BILL NUMBER: S6130A
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the election law, in relation to
watchers
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Subdivision 5 of section 8-500 of the election law, as
amended by chapter 418 of the laws of 2019, is amended.
Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Attorneys licensed to practice law in New York are not restricted in
their practices to any locality or court. They may practice before any
court in the state, as well as before the boards of elections everywhere
in the state. They are also trained as observers and to accurately
report their observations. There should be no restriction on their abil-
ity to be in a polling place on Election Day, where their skills can be
invaluable in both detecting improper conduct, such as voter intim-
idation and suppression, and electioneering, and in obtaining a quick
resolution of such unlawful conduct by reporting it to the appropriate
authorities, including Election Day judges.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S5039 - Referred to Elections
2019-20: S.4552 - Referred to Elections
2017-18: S.3405 - Referred to Elections
2015-16: S.5982 - Referred to Elections
2013-14: S.33735 - Amend and Recommit to Elections
2011-12: S.2348 Referred to Elections
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S6130: 8-500 election law, 8-500(5) election law
S6130A: 8-500 election law, 8-500(5) election law