BILL NUMBER: S10563
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to providing notice
regarding the timeliness of the receipt by the board of elections of
ballots capable of return by mail
 
PURPOSE:
To ensure mail ballot voters have advance notice of the timeliness of
the receipt of mailed in ballots.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the election law by adding a new section 7-127 estab-
lishing that every mail ballot shall come with a written notice inform-
ing the voter of all the methods by which such ballot may be timely
returned. It clarifies that such notice will include a reminder of the
importance of seeking a hand cancellation date for any ballot returned
by domestic postal mail to ensure the date of mailing can always be
determined. This section additionally requires the inclusion of the
website and telephone number of the appropriate board of elections for
the relevant drop-off information in such notification. Finally, this
section enables the state board of elections to promulgate any rules and
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
Section 2: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Current New York State law establishes that mail ballot voters may have
their votes counted up to seven days past election day, so long as their
ballot is postmarked by election day. A new rule created by the United
States Postal Service (USPS) puts this practice at risk, as it estab-
lishes that USPS does not have to postmark mail at the time when it is
received. This has implications on whether mail ballot votes will count,
as these postmarks serve to confirm whether these ballots were submitted
and received before the polls close.
With such a significant change regarding the timing of when mail in
ballots can be received such that votes are counted, it is imperative
that all voters, mail ballot voters included, have an opportunity to
exercise their civic duty to the fullest extent. This bill would do so
by equipping mail ballot voters with the information they need so that
they can take the steps necessary to ensure that their ballots are
received by election day and can thus have their votes counted.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.