BILL NUMBER: S10612 REVISED 6/1/26
SPONSOR: MYRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to the John R. Lewis
voting rights act of New York
 
PURPOSE:
To facilitate implementation of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of
New York.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill clarifies the Legislature's intent for racially
polarized voting to be measured by comparing a divergence in the candi-
dates, political preferences, or electoral choices of members in a
protected class from the candidates, political preferences, or electoral
choices of another class or set of classes.
Section 2 clarifies the Legislature's intent for local boards of
elections to be liable parties in vote dilution and suppression actions.
Section 3 clarifies that courts may order boards of elections, in addi-
tion to political subdivisions, to implement remedies necessary to
redress violations of the New York Voting Rights Act, notwithstanding
conflicting provisions of law.
Section 4 amends the preclearance provisions of the law to give the
Civil Rights Bureau 15 business days to analyze a poll site change,
allows earlier preclearance grants, establishes a clearer judicial
preclearance procedure, clarifies that only covered entities can chal-
lenge a preclearance determination, and clarifies the legislature's
intent for boards of elections to notify the Civil Rights Bureau when
they become subject to a court order.
Section 5 requires that plaintiffs initiating legal actions under the
NYVRA notify the Civil Rights Bureau of these actions.
Section 6 amends the severability clause.
Section 7 sets an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill is intended to streamline administration of and compliance
with the statute, to maximize transparency, and to ensure accuracy and
precision in preclearance coverage determinations. As a result, the
statute will more effectively protect the voting rights of New Yorkers
while minimizing the burden on local jurisdictions.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately

Statutes affected:
S10612: 17-204 election law, 17-204(6) election law, 17-206 election law, 17-206(5) election law, 17-214 election law, 17-222 election law