Voter-Rights Advocates hope Legislation that New York State Lawmakers Approved in their Summer Session will Prevent Widespread Invalidation of Absentee Ballots in the Presidential Election in November. The State Legislature Passed a Bill that gives Voters the Opportunity to Address Challenges to their Ballots, One of many Bills aimed at Fixing the State’s Voting System.

The Package of Bills comes after Primary Elections on June 23rd, when Thousands of Absentee Ballots were Invalidated, prompting at least Two Federal Lawsuits alleging Voter Disenfranchisement. The Passed Voting-Overhaul Bill will Require the State Board of Elections to Notify Absentee-Ballot Voters within a Week if their Ballot has been Disqualified.

Another Bill Passed Extends the Ability for All Voters to Vote by Absentee Ballot in the November Election because of the New Coronavirus Pandemic.

New York State Lawmakers have Reached a Deal on an Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) Bill. The Deal could Boost the State’s Voter Rolls by Hundreds of Thousands through what's commonly known as a "Motor-Voter" Bill.

The Senate Bills:

S4378: Makes Provisions regarding the Designation of Polling Places on College Campuses. Passed July 21st, in the Assembly as A5661A.

S6463: Enable the Campaign Finance Board's Use of an Online Voter Registration Portal in New York City. Passed on July 21st, now in Assembly as A8473.

S6922: Increase the Minimum Number of Early Voting Days. Passed Senate January 9th, now in Assembly as A9791.

S7194: Provide Students with Voter Information and Application for Voter Registration. Passed January 22nd, and in Assembly as A8998.

S8015D: Clarifies that "illness" includes the Potential to Contract or Spread Disease, for the purposes of Absentee Voting. Passed July 22nd, now in Assembly as A10833.

S8004: Provide a Return Postage Guaranteed Envelope with Absentee Ballots that Postal Service Must Postmark, now in Assembly as A2327.

S8367A: Protects Absentee Ballots with Postmarking Issues.

S8368: Protects Absentee Ballots where Voters Intent is Unambiguous, now in Assembly as A10744.

S8369: Relates to Ballots Submitted in Envelopes that are Partially Sealed or Sealed with Tape, Paste, or any other Binding Agent or device, now in the Assembly as A10746.

S8370B: Requires BOE to Notify a Voter if their Absentee Ballot is Invalidated due to a Missing or Mis-Matched Signature or an Unsealed Envelope, and Provides the Voter a Chance to Cure the Deficiency. Passed July 22nd, and in the Assembly as A10830.

S8799: Requires the BOE to Count Ballots received the Day after the Election that do Not have a Postmark. Passed July 22nd, and in the Assembly as A10808A.

The Assembly Bills:

A10744: Protects Absentee Ballots where Voters Intent is Unambiguous, now in Senate as S8368.

A10746: Relates to Ballots Submitted in Envelopes that are Partially Sealed or Sealed with Tape, Paste, or any other Binding Agent or device, Passed on July 22nd, now in Assembly as A8473. now in the Assembly as A10746.

A10808A Requires the BOE to Count Ballots received the Day after the Election that do Not have a Postmark. Passed July 22nd and in the Senate as S8799.

A10830: Requires BOE to Notify a Voter if their Absentee Ballot is Invalidated due to a Missing or Mis-Matched Signature or an Unsealed Envelope, and Provides the Voter a Chance to Cure the Deficiency. Passed as of July 22nd, and Passed in Senate as S8370B.

A10833: Clarifies that "illness" includes the Potential to Contract or Spread Disease, for the purposes of Absentee Voting. Passed July 22nd, in the Senate as S8015D.

A116: Would give Voters Two Additional Weeks to Register, moving the Deadline to 10 days before Election Day, the Constitutional Minimum. Passed July 21st, in the Senate, as S2311.

A2327: Provide a Return Postage Guaranteed Envelope with Absentee Ballots that Postal Service Must Postmark. In the Senate as S8004.

A5661A: Requires at least One Polling Location on Every College Campus with more than 300 Registered Students, Passed July 21st in the Senate, as S4378.

A8473: Enable the Campaign Finance Board's Use of an Online Voter Registration Portal in New York City. In the Senate as S6463.

A8998: Provide Students with Voter Information and Application for Voter Registration. Passed July 22nd and in the Senate as S7194.

A9791: Increase the Minimum Number of Early Voting Days. Passed January 9th in the Senate as S6922.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker