BILL NUMBER: S5851
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: Resolved (if the Assembly concur) amends section 21 of arti-
cle 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 a full term at the next general election occur-
ring in an even-numbered year.
Section 2: Resolved (if the Assembly concur) 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-numbered year and establishes the legisla-
ture shall enact laws that provide for the election of an elective offi-
cer 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: Resolved (if the Assembly concur) amends section 8 of article
13 of the constitution so that elections for all city officers are held
on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in an even-num-
bered year and that the term of each official expires at the end of an
even-numbered year.
Section 4: Resolved (if the Assembly concur) amends section 3 of article
13 of the Constitution, outlining the procedure for filling vacancies in
elective offices and specifying the procedure in the case of a simul-
taneous vacancy in the office of governor and lieutenant governor.
Section 5: Resolved (if the Assembly concur) amends section 6 of article
4, establishing the vacancy procedures in the case of a simultaneous
vacancy in the office of governor and lieutenant governor.
Section 6: Resolved (if the Assembly concur) 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 attorneys, with elections occurring once
every four years in even-numbered years.
Section 7: Sets Effective Date and Process of Adoption.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's current system of holding certain city and other local
elections on Election Day in odd-numbered years leads 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. This constitutional amendment
will move the elections of city officers, judicial officers, and others
such as sheriffs, county clerks, and district attorneys to even-numbered
years.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2024: S9126, Opinion Referred to Judiciary
Assembly
2024: A10466, Referred to Election Law
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments be
referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.