Authorizes and directs the state board of elections, in cooperation with county boards of elections, to create an online petitioning system for designating petitions; provides that use of such online petitioning system shall not preclude the collection and use of paper designating petitions; authorizes the state board of elections to promulgate necessary rules and regulations.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6239
SPONSOR: Carroll R TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to authorizing and direct-
ing the state board of elections to create an online petitioning system
for designating petitions
PURPOSE:
To create an online system for the submission of designating petitions
for candidates seeking elected office in the state.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: adds a new section 6-136-a to the Election Law authorizing
the state board of elections to develop an online system for qualified
voters to submit designating petitions for candidates for all statewide
elections, legislative offices, and local elections. This system must
be integrated with county boards of elections, provide for the trans-
mission of signed petitions to the appropriate officer, allow only qual-
ified voters to sign particular petitions, and provide that candidates
may collect petitions up to their required threshold for the particular
office through the system. Establishes that use of the online system
does not preclude the use of paper petitions.
Section 2: sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Designating petitions are a key component of New York's electoral
system. Every year, thousands of volunteers go door-to-door to gather
enough signatures for candidates to appear on the ballot. It is a
significant investment of time, effort, and passion for our democratic
process. However, recent years have shown the limits of this system.
Changes in the political calendar to consolidate New York's multiple
primary elections moved the petitioning period into February and March.
For much'of the state, this means that petitioning is happening in the-
middle of intense winters. In rural areas, as well as towns and villages
without sidewalks, this can be especially challenging:It has also
exacerbated the barriers to people with physical disabilities who wish
to run for office or participate in political campaigns. In 2020, the
health crisis necessitated a temporary reduction of petitioning thresh-
olds and an eventual end of the petitioning period to preserve public
health. Concerns of safety, health, and fairness suggest that we should
not go back to the prior requirement for gathering signatures one door
at a time.
For several years, the State of Arizona has operated an online petition-
ing system called E-Qual. This secure portal allows qualified voters to
sign petitions for candidates online. This alloWs for a broader and more
accessible form of petition-gathering that does not depend on thousand
of hours of volunteer labor, sometimes in dangerous conditions. Use of
the online system in Arizona does not prohibit the additional use of
paper designating petitions, nor does it release candidates from the
necessity of engaging with voters and supporters in order to earn the
necessary number of signatures to appear on the ballot. Creating such a
system in New York to supplement the traditional process of paper desig-
nating petitions will increase the flexibility of our system and make
the designating process more open, safe, and fair across the entire
state.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.10345/S.8238 of 2019-20
A.623/S.1344 of 2021-22
A.2011/S.241 of 2023/24
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
