTRICTS, TO ACCOUNT FOR AND COMPENSATE  THE  LOST  TIME  AT  ALL  SUCH
 IMPACTED POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS.
   (C)  IN  ANY  ELECTION  DISTRICT  OR  POLLING  PLACE IN WHICH A VOTING
 MACHINE OR VOTING SYSTEM WAS USED PRIOR TO A DELAY OR  DISRUPTION,  SUCH
 MACHINE  OR  SYSTEM  SHALL  BE  USED  FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING
 UNLESS FOUND TO BE INOPERABLE, IN WHICH CASE THE PROVISIONS  OF  SECTION
 7-120  OF  THIS CHAPTER SHALL APPLY.  EXCEPT AS DIRECTED BY THE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS, THE ORIGINAL SEAL ON SUCH MACHINES SHALL NOT BE  REMOVED  NOR
 SHALL  THE MACHINES BE UNLOCKED UNTIL THE REOPENING OF THE POLLS AND THE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SEALS  AS  NECESSARY  TO  BE
 USED  AS  SOON  AS  THE POLLS ARE CLOSED ON SUCH DAY. THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS SHALL PROMULGATE RULES AND/OR REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE  FAIR,
 TRANSPARENT, AND UNIFORM ADMINISTRATION OF THIS SECTION.
   2.  (A)  BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 MAY DETERMINE THAT THE REMEDY OF ADDITIONAL TIME FOR VOTING  TO  ACCOUNT
 AND COMPENSATE FOR THE LOST TIME FOR VOTING AS PRESCRIBED BY SUBDIVISION
 ONE OF THIS SECTION WOULD CONSTITUTE INAPPROPRIATE OR UNNECESSARY RELIEF
 IN  LIGHT  OF  THE  PARTICULAR  CIRCUMSTANCES  OF  DELAY  OR  DISRUPTION
 PRESENTED AT A SPECIFIC POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION  DISTRICT.  SUCH  VOTE
 SHALL  BE  TAKEN  DURING  A  PUBLIC MEETING HELD FOR SUCH PURPOSE, SHALL
 SPECIFY THE CAUSE OR NATURE OF THE DELAY OR DISRUPTION, AND SHALL  MEMO-
 RIALIZE  IN  WRITING  THE  RESULTS  OF  ANY SUCH VOTE AND THE PARTICULAR
 CONSIDERATIONS RELIED UPON BY THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  IN  REACHING  A
 DETERMINATION  THAT  A  PROPORTIONATE  EXTENSION  OF TIME TO ACCOUNT AND
 COMPENSATE FOR THE LOST TIME AT SUCH IMPACTED POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION
 DISTRICTS WOULD CONSTITUTE INAPPROPRIATE OR UNNECESSARY RELIEF.
   (B) IN THE EVENT THAT THE BOARD OF   ELECTIONS REACHES  SUCH  DETERMI-
 NATION,  SUCH  BOARD  SHALL  ELECTRONICALLY OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM THE
 BIPARTISAN CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF THE STATE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  AND
 THE CIVIL RIGHTS BUREAU OF  THE  OFFICE OF  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARD-
 ING THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED DELAY OR DISRUPTION AND
 AN  ACCOUNTING OF THE  POLLING  PLACES  OR ELECTION  DISTRICTS IMPACTED,
 THE RESPECTIVE DURATIONS OF SUCH DELAYS OR DISRUPTIONS, THE  RESULTS  OF
 SUCH  VOTE,   THE  PARTICULAR  CIRCUMSTANCES RELIED UPON BY THE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS IN REACHING A DETERMINATION THAT A  PROPORTIONATE    EXTENSION
 OF  TIME  TO  ACCOUNT  AND COMPENSATE FOR THE LOST TIME AT SUCH IMPACTED
 POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS WOULD CONSTITUTE INAPPROPRIATE   OR
 UNNECESSARY   RELIEF,   ANY   ALTERNATIVE   REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN BY THE
 S. 4602--A                          3
 
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES, AND  A  DESCRIPTION
 OF ALL RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN OR TO BE UNDERTAKEN.
   3.  (A)  IN THE EVENT THAT THE SCHEDULED TIMEFRAME FOR EARLY VOTING OR
 ELECTION DAY VOTING AT ONE OR MORE POLLING PLACES, OR FOR  ONE  OR  MORE
 ELECTION  DISTRICTS,  IS  EXTENDED  PURSUANT  TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
 SECTION, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE  STATE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  AND  UNDER THE COORDINATION OF THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS IF NECESSARY, MAKE USE OF ALL REASONABLE MEANS AND CHANNELS OF
 COMMUNICATIONS TO PUBLICIZE, FORTHWITH, THE REMEDIAL ACTION  TAKEN  WITH
 RESPECT  TO THE POLLING PLACES AND/OR ELECTION DISTRICTS IMPACTED, INDI-
 CATING IN PLAIN LANGUAGE THE DURATION AND  TIMEFRAME  OF  SUCH  REMEDIAL
 ACTION, AS FOLLOWS:
   (I)  ELECTRONICALLY  OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM THE BIPARTISAN CO-EXECU-
 TIVE DIRECTORS OF THE STATE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS  AND  THE  CIVIL  RIGHTS
 BUREAU  OF  THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT
 APPEAR TO HAVE CAUSED THE DELAY OR DISRUPTION AT ISSUE, AN ACCOUNTING OF
 THE POLLING PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS  IMPACTED  AND  THE  RESPECTIVE
 DURATIONS  OF SUCH DELAYS OR DISRUPTIONS, THE REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN, AND
 A DESCRIPTION OF ALL RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN OR  TO
 BE UNDERTAKEN;
   (II)  ELECTRONICALLY OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM ANY CANDIDATE OR COMMIT-
 TEE WITH CANDIDATES OR QUESTIONS APPEARING ON A BALLOT TO BE VOTED  UPON
 IN  ANY  SUCH POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT IMPACTED, OR THE DESIG-
 NATED AGENT OF SUCH CANDIDATE OR COMMITTEE OF THE REMEDIAL ACTION TAKEN,
 AND INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF ALL  RELATED  PUBLICITY  EFFORTS  ALREADY
 UNDERTAKEN OR TO BE UNDERTAKEN;
   (III)  ELECTRONICALLY  OR TELEPHONICALLY INFORM LOCAL PRINT AND BROAD-
 CAST NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL NON-PARTISAN CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
 AND COMMUNITY-BASED GROUPS SITUATED WITHIN THE  MUNICIPALITIES  IMPACTED
 OR  SERVING  SEGMENTS  OF  THE  VOTING  PUBLIC  OR COMMUNITIES IMPACTED,
 INCLUDING MEDIA AND  CIVIC  ORGANIZATIONS  PRIMARILY  SERVING  PREVALENT
 LANGUAGE-MINORITY  COMMUNITIES,  AND  INCLUDING  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  ALL
 RELATED PUBLICITY EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERTAKEN OR TO BE UNDERTAKEN; AND
   (IV) UTILIZE FREE OR PAID TRADITIONAL, WEBSITE, AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHAN-
 NELS AND NETWORKS, INCLUDING OFFICIAL ADVISORY  OR  PUBLIC  NOTIFICATION
 TOOLS  OR  WEBSITES  MADE  AVAILABLE  BY  THE IMPACTED COUNTY OR MUNICI-
 PALITIES, AND ISSUE ELECTRONIC MAIL OR PHONE OR TEXT  MESSAGES  DIRECTLY
 TO IMPACTED VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT ALREADY VOTED AND WHO HAVE PROVIDED SUCH
 PERSONAL  CONTACT  INFORMATION  TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, TO INFORM THE
 VOTING PUBLIC RESIDING IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED BY THE IMPACTED POLLING
 PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS  OF  THE  REMEDIAL  ACTION  TAKEN  AND  THE
 REMAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE.
   (B)  PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF THIS SUBDIVISION, SUCH PUBLICITY
 SHALL DIRECT ATTENTION TO ANY CHANGE OF THE LOCATION OF IMPACTED POLLING
 PLACES OR ELECTION DISTRICTS, IF  APPLICABLE,  AND  SHALL  CONTAIN  SUCH
 OTHER  INFORMATION  AS  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL DEEM NECESSARY AND
 PROPER.
   4. ACTION BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO  PROVIDE  ADDITIONAL  TIME  FOR
 VOTING  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE DISPOSITIVE
 AND CONCLUSIVE OF THE  ISSUE  OF  WHETHER  A  DELAY  OR  DISRUPTION  HAS
 OCCURRED WARRANTING SUCH REMEDIAL ACTION, AND ANY BALLOTS CAST BY ELIGI-
 BLE  VOTERS  DURING THE ADJUSTED REMEDIAL TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING SHALL NOT
 BE SEGREGATED FROM OTHER BALLOTS CAST BY ELIGIBLE VOTERS OR  SUBJECT  TO
 CHALLENGE  OR  JUDICIAL  REVIEW ON THE BASIS THAT SUCH BALLOTS WERE CAST
 OUT OF TIME; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL  NOT  PREJU-
 DICE  THE  RIGHT  OF  ANY  REGISTERED  VOTER  ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT SUCH A
 S. 4602--A                          4
 
 DELAYED OR DISRUPTED POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION DISTRICT, OR  ANY  CANDI-
 DATE  OR COMMITTEE WITH CANDIDATES OR QUESTIONS APPEARING ON A BALLOT TO
 BE VOTED UPON IN ANY SUCH POLLING PLACE OR ELECTION  DISTRICT,  TO  SEEK
 INDEPENDENT  JUDICIAL  RELIEF  FOR  AN ORDER EXTENDING THE TIMEFRAME FOR
 VOTING PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, OR FOR REVIEW OF  AN
 ADVERSE  AGENCY  DECISION  PURSUANT  TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION,
 PURSUANT TO STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
   § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 8-100 of the election law, as separately
 amended by chapter 6 and section 1 of part BBB of chapter 55 of the laws
 of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   2. Polls shall be open for voting during the following hours: a prima-
 ry election from six o'clock in the morning until nine  o'clock  in  the
 evening; the general election from six o'clock in the morning until nine
 o'clock in the evening; a special election called by the governor pursu-
 ant  to  the  public  officers law, and, except as otherwise provided by
 law, every other election, from six o'clock in the  morning  until  nine
 o'clock in the evening; early voting hours shall be as provided in title
 six  of this article. Early voting times shall be as provided in section
 8-600 of this article. IN THE EVENT OF A DELAY OR DISRUPTION TO  VOTING,
 THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  IS AUTHORIZED TO TOLL, ADJUST, AND EXTEND THE
 TIMEFRAME FOR VOTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 3-109 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 3. Section 8-102 of the election law is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 3 to read as follows:
   3.  IN  THE  EVENT THAT EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION DAY VOTING FOR ONE OR
 MORE ELECTION DISTRICTS OR POLL SITES IS DELAYED OR DISRUPTED  PRIOR  TO
 THE  CLOSE  OF  POLLS  ON  ANY  DAY OF ELECTION FOR A DURATION EXCEEDING
 FIFTEEN CONSECUTIVE MINUTES, THE  POLLING  PLACE  COORDINATOR,  ELECTION
 DISTRICT CHAIRPERSON, OR, IF SUCH PERSONS ARE UNAVAILABLE, ANY INSPECTOR
 OF  ELECTION,  SHALL  IMMEDIATELY  NOTIFY  THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. THERE
 SHALL BE A PRESUMPTION OF A VIOLATION  OF  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  SECTION
 17-212  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  WHEN  ANY  PERSON, BY COMMISSION OR OMISSION,
 INTENTIONALLY FRUSTRATES THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
   § 4. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 4 of section 8-600 of  the  election
 law,  as added by chapter 480 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (f) If the location of an early voting  polling  place  as  designated
 pursuant  to  paragraph  (e)  of  this subdivision changes prior to such
 early voting period, notice shall be provided to all  affected  eligible
 voters no later than five days prior to such voting period in accordance
 with  the communication plan established pursuant to subdivision five of
 this section or as soon as practicable if such  location  change  occurs
 within  five  days  of  the  commencement  of  such early voting period;
 provided, however, no such location change may occur within  forty-eight
 hours of such commencement unless there is any disaster within the mean-
 ing of section 3-108 of this chapter OR DISRUPTION WITHIN THE MEANING OF
 SECTION  3-109  OF  THIS CHAPTER or a declared state of emergency by the
 governor or any court of competent jurisdiction in the county where  the
 polling place is located.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S4602A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2025-S4602 - Details

2025-S4602 - Summary

2025-S4602 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4602 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4602A

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Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2025-S4602 - Details

2025-S4602 - Summary

2025-S4602 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4602 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4602A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments