BILL NUMBER: S5183B
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to including a statement
on the envelopes of ballots for early mail voters, absentee voters and
special presidential voters for signature affirmation
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to provide conspicuous language on
absentee ballot envelopes to remind voters that they need to sign the
envelope.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of this bill amends Subdivision 6 of section 7-119 of the
election law to include conspicuous language below the affirmation
statement that says "IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE
AFFIRMATION ON THIS ENVELOPE.". This section also includes gender
neutral pronouns within the signature of witness directions.
Section 2 amends Subdivision 6 of Section 7-122 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the affirmation statement that says
"IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
ENVELOPE." This section also includes gender neutral pronouns within the
signature of witness directions.
Section 3 amends Subdivision 3 of Section 7-125 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the statement of special presidential
voter that says "IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMA-
TION ON THIS ENVELOPE." This section also includes gender neutral
pronouns within the signature of witness directions.
Section 4 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive increase in absentee votes to be
cast. Many people choose to vote by mail rather than at polling stations
due to health concerns or convenience. When they cast their votes either
by mailing their absentee ballots, handing them in at polling
stations,or delivering them to the Board of Elections, many of these
voters did not sign the back of the absentee ballot envelope. Thousands
of ballots were deemed invalid because voters did not sign the back of
the absentee ballot envelope. This legislation is designed to address
this issue. Conspicuous language beneath the signature line that tells
voters to sign the absentee ballot envelope will inform and remind
voters to sign the envelope. This will help to ensure that absentee
ballots cast will be counted.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2026: S.5183-A - Amended on third reading
2025: S.5183 - Referred to governmental operations
2023-2024: S.2057-A - Passed Senate
2021-2022: S.1992 - Referred to Elections/A.6122 - Referred to Election
Law
2019-2020: S.8850 - Referred to Rules/A.10875 - Referred to Election Law
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S5183: 7-122 election law, 7-122(6) election law, 7-125 election law, 7-125(3) election law
S5183A: 7-119 election law, 7-119(6) election law, 7-122 election law, 7-122(6) election law, 7-125 election law, 7-125(3) election law
S5183B: 7-119 election law, 7-119(6) election law, 7-122 election law, 7-122(6) election law, 7-125 election law, 7-125(3) election law