Legislation Signed into Law by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on Tuesday, Clarifies the Process Governing Poll Watchers on Election Days and another Bill that is meant to ensure Polling Sites are properly Staffed based on the Location’s Needs.
“Transparent elections are crucial to ensuring voters have their voices heard,” Cuomo said. “By signing these measures into law, we modernize our elections, bringing efficiency and common sense to a process that has been unnecessarily ambiguous for far too long.”
The Poll Watching Legislation clarifies the Process for how Watchers are Appointed for General, Primary, Special, Village, or Town Elections.
The Measure allows Candidates Running on the Ballot as well as Political Committees Three Poll Watchers for Each Election District and Only One within a Guardrail at any time.
The New Law is meant to Provide Clearer Authority for Who Appoints Poll Watchers on Election Day.
A Second Measure Allows an Elections Board to Design an Alternative Staffing Plan for a Polling Site based on the Location’s Needs and Issue.
Currently Staffing Plans are Based on a Time when the Voting Machines were Pull-Lever machines.
“Voters need to be able to trust that every vote will be counted and their democracy functions with integrity,” said State Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-20th District). “Poll watchers play an integral role in our democracy, and we must empower them to do their job. In a state as large and diverse as New York, there is no reason to use a one size fits all approach to running our poll sites. I am proud to support our Boards of Elections and ensure that the experience of all New Yorkers participating in our democracy is convenient, efficient, and secure.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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