BILL NUMBER: S6245
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law and the village law, in relation to
requiring village elections on the same date as general elections take
place on even numbered years
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure that village elections are on the same date as general
elections take place in even-numbered years.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: amends section 15-104 of the election law to stipulate that
the general village election be held on the Third Tuesday in March
except in any village that has or adopts a proposition to elect officers
on a day that is not the third Tuesday in March. Villages that have
elections on the day of the general election in November are required to
hold these elections in even-numbered years.
Section 1 also states that in any village scheduled to hold an election
on the third Tuesday of March and March 17th of that year is a Tuesday,
the election is moved to March 18th.
Furthermore, Section 1 states that villages with elections on the day of
the general election in November will hold these elections in even-num-
bered years.
Finally, Section 1 finds that the board of trustees of a village may
adopt a resolution for village elections to be conducted by the board of
elections.
Section 2: Amends paragraph a of subdivision 7 of section 3-302 of the
village law which allows the board of trustees of any village that has
provided trustees and mayors a four-year term may adopt a separate
resolution or local law allowing their specific village to hold general
village elections in odd-numbered years or even number years as they
choose.
Section 3: Amends Subdivision 8 of section 9-910 of the village law so
no special election can be held in March, October, or November.
Section 4: Amends the third undesignated paragraph of section 16-1600 of
the village law so that a proposition for the reincorporation of a
village under this article cannot be submitted at a special election
during February, March, October, or November.
Section 5: Village elected officials serving their term as of January
1st, following the enactment of this law, will complete their full term.
If their term completion requires an odd-numbered year election, the
term will expire as if elected in the previous even-numbered year
election.
Section 6: Provides severability so that if any part of the act is held
invalid, it will not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
Section 7: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's current system of holding local elections on Election Day in
odd-numbered years leads to voter confusion and exhaustion, ultimately
resulting in low voter turnout in local elections. Studies have consist-
ently shown that voter turnout is the highest in 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 Village elections on the general election day in November will
save taxpayer dollars.
Chapter 741 of 2023 was a significant first step in transitioning local
elections to even-numbered years, requiring certain Towns and County
elections to be held in even-numbered years. This bill is the next
logical step needed to continue consolidating our elections and ensure
higher voter turnout.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2024: S9385, Referred to Elections Assembly
2024: No Assembly Same-As
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next, succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S6245: 3-302 village law, 3-302(7) village law, 9-910 village law, 9-910(8) village law, 16-1600 village law