Bill Text: NY A06310 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Relates to requirements of a witness to a designating petition or independent nominating petition.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-24 - enacting clause stricken [A06310 Detail]

Download: New_York-2015-A06310-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         6310
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                    March 20, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
         tee on Election Law
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the  election  law,  in  relation to requirements of
         witnesses to a designating petition or independent nominating petition
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 6-132 of the election law,
    2  as amended by chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, are amended  to  read  as
    3  follows:
    4    2. There shall be appended at the bottom of each sheet a signed state-
    5  ment  of  a  witness  who  is a duly qualified voter of the state and an
    6  enrolled voter of the same political party as the  voters  qualified  to
    7  sign the petition[, and who is also a resident of the political subdivi-
    8  sion in which the office or position is to be voted for. However, in the
    9  case  of  a petition for election to the party position of member of the
   10  county committee, residence in the same  county  shall  be  sufficient].
   11  Such a statement shall be accepted for all purposes as the equivalent of
   12  an  affidavit,  and  if  it  contains  a material false statement, shall
   13  subject the person signing it to the same penalties as if he or she  had
   14  been  duly  sworn.  The form of such statement shall be substantially as
   15  follows:
   16                             STATEMENT OF WITNESS
   17    I,..................... (name of witness) state: I am a duly qualified
   18  voter  of  the  State  of  New  York  and  am  an  enrolled   voter   of
   19  the.......................  party.  I  now reside at....................
   20  (residence address).
   21    Each of the individuals whose names are subscribed  to  this  petition
   22  sheet   containing.................   (fill   in   number)   signatures,
   23  subscribed the same in my presence on  the  dates  above  indicated  and
   24  identified  himself  or  herself  to  be  the individual who signed this
   25  sheet.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD03405-03-5
       A. 6310                             2
    1    I understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes  as
    2  the  equivalent  of  an  affidavit  and, if it contains a material false
    3  statement, shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been  duly
    4  sworn.
    5    Date:.......................           ..........................
    6                                              Signature of Witness
    7    Witness  identification information: The following information must be
    8  completed prior to filing with the board of elections in order for  this
    9  petition sheet to be valid.
   10                     Town or City              County
   11                     ............             ........
   12    3.   In lieu of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly quali-
   13  fied voter of the state [qualified to sign the petition], the  following
   14  statement  signed  by  a notary public or commissioner of deeds shall be
   15  accepted:
   16    On the dates above indicated before me personally  came  each  of  the
   17  voters  whose  signatures  appear  on  this  petition  sheet  containing
   18  ............. (fill in number) signatures, who signed same in  my  pres-
   19  ence  and who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself, said
   20  that the foregoing statement made and subscribed  by  him  or  her,  was
   21  true.
   22  Date:..................
   23                                          .............................
   24                                          (Signature and official title
   25                                          of officer administering oath)
   26    S 2. Subdivision 2 of section 6-140 of the election law, as amended by
   27  chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
   28    2.  In  lieu of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly quali-
   29  fied voter of the state [qualified to sign the petition], the  following
   30  statement  signed  by  a notary public or commissioner of deeds shall be
   31  accepted:
   32    On the dates above indicated before me personally  came  each  of  the
   33  voters  whose  signatures  appear  on  this  petition  sheet  containing
   34  .......... (fill in number) signatures, who signed same in  my  presence
   35  and  who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself, said that
   36  the foregoing statement made and subscribed by him or her, was true.
   37  Date: ......................
   38                                     ................................
   39                                     (Signature and official title
   40                                      of officer administering oath)
   41    S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 6-204 of the election law, as amended by
   42  chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
   43    1. Party designations for elective village offices shall be made on  a
   44  designating  petition  containing  the signatures in ink of residents of
   45  the village who are registered to vote with the appropriate county board
   46  of elections at the time of signing and who are enrolled in  such  poli-
   47  tical  party.  The sheets of such a petition shall be numbered. A signer
   48  need not himself or herself fill in the date or residence. Each sheet of
   49  such petition must be in substantially  the  following  form  and  shall
   50  contain all the information required therein:
   51                         PARTY DESIGNATING PETITION
       A. 6310                             3
    1    I, the undersigned do hereby state that I am a registered voter of the
    2  Village  of ............. and a duly enrolled voter of the .............
    3  party and entitled to vote at the next primary election of  such  party,
    4  that my place of residence is truly stated opposite my signature hereto,
    5  and  I  hereby  designate  the  following named person (or persons) as a
    6  candidate or (candidates) for nomination of such party  for  the  public
    7  office or (public offices) to be voted for at the primary election to be
    8  held on the ...... day of ............ 20.... as hereinafter specified.
    9      Name of Candidate     Public Office       Term          Residence
   10    ....................  .................   ..........    ............
   11    ....................  .................   ..........    ............
   12    I  do  hereby  appoint  (insert  names and addresses of at least three
   13  persons, all of whom shall be  enrolled  voters  of  said  party)  as  a
   14  committee  to  fill  vacancies  in accordance with the provisions of the
   15  election law.
   16    In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my  hand,  the  day  and  year
   17  placed opposite my signature.
   18      Date             Name            Residence
   19     .............   .............   ...............
   20     .............   .............   ...............
   21                            STATEMENT OF WITNESS
   22    I ............... (name of witness) state: I am a duly qualified voter
   23  of  the State of New York; and an enrolled voter of the .........  party
   24  [and now reside in the Village of ......... County of .........    State
   25  of  New York at ............ (residence address) therein].  I NOW RESIDE
   26  AT ..... (RESIDENCE ADDRESS).  Each  of  the  persons  whose  names  are
   27  subscribed  to  this  petition  sheet  containing  ......... signatures,
   28  subscribed his or her name in my presence.
   29    I understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes  as
   30  the  equivalent  of  an  affidavit  and, if it contains a material false
   31  statement, shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been  duly
   32  sworn.
   33     ........................        .................................
   34        Date:                                 Signature of witness
   35    In  lieu  of the signed statement of a witness who is a duly qualified
   36  voter of the state qualified to sign the petition, the following  state-
   37  ment signed by a notary public shall be accepted:
   38    On  the  dates  above  indicated before me personally came each of the
   39  voters  whose  signatures  appear  on  this  petition  sheet  containing
   40  ............. (fill  in  number) signatures, who signed same in my pres-
   41  ence and who, being by me duly sworn, each for himself or herself,  said
   42  that  the  foregoing  statement  made  and subscribed by him or her, was
   43  true.
   44  Date..................
       A. 6310                             4
    1                       ...............................
    2                       (Signature and official title
    3                       of officer administering oath)
    4      Page No........
    5    S 4. Subdivision 1 of section 6-206 of the election law, as amended by
    6  chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
    7    1.  Independent nominations for elective village offices shall be made
    8  by a petition containing the signatures  in  ink  of  residents  of  the
    9  village  who  are  registered  with  the  appropriate  county  board  of
   10  elections at the time of signing. The sheets of such a petition shall be
   11  numbered. A signer need not himself or herself fill in the date or resi-
   12  dence. Each sheet of such petition must be in substantially the  follow-
   13  ing form and shall contain all the information required therein:
   14                   VILLAGE INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION
   15    I,  the  undersigned,  do hereby state that I am a registered voter of
   16  the Village of......., that my present place of residence is truly stat-
   17  ed opposite my signature, and I do hereby nominate the  following  named
   18  person  (or  persons)  as a candidate (or as candidates) for election to
   19  public office (or public offices) to be voted for at the election to  be
   20  held   on   the.....day  of........, 20.....,  and  that  I  select  the
   21  name........... (fill in name) as  the  name  of  the  independent  body
   22  making  the  nomination (or nominations) and.....(fill in emblem) as the
   23  emblem of such body.
   24       Name of
   25      Candidate           Public Office           Term        Residence
   26     .............      ....................      ....      ...............
   27     .............      ....................      ....      ...............
   28    I do hereby appoint (insert names and  addresses  of  at  least  three
   29  persons,  all of whom shall be registered voters within such village) as
   30  a committee to fill vacancies in accordance with the provisions  of  the
   31  election law.
   32    In  witness  whereof,  I have signed this petition on the day and year
   33  stated before my signature.
   34      Date          Signature           Residence
   35    ..........    .................   ...................
   36    ..........    .................   ...................
   37                            STATEMENT OF WITNESS
   38    I, ..................... state that I am a duly qualified  voter  [and
   39  now  reside at ...................... (residence address) in the Village
   40  of  ................  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  County  of
   41  .................];    AND    AM    AN    ENROLLED    VOTER    OF    THE
   42  ............... PARTY.   I  NOW  RESIDE   AT ................ (RESIDENCE
   43  ADDRESS). Each of the voters whose names are subscribed to this petition
   44  sheet   containing   ................   (fill   in  number)  signatures,
   45  subscribed his or her name in my presence.
   46    I understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes  as
   47  the  equivalent  of  an  affidavit  and, if it contains a material false
   48  statement, shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been  duly
   49  sworn.
       A. 6310                             5
    1   .......................           ..............................
    2      Date                               Signature of witness
    3    S  5.  Paragraph  a of subdivision 3 of section 15-108 of the election
    4  law, as amended by chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended  to  read
    5  as follows:
    6    a.  Party designations for elective village offices shall be made on a
    7  designating petition containing the signatures in ink  of  residents  of
    8  the village who are registered to vote with the appropriate county board
    9  of  elections  at the time of signing and who are enrolled in such poli-
   10  tical party. The sheets of such a petition shall be numbered. Such peti-
   11  tion must set forth in each instance the correct date  of  signing,  the
   12  name  of the signer, and his or her present address, and may set forth a
   13  committee to fill vacancies  consisting  of  at  least  three  qualified
   14  voters  of the village enrolled in such party and their residence within
   15  the village. A signer need not himself or herself fill in  the  date  or
   16  residence.  Each  sheet  of  such  petition must be in substantially the
   17  following form and shall contain all the information required therein:
   18                         PARTY DESIGNATING PETITION
   19    I, the undersigned do hereby state that I am a registered voter of the
   20  Village of ...... and a duly enrolled voter  of  the ........ party  and
   21  entitled  to  vote  at  the next primary election of such party, that my
   22  place of residence is truly stated opposite my signature hereto,  and  I
   23  hereby  designate the following named person (or persons) as a candidate
   24  (or candidates) for nomination of such party for the public  office  (or
   25  public  offices)  to  be voted for at the primary election to be held on
   26  the ...... day of ........... 20.... as hereinafter specified.
   27      Name of Candidate     Public Office      Term       Residence
   28    ....................  .................   .......   ...............
   29    ....................  .................   .......   ...............
   30    I do hereby appoint (insert names and  addresses  of  at  least  three
   31  persons,  all  of  whom  shall  be  enrolled  voters of said party) as a
   32  committee to fill vacancies in accordance with  the  provisions  of  the
   33  election law.
   34    IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I  have  hereunto set my hand, the day and year
   35  placed opposite my signature.
   36      Date             Name            Residence
   37    .............    .............   ...............
   38    .............    .............   ...............
   39                            STATEMENT OF WITNESS
   40    I ............... (name of witness) state: I am a duly qualified voter
   41  of the State of New York; and an enrolled voter  of  the ......... party
   42  [and now reside in the Village of ......... County of ......... State of
   43  New  York  at ............ (residence  address)  therein].  I NOW RESIDE
   44  AT ..............(RESIDENCE ADDRESS). Each of the  persons  whose  names
   45  are  subscribed  to this petition sheet containing ......... signatures,
   46  subscribed his or her name in my presence.
       A. 6310                             6
    1    I understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes  as
    2  the  equivalent  of  an  affidavit  and, if it contains a material false
    3  statement, shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been  duly
    4  sworn.
    5    S  6.  Subdivision 4 of section 15-108 of the election law, as amended
    6  by chapter 447 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
    7    4. Independent nominations for elective village offices shall be  made
    8  by  a  petition  containing  the  signatures  in ink of residents of the
    9  village  who  are  registered  with  the  appropriate  county  board  of
   10  elections at the time of signing or who are residents of the village who
   11  were  on  the list of registered voters for the last village election in
   12  such village. The sheets of such a  petition  shall  be  numbered.  Such
   13  petition  must  set  forth in each instance the correct date of signing,
   14  the name of the signer and his or her present address, and may set forth
   15  a committee to fill vacancies consisting of at least three persons qual-
   16  ified to vote in the village election and  their  residence  within  the
   17  village.  A signer need not himself or herself fill in the date or resi-
   18  dence. Each sheet of such petition must be in substantially the  follow-
   19  ing  form  and shall contain all the information required therein except
   20  as may otherwise be permitted by law.
   21                   VILLAGE INDEPENDENT NOMINATING PETITION
   22    I, the undersigned, do hereby state that I am a  registered  voter  of
   23  the  Village  of .........., that my present place of residence is truly
   24  stated opposite my signature, and I do  hereby  nominate  the  following
   25  named person (or persons) as a candidate (or as candidates) for election
   26  to  public office (or public offices) to be voted for at the election to
   27  be held on the ..... day of ........, 20....., and  that  I  select  the
   28  name .............. (fill  in  name) as the name of the independent body
   29  making the nomination (or nominations) and ..... (fill in emblem) as the
   30  emblem of such body.
   31      Name of Candidate     Public Office       Term        Residence
   32    ....................  .................   ........    .................
   33    ....................  .................   ........    .................
   34  I do hereby appoint _ _ _ _
   35          Name                            Residence
   36    .............................   .................................
   37    .............................   .................................
   38  as a committee to fill vacancies in accordance with  the  provisions  of
   39  the election law.
   40    IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I have signed this petition on the day and year
   41  stated before my signature.
   42      Date             Signature          Residence
   43    .............    .................  ...............
   44    .............    .................  ...............
   45                            STATEMENT OF WITNESS
   46    I, ............... state that I am a duly  qualified  voter  [and  now
   47  reside    at ............. (residence    address)    in    the   Village
   48  of ........... in]  OF  the  State  of   New   York   [in   the   County
       A. 6310                             7
    1  of ........ ];  AND  AM AN ENROLLED VOTER OF THE ......... PARTY.  I NOW
    2  RESIDE AT .......... (RESIDENCE ADDRESS). Each of the voters whose names
    3  are subscribed to  this  petition  sheet,  containing ........ (fill  in
    4  number) signatures, subscribed his or her name in my presence.
    5    I  understand that this statement will be accepted for all purposes as
    6  the equivalent of an affidavit and, if  it  contains  a  material  false
    7  statement,  shall subject me to the same penalties as if I had been duly
    8  sworn.
    9    Date ....................        ...........................
   10                                        Signature of Witness
   11    S 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
   12  it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
   13  ment  and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the imple-
   14  mentation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on
   15  or before such date.
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