BILL NUMBER: S5711
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing amendments to
section 21 of article 6, article 13, and section 6 of article 4 of the
constitution, in relation to requiring certain elections be held in
even-numbered years at the general election
 
PURPOSE:
To require certain elections to be held in even-numbered years.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subdivision a of section 21 of article 6 of the
constitution so that any vacancy in the office of justice of the supreme
court, of judge of the county court, of judge of the surrogate's court,
or judge of the family court outside the city of New York shall be
filled for the remainder of the term at the next general election occur-
ring in an even-numbered year.
Section 2: Amends article 13 of the constitution by adding two new
sections, 9 and 10, so that the date of judicial officer elections are
held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in an even-num-
bered year and establishes the legislature shall enact laws that provide
for the election of an, elective officer to take place on the Tuesday
after the first Monday in November in an odd-numbered year for a term
which will cause such officer's term to expire at the end of an even-
numbered year.
Section 3: Amends elections for all Tuesday following and that the term
year.
Section 4: Amends the procedure for section 8 of article 13 of the
constitution so that city officers outside of New York City are held on
the the first Monday in November in an even-numbered year of each offi-
cial expires at the end of an even-numbered section 3 of article 13 of
the constitution, outlining filling vacancies in elective offices, also
specifying the procedure in the case of a simultaneous vacancy in the
office of governor and lieutenant governor.
Section 5: Amends section 6 of article 4, establishing the vacancy
procedures in the case of a simultaneous vacancy in the office of gover-
nor and lieutenant governor.
Section 6: Amends subdivision (a) of section 13 of article 13 of the
constitution outlining the election process for various county officers
in New York, including registers, sheriffs, clerks" and district attor-
neys, with elections occurring once every four years in even-numbered
years.
Section 7: Sets Effective Date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's current system of holding certain cities and other local
elections on Election Day in odd-numbered years lead to voter confusion
and voter exhaustion, ultimately resulting in low voter turnout in local
elections. Studies have consistently shown that voter turnout is the
highest on November Election Day in even-numbered years when elections
for State and Federal offices are held. Syncing local elections will
ease voter confusion and will lead to greater citizen participation in
local elections. Further, eliminating odd-year elections to have less
frequent elections will save taxpayer dollars.
Chapter 741 of 2023 was a major first step in transitioning local
elections to even-numbered years, requiring certain Town and County
elections to be held in even-numbered years. This constitutional amend-
ment is the next logical step needed to continue consolidating our
elections and ensure higher voter turnout.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2023: N/A
2024: S9826, Passed Senate
Assembly
2023: N/A
2024: A10538, Opinion Referred to Judiciary
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
That the foregoing amendments be session convening after the next the
assembly, and, in conformity constitution, be published for 3 election.
referred to the first regular legislative succeeding general election of
members of with section 1 of article 19 of the months previous to the
time of such election.