STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4257--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Election Law -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to providing for online
and in-person instruction and examination of election inspectors, poll
clerks and election coordinators
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivisions 1, 3 and 5 of section 3-412 of the election
2 law, subdivisions 1 and 3 as amended by chapter 180 of the laws of 2005,
3 and subdivision 5 as added by chapter 510 of the laws of 1985, are
4 amended to read as follows:
5 1. Each board of elections shall, at least once every year, conduct a
6 mandatory school for the instruction of election inspectors, poll clerks
7 and election coordinators. [They] Such instruction may be given in
8 person or online, provided that online instruction shall be offered over
9 a two week period that includes the date for in-person instruction.
10 Certain online participants may be required to supplement online
11 instruction with in-person instruction that includes the use of voting
12 machines or other matters requiring specialized training. Written notice
13 shall be given [written notice] to participants stating the time and
14 place at which such [school or schools] in-person instruction shall be
15 held, the option to obtain instruction online with direction on how to
16 access the online option, and identifying the participants that must
17 attend in-person instruction in addition to online instruction.
18 3. Election inspectors, poll clerks and election coordinators as
19 required by this section shall, upon their original designation, and
20 every year thereafter, complete a course of instruction, and, before
21 certification, pass an examination thereon. Such examination shall be
22 given both online and in person, provided that those participants whose
23 instructions include the use of voting machines or other matters requir-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02134-02-1
A. 4257--A 2
1 ing specialized training may be required to pass an examination on such
2 matters in person. The state board of elections shall supply each board
3 of elections with instructional material to be used in the preparation
4 for such examinations and shall give each such board of elections
5 uniform directions for the conduct of such examinations, which[,] it
6 shall be the duty of the board to follow. Every such board may utilize
7 additional materials selected by it in the course of instruction. No
8 person taking such examination shall be permitted to know the questions
9 or answers in advance or be given access to the answers during the exam-
10 ination. If such inspectors [or], poll clerks or coordinators pass such
11 examination, the board of elections shall certify the designated
12 election inspector [or], poll clerk or coordinator.
13 5. Each board of elections shall reproduce a booklet of instructions
14 for [inspectors] participants prepared by the state board of elections.
15 A copy of such booklet, or digital version, shall be given to each
16 [inspector] participant at the time such [inspector] participant attends
17 the course of instruction. At least one copy of such booklet shall be
18 included with the supplies sent to each election district for each
19 election and day of local registration.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
21 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
22 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
23 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
24 on or before such date.
