NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1014
SPONSOR: Simone TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to ballot drop-off
locations
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to amend Chapter 500 of the Laws of 2024 to
make technical changes to effectuate the intent of the law.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 8-416 of the election law to define ballot drop
boxes, authorize each board of elections to establish and provide notice
of the location of those drop boxes, and directs the State Board of
Elections to promulgate rules and regulation necessary for the implanta-
tion of this section.
Section 2 amends Section 8-410 of the election law to make conforming
changes.
Section 3 amends Section 8-708 of the election law to specify that early
vote by mail ballots may be returned to the county board of elections
via a drop box.
Section 4 amends Section 8-412 of the election law to make conforming
changes.
Section 5 amends Section 8-710 of the election law to provide that an
early mail ballot shall be deemed received by the board of elections
before the close of polls on election day if it is deposited in a ballot
drop box before such day. In addition, the failure of the board of
elections to time stamp the ballot shall not prohibit the canvass of the
ballot as it shall be deemed timely. Finally, at the close of the polls
on election day, the ballot drop boxes shall be closed and any ballots
contained therein shall be collected.
Section 6 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Many states currently authorize voters to return their absentee and
early mail ballots to election officials by depositing them in a secure
drop box, rather than mailing them or bringing them in to a Board of
Elections office.
By authorizing local Boards of Elections to establish secure ballot drop
boxes, this bill would emulate the systems of other states that have
successfully conducted vote-by-mail elections for years by providing
voters a convenient alternative option to submit their ballots without
having to rely on an overburdened postal service struggling to keep up
with an unprecedented volume of ballot submissions. The chapter amend-
ment will allow early vote ballots to be collected in the ballot drop
boxes.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is new legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as
Chapter 500 of the Laws of 2024 amending the election law in relation to
authorizing boards of elections to establish absentee ballot drop off
locations as proposed in legislative bills A.7243 and S.610.
