Governor Signs Assemblywoman Paulin’s Bill Simplifying Polling Place Voter Redirection
Albany – Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a bill put forth by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin to simplify the task of assisting voters who have arrived at the wrong polling place. The bill amends an earlier law that required polling places to maintain countywide maps in order to redirect errant voters to the proper location; with the passing of this bill, each polling place need only offer maps or street finders within the political subdivision.
“This change will reduce the cost of implementing the law by requiring fewer maps at each voting location,” says Assemblywoman Paulin, “and will simplify the task of election workers in assisting people who have inadvertently gone to an incorrect polling place.”
Assemblywoman Paulin adds that a person reporting to a mistaken location is virtually never in the wrong city, town or village, and simply needs assistance finding the right polling place or election district based upon the voter’s street address.
“By streamlining this process,” she concludes, “we intend to give every New York voter the best opportunity to reach the correct location in a timely fashion to cast his or her vote as intended.”