The Independent View: Looking at NY Early Voting Bills

During the 2012 election, after redistricting, my wife and I spent over four hours voting in a new polling place. So I decided to track possible early voting bills traveling through the New York Legislature. Here is an update.

S01920
Enacts the "early voting act"; provides to any person early voting for a candidate for public office in a general, primary or special election for any public or party office by paper ballot to take place no sooner than fourteen business days and up the election. Sent to the Senate Elections Committee on 01-09-2013.

S00424
Provides to any person early voting for a candidate for public office in a general election to take place no sooner than twenty days and no later than five days prior to election day, and for a special election to take place no sooner than eight days. Sent to the Senate Elections Committee on 01-09-2013.

S01461
Relates to early voting in the state of New York. Sent to the Senate Elections Committee on 01-09-2013.

A02672
Authorizes early voting at primary and general elections to be conducted at least 7 days prior to the election upon application by the voter and provides that permanent polling places shall be established by the county board of elections for early voting. Sent to the Assembly Election Law Committee on 01-17-2013.

S02634
Provides for early voting in primary and general elections during the 2 week period prior to the election. Sent to the Senate Elections Committee on 01-23-2013.

A03567
Provides to any person early voting for a candidate for public office in a general election to take place no sooner than twenty days and no later than five days prior to election day, and for a special election to take place no sooner than eight days. Sent to the Assembly Election Law Committee on 01-28-2013.

A03644
Provides for early voting in primary and general elections during the 2 week period prior to the election. Sent to the Assembly Election Law Committee on 01-28-2013.

A00689 and A00689A
Relates to early voting in the state of New York. Amended to A00689A. Sent to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee on 04-25-2013.

As we all know, New York's state legislature knows how to create a perfect storm to kill an important issue.

After waiting over four hours to vote, I would take almost any option to reduce long lines at the polls, even though I would still want the polling place experience.

UPDATE
The Assembly is poised to pass an early voting bill that would open up early voting in all elections in New York.

The measure was touted as a way to encourage greater voter participation, shorten waits and lines at polling places, and expand voting access for New Yorkers in a press release issued by Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman Tuesday.

“Democracy thrives when as many citizens as possible participate in the electoral process. Yet New Yorkers can only vote for a candidate or a ballot proposition during a set number of hours on a single day. For the health and vitality of our Democracy, our election law must be changed,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a press release. “

The bill would open up the polls 15 days early for general elections and eight days early for primary and special elections.

If the measure is adopted by the state, New York would join 32 other states and Washington D.C. that have some form of early voting.

“Early voting will reduce barriers to participation that particularly impact working people, and ensure that all New Yorkers have an opportunity to participate in our democratic process. The time has come for New York to join the dozens of states around country that allow early voting,” Schneiderman said.

Schneiderman added that the measure would help alleviate long lines at the polls on Election Day and strain on poll workers. It would also allow people who have to work on Election Day easier access to vote.

Under the bill, each local Board of Elections would have to open at least five voting sites early and they must be spread out throughout the district to allow equal access to all voters. The polls would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Ballots cast during early voting would be not be counted until polls close on Election Day and included in that night’s tally.