BILL NUMBER: S7292
SPONSOR: BRISPORT
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to permitting New York
city voters to sign designating petitions for multiple candidates for
the same New York city municipal public office or party position
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends subdivision 3 of section 6-134 of the election law, so
that a person can sign more than one ballot petition without "over-de-
signating," in order to account for New York City's ranked-choice voting
system.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current New York State election law, a ballot petition is only
allowed to hold a number of candidates equal to the number of offices to
be elected, and no more. In other words, an individual is only allowed
to sign one ballot petition for one candidate for one open seat, and no
more. In 2019, however, New York City overwhelmingly adopted ranked
choice voting, a system wherein individuals can express multiple prefer-
ences for the candidates for a particular office. More than seventy
percent of voters in New York City voted in favor of ranked choice
voting and the ability to prioritize multiple candidates for the offices
of mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president and members of
the City Council.
This legislation amends the election law to accommodate ranked choice
voting in New York City. Specifically, this legislation modifies section
6-134-3 of the election law with respect to so-called "over desig-
nations" in New York City, thereby enabling New York City voters to
support multiple candidates' petitions for the same elected office.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S6213; 2023-24: S4080
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7292: 6-134 election law, 6-134(3) election law