Requires the boards of elections to provide a secure website through which voters can track their absentee ballot from the moment the local board of elections receives the request for a ballot until the moment the vote is counted.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10724
SPONSOR: Rules (Dinowitz) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to absentee ballot track-
ing
PURPOSE:
Require the Boards of Elections to provide a secure website through
which New Yorkers could track their absentee ballot every step of the
process from the moment the local board of elections receives the
request for a ballot until the moment the vote is counted.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends election law by adding a new section 8-414 relating to
setting up and maintain an absentee ballot tracking website and the
required information to be available through that website.
Section 2 sets forth that this act is subject to appropriations for the
cost to develop and maintain the website.
JUSTIFICATION:
The legislation builds on the 2009 Military and Overseas Voters Empower-
ment (MOVE) Act, which required a similar system for overseas voters and
members of the military who vote via absentee ballot. Some states,
already tracking the ballots for those voters, opted to do so for every-
one, including Massachusetts, Iowa and Florida. This legislation would
provide a system for every voter who votes by absentee ballot to track
the process and ensure that their vote is counted in the election.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2017-18: S.5184 Referred to Elections
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There would be no fiscal cost to localities and the bill would be
subject to an appropriation in a future state budget.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 120 days after it becomes law.
