Statement from Sen. Jen Metzger on Absentee Ballot Request and Vote-By-Mail Bills Newly Signed into Law in NYS

“It is absolutely vital that New Yorkers are able to exercise their most fundamental democratic right and vote safely, by mail, in the November election, and have the assurance that their votes will be counted. Last month, we passed several important bills that directly address issues that arose in the primary, and I’m thrilled to see three of these bills now signed into law. For voters who prefer not to vote in person, I strongly encourage them to apply for their absentee ballot ASAP, and vote as early as allowable before election day to help make the ballot-counting process smoother for our county Boards of Elections." 

The bills Senator Metzger co-sponsors that were signed into law today include:

• S8015D: Authorizes voters to request an absentee ballot due to risk of illness, including COVID.
• S8783A: Authorizes voters to request an absentee ballot earlier than 30 days before the election (effective Thursday, August 20). 
• S8799A: Allows ballots to be postmarked on the day of the election, November 3. Also provides that any absentee ballot be presumed timely even if it does not bear a dated postmark, as long as the ballot was received and time-stamped by the day after Election Day. 

Jen Metzger represents the 42nd Senate District, which includes all of Sullivan County and parts of Delaware, Orange, and Ulster Counties. Senator Metzger serves as Chair of the Agriculture Committee and sits on the Environmental Conservation, Education, Health, Energy and Telecommunications, Local Government, Women’s Issues, Domestic Animal Welfare, and Legislative Commission on Rural Resources Committees. 

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