Senate Majority Pushes Legislative Package with Voting, Election Reform
Legislators Announce Slate of Voter Rights Bills and Election Reforms
Legislators from the State Senate Majority’s standing committee on elections convened to announce a slate of voter rights bills and election reforms. According to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, it was the seventh-annual installment of a tradition to lead off session with proposals to make it easier for New Yorkers to vote.
New Elections Committee Chair Leads the Way
New York State Senate Committee on Elections Chair, Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, expressed her excitement to lead the committee in the new year. “It’s no secret that our democracy is under threat,” she said, adding that the legislature is up to meeting that threat. She and her fellow Democrats laid out the following bills that they’re supporting in this year’s legislative session:
Voting and Election Reforms
S1085: Outlaws Spreading Disinformation About Voting
* Outlaws abuses of power and using threats or force to prevent someone from voting or to pressure them to vote in a certain way. Violators would potentially face felony charges, jail time, and fines.
S324: Bans Businesses with Foreign Ties from Spending and Making Political Contributions
* Prohibits the funding of campaigns, political ads, or committees from companies with foreign ownership or influence. Businesses must certify that they have no foreign ownership or influence when making a political donation. Violations would earn felony charges, fines, and civil penalties.
Voter Registration and Disclosure
S88: Simplifies Voter Registration
* Allows eligible New Yorkers to register or update voter records through the DMV. Requires DMV customers to confirm whether they want to register to vote as part of regular license and registration transactions. Someone who applies electronically can use their DMV signature for voter registration, and any voter updates would automatically be forwarded to the local Board of Elections.
S1030: Expands Political Disclosure Requirements
* Requires public websites that have been paid for or operated by political committees to clearly display that committee’s identity on every page. Such “Paid for by” language already applies to brochures, flyers, posters, and mailings.
Additional Reforms
S569: Allows County Boards of Elections to Create County-Wide, Catch-All Polling Places
* Allows county boards of elections to create county-wide, catch-all polling places for Election Day. County-wide centers still have to follow all standard voting and polling rules and get approval from the state Board of Elections.
S1087: Creates Full-Time Positions for Two Board of Elections Commissioners in Counties Outside of New York City
* Allows counties with populations over 120,000 to have four commissioners instead of two. County boards of elections can create full-time positions for two board of elections commissioners in counties outside of New York City.
S1036: Allows Voters to Register to Vote at Any Residence Where They Maintain an Ongoing, Continuous Connection
* Allows voters to register to vote at any residence where they maintain an ongoing, continuous connection. This would mean that they could potentially vote absentee from a municipality where they have a second home or college student housing.
S1035: Requires Election Commissioners and Board of Elections Staff to Undergo Mandatory Training
* Requires election commissioners and Board of Elections staff to undergo mandatory training offered by the state. Within six months of being appointed, they’ll need to complete no more than 30 hours of coursework on how boards of elections operate. They’ll also have to take at least three hours of continuing education coursework by June 1 every year.
S1356: Requires New York to Join a Multistate Voter List Maintenance Organization
* Requires New York to join a multistate voter list maintenance organization, such as the Electronic Registration Information Center, by July 31, 2026, to keep voter rolls accurate and up-to-date. The state would have to designate an official representative in the organization and would be able to withdraw if authorized by a vote from Board of Elections commissioners.
Conclusion
The Senate Majority has pushed a legislative package with voting and election reform, aiming to make it easier for New Yorkers to exercise their democratic rights. The proposals focus on preventing voter suppression, ensuring accurate and up-to-date voter rolls, and increasing transparency in political contributions.
FAQs
* Q: What are the main goals of the Senate Majority’s legislative package?
A: The main goals are to prevent voter suppression, ensure accurate and up-to-date voter rolls, and increase transparency in political contributions.
* Q: What is the purpose of S1085?
A: S1085 outlaws spreading disinformation about voting, including the time, place, or voter requirements, aimed at stopping people from voting.
* Q: What is the purpose of S324?
A: S324 bans businesses with foreign ties from spending and making political contributions in New York’s elections to prevent foreign interference in state and local elections.
