Senate Advances Reforms to Protect Election Integrity and Support Election Workers
January 13, 2025
The New York State Senate today passed legislation to further protect election workers, prevent voter disenfranchisement, introduce a process for “back-end” automatic voter registration, grant voters the ability to register at a secondary residence, partner with agencies to promote voter registration, and establish a uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners. Included is the Democracy Preservation Act to protect state and local elections from foreign interference. The 2025 legislative package continues the Senate Majority Conference tradition of kicking off session by passing major pro-voter, anti-disenfranchisement, and pro-democracy policies.
Senate Majority Leader, and bill sponsor, Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “This comprehensive package of legislation protects the integrity of our elections while supporting the dedicated workers who make them possible. By combating deceptive practices and voter suppression through my bill, S1085, we are ensuring that every New Yorker can cast their ballot free from fear or misinformation. Additionally, by enhancing voter accessibility, strengthening voter registration through secure automatic processes, and increasing transparency in political communications, we are standing firm in defense of every New Yorker’s right to vote. By investing in robust training and fair compensation for election commissioners and workers, we are creating a system that values their critical role. These bills reflect our unwavering commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring a fair and accessible electoral process for all.”
Bill sponsor, Deputy Leader Mike Gianaris said, “Our democracy is stronger when access to voting is more accessible, and our elections are free from undue interference. There should not be roadblocks to the ballot box, whether from obstacles to registration or the inappropriate influence of big money. I am proud the State Senate is once again leading the way on protecting our democratic institutions.”
Bill sponsor and Chair of the Senate Committee on Elections, Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “At a time when our democracy is under threat, the New York State Senate is working to protect it. This package builds on the strength of New York’s voting laws and is a reflection of our conference’s vision of a democracy that can withstand the challenges of the 21st century. I look forward to working as chair of the Elections Committee to move bills that ensure that New York continues to be a beacon of democracy, fairness, and justice.”
Crimes of Voter Deception and Suppression: This bill, S1085, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters, and increases penalties for violations of the elective franchise.
The Democracy Preservation Act: This bill, S324, sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris, would ban political spending by foreign-influenced business entities in New York’s state and local elections.
Implementing ‘Back-End’ Automatic Voter Registration: This bill, S88, sponsored by Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris, would upgrade automatic voter registration and preregistration procedures to include provisions like ‘back-end’ registration.
"Paid for by" Language: This bill, S1030, sponsored by Senator Kristen Gonzalez, would require public-facing websites operated by political committees to contain "paid for by" language and adds such public-facing websites to the list of political communications that qualify as independent expenditures.
Establishing county-wide polling places: This bill, S569, sponsored by Senator May, would authorize county boards of elections to establish county-wide polling places.
Granting Commissioners Full-time Employee Status on BOE: This bill, S1087, sponsored by Senator Mayer, would make commissioners full time employees on board of elections.
Registering to Vote at a Secondary Residence: This bill, S1036, sponsored by Senator Myrie, would permit a voter to register to vote at a secondary residence to which they maintain a continuous connection with an intent to remain.
Training for BOE Commissioners: This bill, S1035, sponsored by Senator Myrie, would require the State Board of Elections to create a mandatory, uniform training curriculum for all election commissioners.
Joining Multi-state Voter List Maintenance Organizations: This bill, S1356, sponsored by Senator Skoufis, would permit the SBOE to join and share information with a multistate voter list maintenance organization such as the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC).
Bill sponsor, Senator May said, “I always cherish the opportunity to participate in the annual Senate Majority tradition of protecting and strengthening our democracy here in New York State. We have made so much progress in the past few years, but we can always do more to make voting simple and accessible for New Yorkers. I am thrilled that my bill for county-wide polling places is included in this package. This legislation makes it easier for everyone to participate in our democracy and enhances efficiency for county boards of elections. Thank you to Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and the Senate Majority for emphasizing the importance of voting with this crucial bill package.”
Bill sponsor, Senator Mayer said, "I am proud to sponsor a piece of legislation in this election integrity package, affirming New York State’s commitment to the democratic progress and ensuring free and fair elections at every level. My bill, S.1087, would require Commissioners of County Boards of Elections to be full time employees of the Board, reducing the possibility of conflicts of interest and ensuring that there is full attention to the operations of every election. Voting access is a centerpiece of our American democracy – I’m proud to be part of a Conference that starts each session with these key issues.”
Bill sponsor, Senator Myrie said, "For the past six years New York has led the way in protecting voting rights and defending democracy, including by passing the strongest voting rights law of any state in the country. In the years ahead, this work will become even more important as we fight back against attempts to weaken these protections and restrict access for voters. I'm excited for this progress to continue under our new Elections Committee chair, Senator Kristen Gonzalez. New Yorkers should know that my colleagues and I in the Senate Majority will never stop working to improve our elections, strengthen voting rights and protect democracy.
Bill sponsor, Senator Skoufis said, "Free, fair, accurate elections are a cornerstone of our democracy. I am proud that my colleagues and I have come together to protect this foundational right, just as we do to open the legislative session every year. The ERIC bill will direct New York to join 25 other states in a robust and safe data maintenance program, ensuring the integrity of our voter rolls and building confidence in election outcomes."
Jarret Berg, Co-Founder and Voting Rights Counsel at Vote Early New York said, "With America facing significant challenges to its democratic character from threats at home and abroad, New Yorkers are incredibly fortunate to have State Senate leadership that is focused on protecting and advancing our voting rights. We applaud the Senate Majority for again putting fundamental rights first—by prioritizing this critical package of pro-civic election reform measures-—and look forward to working with lawmakers in both chambers to enact modern voting policies that will continue to improve the fairness and quality of our elections."
Joanna Zdanys, Deputy Director, Elections and Government Program, Brennan Center for Justice said, “We commend Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and the senate for their continued dedication to strengthening democracy in New York. Today’s reform package contains important measures to strengthen election administration and also allows New York to join a bipartisan multi-state initiative to improve the accuracy of state voter registration lists. These advancements build on a remarkable series of legislative achievements in recent years to fortify our state’s democracy, among them the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, the nation’s strongest public campaign financing program, and new disclosure requirements for deceptive AI-generated content impacting elections. At this pivotal time for our nation’s democracy, we are grateful that New York continues to lead in safeguarding the rights of its voters.”
Erica Smitka, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of New York State said, "The League of Women Voters of New York State applauds the Senate for taking meaningful steps to protect our democracy. As we evaluate the 2024 election process, it is clear that there are still critical gaps in the system that must be addressed. We are pleased to see bills that would allow New York to join a multistate voter list maintenance program like ERIC, professionalize our boards of election, and strengthen access to the ballot. Implementing a program like ERIC will improve voter roll accuracy, enhance accessibility and efficiency, reduce election costs, and restore overall confidence in our election system."
Karen Wharton, Democracy Coalition Coordinator, Citizen Action of New York said, “Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we safeguard our elections from the influence of foreign entities investing millions to sway them. Simultaneously, we must ensure all eligible New Yorkers can easily and safely access the ballot. That’s why we are thrilled by the New York State Senate's proactive steps today to address these pressing issues by passing this package of democracy bills. Their actions mark a significant contribution to our collective efforts to meet this moment. We look forward to working with the legislature and the executive to preserve and enhance the progress we’ve made in recent years.”
Dustin Czarny, Democratic Caucus Chair, NYS Elections Commissioner Association said, "Once again the NY Senate has prioritized our Democracy by addressing vital bills on the first day of session. This year they have passed necessary legislation to ensure all county boards have resources and to do their job and provide better service to voters. The New York Senate continues their commitment to the voters and election workers in our state each and every year."
Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY said, “Common Cause/NY is pleased the New York State Senate is once again starting session by putting New York voters first. As we head into a second Trump presidency, it’s more critical than ever that NY prioritize voting and democracy issues. We look forward to working with the Legislature to pass even more crucial election reforms this year.”
Sam Oliker Friedland, executive director of the Institute for Responsive Government Action said, “The New York State Legislature started off 2025 strong by passing S88 to build on and make continued improvements to New York’s automatic voter registration system. As New York moves forward with implementation of first generation AVR, it’s important to lay the groundwork for second generation improvements. S88 streamlines AVR operations for DMV and Medicaid transactions using a process known as Enhanced AVR to register more eligible voters while also improving protections against erroneous registrations by non-citizens. We applaud the leadership of Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Gianaris, for undertaking this initiative to increase access to the ballot box while ensuring the integrity of the voter rolls remains an utmost priority.”
John Park, Executive Director of the MinKwon Center of Community Action said, "We applaud the New York State Senate for advancing the Democracy Preservation Act, S371. With this legislation, the New York State Senate is taking bold steps to ensure our political process remains free from foreign interference. By prohibiting contributions from foreign-influenced business entities, this legislation underscores the importance of protecting our elections from external influences that undermine our democracy. These measures, alongside provisions for enhanced training and minimum staffing for election boards, represent a powerful commitment to the integrity of our democracy. Together, they reflect New York’s unwavering dedication to empowering voters, supporting election workers, and securing the future of our elections for generations to come."
Christina Harvey, Executive Director of Stand-Up America said, “We applaud the continued efforts of Senate Democrats to limit the impact of wealthy corporate donors and to ensure that all eligible New Yorkers have access to the ballot. The legislation introduced today builds on the legislature’s record of passing critical electoral reforms that we’ve been proud to support in recent years, including the New York Voting Rights Act, universal mail-in voting, and our state’s new public campaign finance system. These efforts set an important example for other state and national leaders.”
Joy Williams, NAACP New York State Conference Legislative Director and 1st Vice President said, “The NAACP New York State Conference applauds the Senate Majority for continuing the important work of ensuring that every New Yorker's access to the ballot box is protected and they are able to exercise their right to vote in a timely way without encumbrance.”
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