BILL NUMBER: S5183
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to including a statement
on the envelopes of ballots for 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 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."
Section 2 amends Subdivision 3 of Section 7-125 of the Election Law to
include conspicuous language below the affirmation statement.t hat says
"IMPORTANT TO ABSENTEE VOTER: YOU MUST SIGN THE AFFIRMATION ON THIS
ENVELOPE."
Section 3 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:
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