BILL NUMBER: S2589
SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to absentee ballots for
school district elections
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To update requirements for absentee ballot applications for school
elections. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends paragraphs a and c section 2018-a of the education law,
to clarify valid reasons to obtain an absentee ballot for elections in
school districts which do not utilize poll registration.
Section 2 amends subdivision 2 of section 2018-b of the education law,
to clarify valid reasons to obtain an absentee ballot for elections in
school districts which do utilize poll registration.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under New York State law, school elections are generally governed under
the education law, not the election law. While this can provide flexi-
bility to school districts, it also means that when election law stat-
utes are updated, the corresponding education law provisions may not be.
Such is the case for education law provisions concerning absentee
ballots, which require much more information from applicants than
election law does. For example, voters who will be on vacation on the
date of the election, under current law, are needlessly required to
disclose the locations where they will be on vacation, the dates, the
name of their employer if they have one, and whether or not they are
self-employed.
These unnecessary requirements act as a barrier to voters utilizing
their right under the law to vote remotely.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S7229A/ A6848A: Passed Senate; died in Assembly Education Committee
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.