BILL NUMBER: S7083
SPONSOR: LANZA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to preventing munici-
palities from abridging the election law
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would prevent municipalities from abridging the election law.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 5-106 of the election law by adding two new
subdivisions 7 and 8.
Section two is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Democracy was attacked when on December 9, 2021, the New York City Coun-
cil passed legislation allowing close to one million non-United States
citizens the ability to vote in local elections. The Council's legis-
lation is an affront to every law-abiding American citizen who values
their sacred right to participate in our democracy. This action also
shows nothing but blatant disregard for our Constitution by elected
members who took an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution of the
United States of America. Thus, this bill is necessary to prevent muni-
cipalities in New York State from abridging the State's Election Law.
This legislation will ensure that only citizens of the United States are
eligible to vote in State and local elections. It will also strengthen
and preserve the integrity of our elections that New Yorkers expect and
cherish. In March of 2025, New York's highest court, the Court of
Appeals, struck down New York City's law allowing non-citizen voting in
local elections. While the courts struck down the law, this bill needs
to be codified in State Law to ensure that our democracy is protected
and to give the public confidence knowing that local governments cannot
give voting rights to non-citizens.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S.5052 - Referred to Elections / A.3146 - Referred to Elections
2023: S.5052 - Referred to Elections / A.3146 - Referred to Elections
2022: S.7596 - Referred to Elections
2021: S.7596 - Referred to Rules
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7083: 5-106 election law