BILL NUMBER: S1776
SPONSOR: WALCZYK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to authorizing early
voting sites to be placed at at least one city in a county, or if there
is no city in such county, the county seat
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would allow counties across New York to place an early voting
site at the county seat if they so choose.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Permits counties to place an early voting site at either a
city in the county or in the county seat.
Section 2: Sets the effective date.
Section 3:
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many counties have cited issues with new laws stating that a county must
place an early voting site in a city. In some areas, cities are not
practical places for these sites due to driving distance or insufficient
places to put the polling place in. Many Senators have similar bills
creating carveouts for counties in their district, such as Herkimer,
Fulton, and Madison Counties. This bill would allow counties across New
York to place an early voting site at the county seat if they so choose.
Allowing this gives more discretion and power to municipalities who know
how to help their residents vote best.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S1776: 8-600 election law, 8-600(2) election law