Senator Dilan’s “Right Church, Wrong Pew” Election Bill Among Governor’s Reform Package

Senator Dilan’s “Expanded Right Church, Wrong Pew” bill is among Governor Cuomo’s recently unveiled reforms to reduce corruption and reform New York’s electoral process.

S.420, would require the counting of affidavit ballots cast by voters who appear at a polling place in the wrong election district but within the proper county.

Under existing law, election inspectors are required to offer an affidavit ballot if a voter’s name does not appear on the election district’s rolls. Often, the ballots are not counted because the voters cast them in the wrong polling location.

This can be especially problematic when voters are not made aware of  when polling locations are changed.