Bill Text: NY S04948 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Authorizes towns to delegate the conduct of special town elections to their respective county boards of elections and authorizes fire districts and improvement districts to delegate the conduct of their elections to their respective county boards of elections; provides the procedure for doing so.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-04 - REFERRED TO ELECTIONS [S04948 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-S04948-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         4948
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                      May 2, 2011
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
       AN ACT to amend the election law, the county law, the town law, and  the
         municipal  home rule law, in relation to authorizing towns to delegate
         the conduct of special  town  elections  to  their  respective  county
         boards  of  elections  and  authorizing fire districts and improvement
         districts to delegate the conduct of their elections to their  respec-
         tive county boards of elections
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Section 1-104 of the election  law  is  amended  by  adding
    2  three new subdivisions 38, 39 and 40 to read as follows:
    3    38.  THE  TERM "SPECIAL DISTRICT" MEANS A FIRE DISTRICT OR AN IMPROVE-
    4  MENT DISTRICT CREATED PURSUANT TO THE TOWN LAW.
    5    39. THE TERM "SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION" MEANS ANY ELECTION CONDUCTED IN A
    6  TOWN, OR PART OF A TOWN, AT A TIME OTHER THAN THE TIME  OF  THE  GENERAL
    7  ELECTION, FOR ANY PURPOSE SPECIFIED IN THE TOWN LAW.
    8    40. THE TERM "SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION" MEANS THE ANNUAL ELECTION FOR
    9  COMMISSIONERS  OF  A SPECIAL DISTRICT OR ANY OTHER ELECTION OF A SPECIAL
   10  DISTRICT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE SPECIFIED IN THE TOWN LAW, AND UNLESS THE
   11  CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES,  SHALL  INCLUDE  "SPECIAL  DISTRICT  GENERAL
   12  ELECTION" AND "SPECIAL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION".
   13    S  2. Subdivision 35 of section 1-104 of the election law, as added by
   14  chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   15    35. The term "election" shall include:
   16    A. a "general village election" or "special village  election"  except
   17  where  a  specific  provision  of  this  chapter may not be consistently
   18  applied to the village election procedure;
   19    B. A "SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION" EXCEPT WHERE A SPECIFIC PROVISION OF THIS
   20  CHAPTER MAY NOT BE CONSISTENTLY APPLIED TO  THE  SPECIAL  TOWN  ELECTION
   21  PROCEDURE; AND
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD01213-02-1
       S. 4948                             2
    1    C.  A "SPECIAL DISTRICT GENERAL ELECTION" OR "SPECIAL DISTRICT SPECIAL
    2  ELECTION" EXCEPT WHERE A SPECIFIC PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER MAY  NOT  BE
    3  CONSISTENTLY APPLIED TO THE SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION PROCEDURE.
    4    S 3. Subdivision 1 of section 3-404 of the election law, as amended by
    5  chapter 263 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
    6    1.  The  board  of  elections  of  each  county shall on or before the
    7  fifteenth day of July of each year select and appoint  election  inspec-
    8  tors and poll clerks for each election district therein, and such number
    9  of election coordinators as it determines to be necessary, and may ther-
   10  eafter  select  and  designate  election  inspectors,  poll  clerks  and
   11  election coordinators to fill any vacancy for an unexpired  term.    The
   12  term  of  such  designation shall be for a term ending on the fourteenth
   13  day of July of the following year.  If  the  election  districts  for  a
   14  general or special village election conducted by the board of elections,
   15  A  SPECIAL  TOWN ELECTION CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR SPECIAL
   16  DISTRICT GENERAL OR SPECIAL ELECTION CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
   17  are coterminous with the  election  districts  established  for  general
   18  elections,  such election inspectors and poll clerks shall also serve at
   19  such village, TOWN  OR  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  elections.  If  the  election
   20  districts for such a village, TOWN election OR SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION
   21  are  not so coterminous, the board of elections shall select the inspec-
   22  tors and poll clerks to serve in each  such  village,  TOWN  OR  SPECIAL
   23  DISTRICT  election  district  from  among the inspectors and poll clerks
   24  appointed, pursuant to the provisions of this section, for any  election
   25  district wholly or partly in such village, TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT.
   26    S 4. Subdivision 1 of section 3-420 of the election law, as amended by
   27  chapter 180 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
   28    1.  Election inspectors, poll clerks, election coordinators and quali-
   29  fied voters appointed to act in place of an absent inspector,  clerk  or
   30  coordinator shall be paid for their services on the days of registration
   31  and  election,  by  the county containing the election district in which
   32  they serve, in an amount fixed by the county legislative  body,  subject
   33  to  such  limitations  as  shall be prescribed or authorized by statute,
   34  except that in the city of New York  the  amount  of  such  compensation
   35  shall be payable by such city and shall be fixed by the mayor at a daily
   36  rate  which,  in  the case of election inspectors shall not be less than
   37  one hundred thirty dollars and in the case of election coordinators  not
   38  less  than  two  hundred dollars. Such inspectors, poll clerks, election
   39  coordinators and qualified  voters  at  a  general  or  special  village
   40  election  conducted  by  the board of elections, A SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION
   41  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS  OR  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  GENERAL  OR
   42  SPECIAL  ELECTION  CONDUCTED  BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS shall be paid by
   43  such village, TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT in an amount fixed by the village
   44  board of trustees, TOWN BOARD OR SPECIAL DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
   45  subject to any such limitations.
   46    S 5. Subdivision 1 of section 4-104 of the election law, as amended by
   47  chapter 180 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
   48    1. Every board of elections shall, in  consultation  with  each  city,
   49  town and village, designate the polling places in each election district
   50  in which the meetings for the registration of voters, and for any GENER-
   51  AL,  SPECIAL  OR  PRIMARY election may be held. The board of trustees of
   52  each  village  in  which  general  and  special  village  elections  ARE
   53  conducted  by the board of elections [are held] at a time other than the
   54  time of a general election, THE TOWN BOARD OF A TOWN  IN  WHICH  SPECIAL
   55  TOWN  ELECTIONS  ARE CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT A TIME OTHER
   56  THAN THE TIME OF A GENERAL ELECTION AND THE BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  OF
       S. 4948                             3
    1  EACH  SPECIAL  DISTRICT IN WHICH ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF
    2  ELECTIONS AT A TIME OTHER THAN THE TIME  OF  A  GENERAL  ELECTION  shall
    3  submit such a list of polling places for such village elections, SPECIAL
    4  TOWN AND SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS to the board of elections. A polling
    5  place  may be located in a building owned by a religious organization or
    6  used by it as a place of worship. If such a building is designated as  a
    7  polling  place,  it shall not be required to be open for voter registra-
    8  tion on any Saturday if this is contrary to the religious beliefs of the
    9  religious organization. In such a  situation,  the  board  of  elections
   10  shall designate an alternate location to be used for voter registration.
   11  Such  polling  places must be designated by May first, of each year, and
   12  shall be effective for one year thereafter. Such a list required  to  be
   13  submitted by a village board of trustees, TOWN BOARD OR SPECIAL DISTRICT
   14  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  must  be submitted at least four months before
   15  each general village election OR SPECIAL DISTRICT GENERAL  ELECTION  and
   16  shall  be  effective  until  four  months  before the subsequent general
   17  village election OR SPECIAL DISTRICT GENERAL ELECTION.  A  LIST  OF  THE
   18  POLLING  PLACES  FOR  A  SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY THE
   19  TOWN BOARD AT LEAST TWENTY DAYS BEFORE SUCH SPECIAL  TOWN  ELECTION.  No
   20  place  in  which  a business licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for on
   21  premises consumption is conducted on any day of local registration or of
   22  voting shall be so designated. If, within the discretion of the board of
   23  elections a particular polling place so designated is subsequently found
   24  to be unsuitable or unsafe or should circumstances  arise  that  make  a
   25  designated  polling  place  unsuitable  or  unsafe,  then  the  board of
   26  elections is empowered to select an alternative meeting  place.  In  the
   27  city  of  New  York, the board of elections shall designate such polling
   28  places and alternate registration places if the polling place cannot  be
   29  used for voter registration on Saturdays.
   30    S 6. Subdivisions 2 and 4 of section 4-106 of the election law, subdi-
   31  vision 2 as amended by chapter 635 of the laws of 1990 and subdivision 4
   32  as  amended  by  chapter  88 of the laws of 1995, are amended to read as
   33  follows:
   34    2.  Each county, city, village and town clerk AND EACH SECRETARY OF  A
   35  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  OF  A  SPECIAL DISTRICT, at least eight months
   36  before each general election, shall make and transmit to  the  board  of
   37  elections a certificate stating each county, city, village [or], town OR
   38  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  office,  respectively  to  be  voted for at each such
   39  election. Each village clerk, at least five months before  each  general
   40  village  election  conducted  by the board of elections, shall make, and
   41  transmit to such board, a certificate stating each village office to  be
   42  filled at such election. EACH SECRETARY OF A BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF A
   43  SPECIAL  DISTRICT,  AT  LEAST  FIVE  MONTHS BEFORE EACH SPECIAL DISTRICT
   44  GENERAL OR SPECIAL ELECTION CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS,  SHALL
   45  MAKE,  AND  TRANSMIT  TO  SUCH BOARD, A CERTIFICATE STATING EACH SPECIAL
   46  DISTRICT OFFICE TO BE FILLED AT SUCH ELECTION.
   47    4. Within three days after the occurrence of any vacancy in an  office
   48  required  to  be  filled  at  the  next general election or a general or
   49  special village election or other  special  election  conducted  by  the
   50  board  of  elections  OR  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  GENERAL OR SPECIAL ELECTION
   51  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, the state board of elections or the
   52  county, city, town or village clerk OR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF COMMIS-
   53  SIONERS OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT as is appropriate,  shall  file  with  the
   54  county  board  of  elections, a certificate indicating the occurrence of
   55  the vacancy and the position which is to be filled.
       S. 4948                             4
    1    S 7. Section 4-120 of the election law, as amended by chapter  359  of
    2  the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
    3    S  4-120.  Notices of general, village, SPECIAL TOWN, SPECIAL DISTRICT
    4  and special elections; publication of.  1. The board of elections  shall
    5  publish once in each of the two weeks preceding a general election, or a
    6  special  [or],  village,  SPECIAL  TOWN  OR  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  election
    7  conducted by the board of elections, a notice specifying the day of  the
    8  election, and the public officers to be voted for within such county, or
    9  any  part  thereof  at such election.   If constitutional amendments, or
   10  questions are to be submitted to the voters of  the  state,  the  notice
   11  shall state that fact and that a copy of each such amendment or question
   12  may  be obtained at the board of elections, by any voter.  Such publica-
   13  tion shall be in two newspapers published  within  the  county.  If  the
   14  county  contains a city or cities, at least one of such newspapers shall
   15  be published in the city, or the largest city, if  there  be  more  than
   16  one.
   17    In  the  case of a village, SPECIAL TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT election,
   18  such publication shall be made in a newspaper of general circulation  in
   19  such  village, TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT and shall include an abstract of
   20  any proposition to be voted upon at such election.
   21    2. The board or body authorized to designate places for voting in  any
   22  town  or  in  any  city, except the city of New York, may publish on the
   23  publication day immediately preceding election day, in  a  newspaper  or
   24  newspapers  designated  by such board or body, a notice of the election,
   25  and the village clerk shall publish at  least  ten  days  prior  to  any
   26  village election conducted by the board of elections, AND THE TOWN CLERK
   27  SHALL  PUBLISH  AT  LEAST  TEN  DAYS  PRIOR TO ANY SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION
   28  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND THE SECRETARY OF THE  BOARD  OF
   29  COMMISSIONERS  OF  THE  SPECIAL DISTRICT SHALL PUBLISH AT LEAST TEN DAYS
   30  PRIOR TO ANY  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  ELECTION  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF
   31  ELECTIONS in a newspaper of general circulation in such village, TOWN OR
   32  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  a  list  of the polling places, the date and hours of
   33  election and, at the discretion of such board [or], clerk OR  SECRETARY,
   34  a  brief  description  of the boundaries of each election district. Such
   35  list shall identify those polling places which do not provide access  to
   36  handicapped  voters.  The amount to be paid for any of such publications
   37  shall be at the rate prescribed by section seventy-a of the public offi-
   38  cers law. In no publication, however, shall any type smaller than  agate
   39  be  used.  The  amount  to  be paid for all such publications shall be a
   40  town, city [or], village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT charge.
   41    3. The board of elections of the city of New York shall publish on the
   42  eighth day before and the day before each general election, in at  least
   43  two  newspapers  in such city, a notice, at least one-half page in size,
   44  in English and such other languages as  such  board  deems  appropriate,
   45  which  sets  forth  the  dates  and  hours of the election and the phone
   46  number to call for information about the  location  of  polling  places,
   47  their  accessibility  to  the  handicapped,  applications  for  absentee
   48  ballots and any other subjects which such board deems appropriate.
   49    S 8. Subdivision 3 of section 4-122 of the election law, as amended by
   50  chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   51    3. The list described in subdivision one  of  this  section  shall  be
   52  published  at least once in not less than two nor more than four newspa-
   53  pers in the county.  In a county containing a city, at  least  one  such
   54  publication  shall  be in a daily newspaper published in a city therein,
   55  if there be such a newspaper. In the case of a village, SPECIAL TOWN  OR
   56  SPECIAL DISTRICT election held at a time other than the time of a gener-
       S. 4948                             5
    1  al  election,  such  publication  shall be in a newspaper having general
    2  circulation in such village, TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT.   So  far  as  is
    3  consistent with this section, one such newspaper shall represent each of
    4  the  major  political  parties.  Should  the  board of elections find it
    5  impossible to make such publication six days before  election  it  shall
    6  make it at the earliest possible day thereafter before the election.
    7    S  9.  Subdivisions  1,  5 and 6 of section 4-134 of the election law,
    8  subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 163 of the laws of 2010 and subdivi-
    9  sions 5 and 6 as amended by chapter 635 of the laws of 1990, are amended
   10  to read as follows:
   11    1. The board of elections shall deliver, at its office, to  the  clerk
   12  of  each  town  or  city  in  the county, except the cities of New York,
   13  Buffalo and Rochester and to the clerk of each village in the county  in
   14  which  elections  are  conducted  by  the board of elections, AND TO THE
   15  SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF EACH SPECIAL DISTRICT IN  THE
   16  COUNTY  IN  WHICH  ELECTIONS ARE CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, by
   17  the Saturday before the  primary,  SPECIAL,  general,  village,  SPECIAL
   18  TOWN,  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  or other election for which they are required:
   19  the official and sample ballots; ledgers prepared for  delivery  in  the
   20  manner  provided  in  subdivision two of this section and containing the
   21  registration poll records of  all  persons  entitled  to  vote  at  such
   22  election  in  such  town,  city  [or],  village,  OR SPECIAL DISTRICT or
   23  computer generated  registration  lists  containing  the  names  of  all
   24  persons  entitled  to  vote  at  such  election in such town, city [or],
   25  village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT; challenge reports prepared as  directed  by
   26  this  chapter;  sufficient applications for registration by mail; suffi-
   27  cient ledger seals and other supplies and  equipment  required  by  this
   28  article  to be provided by the board of elections for each polling place
   29  in such town, city [or], village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT.  The town, city or
   30  village clerk OR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  OF  A  SPECIAL
   31  DISTRICT  shall  call  at  the office of such board of elections at such
   32  time and receive such ballots, supplies and equipment. In the cities  of
   33  New  York, Buffalo and Rochester the board of elections shall cause such
   34  ballots, supplies and equipment to be delivered to the board of  inspec-
   35  tors  of  each  election district approximately one-half hour before the
   36  opening of the polls for voting, and shall take receipts therefor.
   37    5.  Each town, city and village clerk AND THE SECRETARY OF  THE  BOARD
   38  OF  COMMISSIONERS OF EACH SPECIAL DISTRICT receiving such packages shall
   39  cause all such packages so received and marked for any election district
   40  to be delivered unopened and with the  seals  thereof  unbroken  to  the
   41  inspectors of election of such election districts at least one-half hour
   42  before the opening of the polls of such election therein, and shall take
   43  a receipt therefor specifying the number and kind of packages delivered.
   44  At  the  same  time each such clerk shall cause to be  delivered to such
   45  inspectors the equipment described in subdivision two  of  this  section
   46  and shall cause a receipt to be taken therefor.
   47    6.  Town, city and village clerks AND SECRETARIES OF BOARDS OF COMMIS-
   48  SIONERS OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS required to  provide  official  and  sample
   49  ballots,   registration  records,  seals,  supplies  and  equipment,  as
   50  described in this section, for town, city  [and],  village  AND  SPECIAL
   51  DISTRICT  elections  not  conducted  by the board of elections, shall in
   52  like manner, deliver them to the inspectors or presiding officers of the
   53  election at each polling place at which such meetings and elections  are
   54  held,  respectively,  in  like  sealed packages marked on the outside in
   55  like manner, and shall take receipts therefor in like manner.
       S. 4948                             6
    1    S 10.  Subdivision 2 of section 4-136 of the election law, as  amended
    2  by chapter 180 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
    3    2.  All expenses incurred under this chapter by the board of elections
    4  of a county outside of the city of New York shall be  a  charge  against
    5  the  county  and  in  the  city of New York the expenses of the board of
    6  elections shall be a charge against such city. The expenses incurred  by
    7  the  board  of  elections  of a county outside the city of New York may,
    8  pursuant to section 3-226 of this  chapter,  be  apportioned  among  the
    9  cities  and  towns  therein,  or  in  the  case  of a village OR SPECIAL
   10  DISTRICT election held other than at the time of  the  fall  primary  or
   11  general  election,  apportioned  to  such  villages OR SPECIAL DISTRICTS
   12  therein.
   13    S 11. Subdivision 1 of section 5-612 of the election law,  as  amended
   14  by chapter 200 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   15    1.  The  board  of elections [shall], not later than the twentieth day
   16  before a special town election NOT CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS
   17  and  not  later  than  the  seventh  day  before  a village election NOT
   18  conducted by the [village clerk] BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND NOT  LATER  THAN
   19  THE  NINETEENTH  DAY BEFORE A SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION NOT CONDUCTED BY
   20  THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, SHALL, provide a list of  registered  voters  or
   21  shall  place registration poll records in properly locked ledgers in the
   22  temporary custody of the town or village clerk OR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD
   23  OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICT for the purpose  of  permitting
   24  him to copy such records or to deliver such records for TOWN, village OR
   25  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  election  purposes  to the board of inspectors of the
   26  several polling places in the election districts  as  provided  by  this
   27  chapter.  The  board  of  elections shall indicate on such list, or on a
   28  separate accompanying list, the names of those voters whose registration
   29  records have been marked "permanently disabled".  The names of voters in
   30  inactive status shall appear on a  separate  accompanying  list.  Voters
   31  listed in inactive status who appear at the polls to vote shall be chal-
   32  lenged in the manner provided by section 8-504 of this chapter.
   33    S  12. Section 6-144 of the election law, as amended by chapter 635 of
   34  the laws of 1990, the opening paragraph as amended by chapter 150 of the
   35  laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   36    S 6-144.  Nominating and designating petitions and certificates; place
   37  for filing.  Petitions, certificates and minutes specified in this arti-
   38  cle shall be filed in the office of the Board of Elections of the  coun-
   39  ty, except as follows:  for an office or position to be voted for wholly
   40  within  the city of New York, in the office of the Board of Elections of
   41  that city; for an office or position to  be  voted  for  in  a  district
   42  greater  than  one  county,  or portions of two or more counties, in the
   43  office of the state board of elections; for a TOWN OR village office  to
   44  be  filled  in  a TOWN OR village election not conducted by the board of
   45  elections, in the office of  the  TOWN  OR  village  clerk.    All  such
   46  petitions  and  certificates  shall  at  the  time  of filing thereof be
   47  endorsed by such officer or board with the day, hour and minute of  such
   48  filing.  Such officer or board shall keep a book, which shall be open to
   49  public inspection in which shall be entered the times of filing all such
   50  petitions  and  certificates; the names and residences of all candidates
   51  named therein; the names and residences of all candidates  certified  to
   52  such  officer  or  board; the title of the office or party position; the
   53  name of the party or independent body to which the petition  or  certif-
   54  icate  relates  and  a  memorandum of any objections to such petition or
   55  certificate.  Forthwith upon the filing of  a  petition  or  certificate
   56  designating  or  nominating  a person or persons for public office, such
       S. 4948                             7
    1  officer or board shall mail notice thereof to each such  person.    Such
    2  notice  shall  also  state  the  last day to decline such designation or
    3  nomination, and include a statement  that  the  candidate's  name  shall
    4  appear on the ballot as it appears in such notice.
    5    S  13.  Sections  6-100 through 6-168 of article 6 of the election law
    6  are designated title 1 and a new title  heading  is  added  to  read  as
    7  follows:
    8                    GENERAL, SPECIAL AND PRIMARY ELECTIONS
    9    S 14. Article 6 of the election law is amended by adding a new title 3
   10  to read as follows:
   11                                  TITLE III
   12                         SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS
   13  SECTION 6-300. APPLICATION OF TITLE.
   14          6-302. NOMINATING PETITIONS; NUMBER OF SIGNATURES.
   15          6-304. PETITIONS AND CERTIFICATES; PLACE AND TIMES FOR FILING.
   16          6-306. NOMINATIONS; OBJECTIONS.
   17    S  6-300.  APPLICATION  OF  TITLE.  THIS  TITLE APPLIES TO ALL SPECIAL
   18  DISTRICT ELECTIONS WHICH ARE CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   19    S 6-302. NOMINATING PETITIONS;  NUMBER  OF  SIGNATURES.  A  NOMINATING
   20  PETITION  FOR  A  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  OFFICE FOR WHICH SUCH A PETITION IS
   21  REQUIRED, SHALL BE SIGNED BY AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE  QUALIFIED  VOTERS  OF
   22  THE DISTRICT.
   23    S  6-304.  PETITIONS AND CERTIFICATES; PLACE AND TIMES FOR FILING.  1.
   24  PETITIONS AND CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY SHALL BE FILED WITH THE BOARD OF
   25  ELECTIONS.
   26    2. A NOMINATING PETITION OR A CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR  AN  OFFICE
   27  TO  BE FILLED AT A SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION, OTHER THAN A FIRE DISTRICT
   28  ELECTION, SHALL BE FILED  NOT  LATER  THAN  THIRTY  DAYS  PRECEDING  THE
   29  ELECTION.  SUCH  A NOMINATING PETITION OR CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY FOR A
   30  SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION IN A FIRE DISTRICT SHALL BE  FILED  NOT  LATER
   31  THAN TEN DAYS PRECEDING THE ELECTION.
   32    S  6-306.  NOMINATIONS; OBJECTIONS. WRITTEN OBJECTIONS TO A NOMINATING
   33  PETITION OR TO A CERTIFICATE OF NOMINATION, CERTIFICATE  OF  ACCEPTANCE,
   34  CERTIFICATE  OF AUTHORIZATION, CERTIFICATE OF DECLINATION OR CERTIFICATE
   35  OF SUBSTITUTION WITH RESPECT TO AN OFFICE TO  BE  FILLED  AT  A  SPECIAL
   36  DISTRICT ELECTION MAY BE FILED NOT LATER THAN THE DAY AFTER THE LAST DAY
   37  TO  FILE SUCH PETITION OR CERTIFICATE, OR THE DAY AFTER SUCH PETITION OR
   38  CERTIFICATE IS RECEIVED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IF  SUCH  PETITION  OR
   39  CERTIFICATE  IS  MAILED  WITHIN  THE TIME PERMITTED BY LAW, WHICHEVER IS
   40  LATER. WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS OF THE GROUNDS FOR SUCH  OBJECTIONS  SHALL
   41  BE  SO  FILED WITHIN TWO DAYS THEREAFTER. A FAILURE TO FILE SUCH WRITTEN
   42  SPECIFICATIONS SHALL RENDER THE ORIGINAL OBJECTION NULL AND VOID.   UPON
   43  RECEIPT  OF  WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS, THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL
   44  IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY EACH CANDIDATE NAMED IN SUCH PETITION OR  CERTIFICATE
   45  AND  TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY AND CONSISTENT WITH THIS CHAPTER TO RENDER
   46  A DETERMINATION ON THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN SUCH OBJECTIONS AND  SPECIFI-
   47  CATIONS.  WHEN  A  DETERMINATION  HAS  BEEN  MADE BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF
   48  ELECTIONS THAT THE PETITION IS  SUFFICIENT  OR  INSUFFICIENT,  IT  SHALL
   49  IMMEDIATELY  NOTIFY EACH CANDIDATE NAMED IN THE PETITION OR CERTIFICATE,
   50  AND, IF SUCH DETERMINATION WAS MADE ON OBJECTION, THE OBJECTOR.
   51    S 15. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 8-400  of  the
   52  election  law,  as amended by chapter 63 of the laws of 2010, is amended
   53  to read as follows:
   54    A qualified voter may vote as an absentee voter under this chapter if,
   55  on the occurrence of any village,  SPECIAL  TOWN  OR  SPECIAL  DISTRICT,
   56  OTHER  THAN FIRE DISTRICT, election conducted by the board of elections,
       S. 4948                             8
    1  primary election, special election, general election or  New  York  city
    2  community  school  board  district  or  city  of Buffalo school district
    3  election, he or she expects to be:
    4    S  16.  The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 8-404 of the
    5  election law, as amended by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is  amended
    6  to read as follows:
    7    After  entering  upon  the  registration  records, the application for
    8  registration of an inmate  or  patient  of  a  veterans'  administration
    9  hospital  as  to whom the medical superintendent or medical head of such
   10  hospital has attested that he expects that he  will  not  be  discharged
   11  prior to the day following the next general or special village ELECTION,
   12  SPECIAL  TOWN  OR SPECIAL DISTRICT, OTHER THAN A FIRE DISTRICT, ELECTION
   13  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, primary, special,  general  or  New
   14  York  city  community  school  board  district or city of Buffalo school
   15  district election, and the application for registration by  the  spouse,
   16  parent  or  child  of such inmate or patient, accompanying or being with
   17  him or her, if a qualified voter and a resident  of  the  same  election
   18  district,  the  board  of  elections,  without further investigation and
   19  without further application by the applicant, shall send to him at  such
   20  hospital  an absentee ballot and shall record in the signature column on
   21  the back of his permanent personal registration poll  record  that  such
   22  ballot has been sent.
   23    S 17. Paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subdivision 3 of section 9-124 of
   24  the  election  law,  as  amended  by chapter 91 of the laws of 1992, are
   25  amended to read as follows:
   26    (a) In a city or town, except the city of New York and in a village OR
   27  SPECIAL DISTRICT in which  elections  are  conducted  by  the  board  of
   28  elections, the registration poll records or computer generated registra-
   29  tion  lists,  the  returns  with  tally sheets annexed, the absentee and
   30  military, special federal, special presidential and  emergency  ballots,
   31  stubs  and  ballot  envelopes,  the challenge records and the package of
   32  protested, void and wholly blank ballots shall be filed with  the  board
   33  of elections, and the flag shall be returned to it.
   34    (b)  Records  and  supplies  to  be filed with a city, town or village
   35  clerk OR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF A  SPECIAL  DISTRICT
   36  shall  be  so filed or delivered immediately after the completion of the
   37  returns of the canvass, by an  inspector  designated  by  the  board  of
   38  inspectors.  Returns,  papers  and registration poll records or computer
   39  generated registration lists to be filed with  the  board  of  elections
   40  shall  be  so  filed  by  the chairman of the board of inspectors within
   41  twenty-four hours after the  completion  of  such  returns.  The  person
   42  receiving  such  returns  in  the  board  of elections shall give to the
   43  person delivering the returns a receipt stating  therein  the  date  and
   44  hour  of  delivery,  the  name of the person making the delivery, and to
   45  whom said returns were delivered and shall  keep  a  duplicate  of  said
   46  receipt on file in the office of the board of elections.
   47    (c)  The county legislative body of any county in the state except the
   48  counties comprising the city of New York may, by a resolution, ordinance
   49  or act as required, provide that all returns, papers, registration  poll
   50  records  or computer generated registration lists, books, records, docu-
   51  ments, and other election supplies and materials shall be filed  by  the
   52  chairman  of  the board of inspectors of elections in a city or town and
   53  in a village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT in which elections are conducted by the
   54  board of elections, with the city, town or village clerk OR SECRETARY OF
   55  THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF A SPECIAL  DISTRICT  of  such  city,  town
   56  [or],  village  OR  SPECIAL DISTRICT in the county within eighteen hours
       S. 4948                             9
    1  after the closing of the polls at any primary,  general,  special  [or],
    2  village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT election and the city, town or village clerk
    3  OR  SECRETARY  OF  THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT upon
    4  receiving  such  returns,  papers,  registers  or lists, books, records,
    5  documents, and other election supplies and materials shall give  to  the
    6  person  making the delivery, a receipt stating therein the date and hour
    7  of the delivery and the name of such person.  Within  twenty-four  hours
    8  after  the  closing  of the polls at any primary, general, special [or],
    9  village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT election, the city, town or village clerk OR
   10  SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT shall file
   11  all returns, papers, registration poll  records  or  computer  generated
   12  registration   lists,  books,  records,  documents  and  other  election
   13  supplies and materials filed with him by the inspectors of the  election
   14  districts  of the city, town [or], village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT, with the
   15  board of elections of the county and the board of elections  shall  give
   16  to  the city, town or village clerk OR SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF COMMIS-
   17  SIONERS OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT a receipt  therefor  stating  therein  the
   18  date  and  hour  of  the  delivery and the name of the person making the
   19  delivery and to whom it was made, and shall keep  a  duplicate  of  said
   20  receipt on file in the office of the board of elections.
   21    S  18. Section 9-204 of the election law, as amended by chapter 359 of
   22  the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   23    S 9-204. County boards of canvassers. The board of elections  of  each
   24  county  or  city shall be the county board of canvassers of such county,
   25  or each county within such city. Such board also shall be the city board
   26  of canvassers of any city  or  cities  within  the  county  for  a  city
   27  election.  Such board shall also be the board of canvassers of the towns
   28  of the county. Such board shall also  be  the  board  of  canvassers  of
   29  villages  in  which  village  elections  are  conducted  by the board of
   30  elections AND OF SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN WHICH SPECIAL  DISTRICT  ELECTIONS
   31  ARE  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.  The secretary of the board of
   32  elections, or, if he is absent, or unable to  act,  a  member  or  chief
   33  clerk  designated  by the board shall be the secretary of the canvassing
   34  board. Each canvassing board shall meet at the place  where  it  usually
   35  meets  in  other  capacities  on the day following the election, but its
   36  duties may be performed in any or all of the offices  of  the  board  of
   37  elections.
   38    S  19.  Subdivision 1 of section 9-208 of the election law, as amended
   39  by chapter 163 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   40    1.  Within  fifteen  days  after  each  general,  special  or  primary
   41  election,  and  within  seven  days after every village, SPECIAL TOWN OR
   42  SPECIAL DISTRICT election conducted by the board of elections  at  which
   43  ballot  scanners  are  used,  the  board  of  elections, or a bipartisan
   44  committee of or appointed by said board  shall,  in  each  county  using
   45  ballot scanners, make a record of the serial number of each ballot scan-
   46  ner  used  in each election district in such general, special or primary
   47  election. No person who was  a  candidate  at  such  election  shall  be
   48  appointed  to  membership  on  the committee. Such board of elections or
   49  bipartisan committee shall recanvass the tabulated result tape from each
   50  ballot scanner used in each election district  by  comparing  such  tape
   51  with the numbers as recorded on the return of canvass. The said board or
   52  committee  shall also make a recanvass of any election day paper ballots
   53  that have not been scanned and were hand counted pursuant to subdivision
   54  two of section 9-110 of this article and compare the  results  with  the
   55  number  as  recorded  on  the  return of canvass. The board or committee
   56  shall then recanvass write-in votes,  if  any,  on  ballots  which  were
       S. 4948                            10
    1  otherwise scanned and canvassed at polling places on election night. The
    2  board  or  committee  shall  validate and prove such sums. Before making
    3  such canvass the board of  elections,  with  respect  to  each  election
    4  district  to  be recanvassed, shall give notice in writing to the voting
    5  machine custodian thereof, to the state and county chair of  each  party
    6  or  independent  body which shall have nominated candidates for the said
    7  general or special election or nominated or elected  candidates  at  the
    8  said  primary  election  and  to  each  individual  candidate whose name
    9  appears on the office ballot, of the time and place where  such  canvass
   10  is  to  be  made;  and  the state and county chair of each such party or
   11  independent body and each such individual candidate may send a represen-
   12  tative to be present  at  such  recanvass.  Each  candidate  whose  name
   13  appears on the official ballot, or his or her representative, shall have
   14  the  right  personally to examine and make a record of the vote recorded
   15  on the tabulated result tape and any ballots which were hand counted.
   16    S 20. Subdivision 1 of section 9-212 of the election law,  as  amended
   17  by chapter 635 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   18    1.  The  canvassing  board  shall determine each person elected by the
   19  greatest number of votes to each county office, and each person  elected
   20  by the greatest number of votes to each city, town or village OR SPECIAL
   21  DISTRICT  office of a city, town or village OR SPECIAL DISTRICT of which
   22  it is the board of canvassers.  The canvassing board shall  also  deter-
   23  mine  whether  any  ballot  proposal submitted only to the voters of the
   24  county, or only to the voters of a city, town or village of which it  is
   25  the  board  of canvassers, as the case may be, has by the greater number
   26  of votes been adopted or rejected.
   27    S 21. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 10-108 of the election
   28  law, as amended by chapter 4 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read  as
   29  follows:
   30    (a)  Ballots for military voters shall be mailed or otherwise distrib-
   31  uted by the board of elections, in accordance with the preferred  method
   32  of  transmission  designated  by the voter pursuant to section 10-107 of
   33  this article, as soon as practicable but in any  event  not  later  than
   34  thirty-two  days  before a primary or general election; twenty-five days
   35  before a New York city  community  school  board  district  or  city  of
   36  Buffalo  school  district  election;  fourteen  days  before  a village,
   37  SPECIAL TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT, OTHER  THAN  FIRE  DISTRICT,  election
   38  conducted  by  the  board  of  elections;  and  forty-five days before a
   39  special election. A voter who  submits  a  military  ballot  application
   40  shall  be  entitled  to a military ballot thereafter for each subsequent
   41  election through and including the next two regularly scheduled  general
   42  elections  held in even numbered years, including any run-offs which may
   43  occur; provided, however, such application shall not be  valid  for  any
   44  election held within seven days after its receipt. Ballots shall also be
   45  mailed to any qualified military voter who is already registered and who
   46  requests  such military ballot from such board of elections in a letter,
   47  which is signed by the voter and received by the board of elections  not
   48  later  than  the seventh day before the election for which the ballot is
   49  requested and which states the address where the voter is registered and
   50  the address to which the ballot is to be mailed. The board of  elections
   51  shall  enclose  with  such  ballot  a  form  of application for military
   52  ballot. In the case of a primary election, the board shall deliver  only
   53  the  ballot  of  the  party  with  which  the military voter is enrolled
   54  according to the military voter's registration records. In the  event  a
   55  primary  election  is  uncontested  in  the  military  voter's  election
   56  district for all offices or  positions  except  the  party  position  of
       S. 4948                            11
    1  member  of  the ward, town, city or county committee, no ballot shall be
    2  delivered to such military voter for such  election;  and  the  military
    3  voter  shall  be  advised of the reason why he or she will not receive a
    4  ballot.
    5    S 22. The article heading of article 15 of the election law is amended
    6  to read as follows:
    7             VILLAGE, SPECIAL TOWN AND SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS
    8    S 23. Sections 15-100 through 15-138 of article 15 of the election law
    9  are  designated  title  1  and  a  new title heading is added to read as
   10  follows:
   11                               VILLAGE ELECTIONS
   12    S 24. Article 15 of the election law is  amended  by  adding  two  new
   13  titles 2 and 3 to read as follows:
   14                                  TITLE II
   15                           SPECIAL TOWN ELECTIONS
   16  SECTION 15-200. APPLICATION OF TITLE.
   17          15-202. DEFINITIONS.
   18          15-204. SPECIAL   TOWN  ELECTIONS  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF
   19                    ELECTIONS.
   20          15-206. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
   21    S 15-200. APPLICATION OF TITLE. THE PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  TITLE  SHALL
   22  APPLY  TO ALL SPECIAL TOWN ELECTIONS CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
   23  PURSUANT TO A RESOLUTION ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THE TOWN LAW AND AS FURTHER
   24  DESCRIBED IN THIS TITLE. ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER  NOT  INCON-
   25  SISTENT  WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TOWN LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE CONDUCT
   26  OF SUCH SPECIAL  TOWN  ELECTIONS,  SHALL  APPLY  TO  SUCH  SPECIAL  TOWN
   27  ELECTIONS.
   28    S  15-202.  DEFINITIONS.  THE  TERMS USED IN THIS TITLE SHALL HAVE THE
   29  MEANING HEREIN DEFINED UNLESS ANOTHER MEANING  IS  CLEARLY  APPARENT  IN
   30  LANGUAGE OR CONTEXT:
   31    1. "SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION" MEANS ANY ELECTION HELD IN ANY TOWN OR PART
   32  THEREOF  AT A TIME OTHER THAN THE TIME OF THE BIENNIAL TOWN ELECTION FOR
   33  ANY PURPOSE SPECIFIED IN THE TOWN LAW,  THE  PUBLIC  OFFICERS  LAW,  THE
   34  LOCAL FINANCE LAW, THE MUNICIPAL HOME RULE LAW OR ANY OTHER LAW.
   35    2.  "PUBLISH"  MEANS  THAT  ANY  NOTICE  OR  RESOLUTION REQUIRED TO BE
   36  PUBLISHED BY A TOWN IN CONNECTION WITH A SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION SHALL  BE
   37  SO  PRINTED WITHIN THE TIME REQUIRED IN THE LAW REQUIRING PUBLICATION IN
   38  THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE TOWN, OR IF NONE, ONE  OF  GENERAL  CIRCU-
   39  LATION WITHIN THE TOWN.
   40    S  15-204. SPECIAL TOWN ELECTIONS CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   41  THE TOWN BOARD OF ANY TOWN MAY ADOPT A RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO  A  PERMIS-
   42  SIVE  REFERENDUM,  AS  PROVIDED  IN THE TOWN LAW, PROVIDING THAT SPECIAL
   43  TOWN ELECTIONS SHALL BE  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS.  UPON
   44  APPROVAL  OF  SUCH  A  RESOLUTION  BY THE TOWN BOARD AND BY A PERMISSIVE
   45  REFERENDUM, IF A VALID PETITION FOR SUCH A REFERENDUM IS  TIMELY  FILED,
   46  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CONDUCT ALL SPECIAL TOWN ELECTIONS IN SUCH
   47  TOWN OR ANY PART THEREOF. SUCH RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE EFFECT AT THE FIRST
   48  ELECTION HELD IN SUCH TOWN OR PART THEREOF MORE THAN  SIXTY  DAYS  AFTER
   49  ITS ADOPTION AND SHALL CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR ALL SUCH ELECTIONS UNTIL A
   50  SUBSEQUENT  RESOLUTION PROVIDING OTHERWISE SHALL, IN A LIKE MANNER, HAVE
   51  TAKEN EFFECT.
   52    S 15-206. REGISTRATION OF  VOTERS.  1.  IN  A  SPECIAL  TOWN  ELECTION
   53  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS PURSUANT TO A RESOLUTION ADOPTED
   54  PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE TOWN LAW, ONLY  THOSE  PERSONS  REGIS-
   55  TERED  TO  VOTE WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ON THE TENTH DAY BEFORE SUCH
   56  ELECTION AND SUCH OTHER PERSONS OR ENTITIES ENTITLED  TO  VOTE  IN  SUCH
       S. 4948                            12
    1  ELECTION  WHOSE  NAMES HAVE BEEN RECORDED IN THE RECORDS OF THE BOARD OF
    2  ELECTIONS PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS  SECTION
    3  SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
    4    2.  A PERSON WHO IS NOT AN ELECTOR OF THE TOWN OR PART OF THE TOWN FOR
    5  WHICH A SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION IS BEING HELD BUT WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO  CAST
    6  A VOTE IN ANY SUCH ELECTION AND ANY OTHER ENTITY ENTITLED TO CAST A VOTE
    7  IN  ANY SUCH ELECTION MUST NOTIFY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF THEIR ELIGI-
    8  BILITY TO VOTE IN SUCH ELECTION AT LEAST TEN DAYS  BEFORE  THE  DATE  OF
    9  SUCH  ELECTION.  SUCH NOTICE MUST SET FORTH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF SUCH
   10  PERSON OR ENTITY, THE BASIS OF ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE IN SUCH ELECTION AND,
   11  IF SUCH ENTITY IS NOT A NATURAL PERSON, THE  NAME  AND  ADDRESS  OF  THE
   12  NATURAL  PERSON DESIGNATED TO CAST SUCH VOTE, AND SUCH OTHER INFORMATION
   13  AS THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL REQUIRE.
   14    3. THE TOWN CLERK SHALL SUPPLY TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SUCH INFORMA-
   15  TION AS IT REQUESTS TO ASSIST THE BOARD IN DETERMINING  THE  ELIGIBILITY
   16  OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY TO VOTE IN ANY SUCH ELECTION.
   17                                  TITLE III
   18                         SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS
   19  SECTION 15-300. APPLICATION OF TITLE.
   20          15-302. DEFINITIONS.
   21          15-304. SPECIAL  DISTRICT  ELECTIONS  CONDUCTED  BY THE BOARD OF
   22                    ELECTIONS.
   23          15-306. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
   24    S 15-300. APPLICATION OF TITLE. THE PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  TITLE  SHALL
   25  APPLY TO ALL SPECIAL DISTRICT GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS CONDUCTED BY
   26  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS PURSUANT TO A RESOLUTION ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THE
   27  TOWN LAW AND AS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN THIS TITLE. ALL THE  PROVISIONS  OF
   28  THIS  CHAPTER  NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TOWN LAW WITH
   29  RESPECT TO THE CONDUCT OF SUCH SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS,  SHALL  APPLY
   30  TO SUCH SPECIAL DISTRICT GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
   31    S  15-302.  DEFINITIONS.  THE  TERMS USED IN THIS TITLE SHALL HAVE THE
   32  MEANING HEREIN DEFINED UNLESS ANOTHER MEANING  IS  CLEARLY  APPARENT  IN
   33  LANGUAGE OR CONTEXT:
   34    1.  "SPECIAL  DISTRICT ELECTION" MEANS THE ANNUAL ELECTION FOR SPECIAL
   35  DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT OR ANY OTHER ELECTION OF  A
   36  SPECIAL DISTRICT FOR ANY OTHER SPECIAL DISTRICT OFFICE OR PURPOSE SPECI-
   37  FIED IN THE TOWN LAW.
   38    2.  "PUBLISH"  MEANS  THAT  ANY  NOTICE  OR  RESOLUTION REQUIRED TO BE
   39  PUBLISHED BY A SPECIAL DISTRICT SHALL BE  SO  PRINTED  WITHIN  THE  TIME
   40  REQUIRED  IN  THE LAW REQUIRING PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF
   41  THE SPECIAL DISTRICT, OR IF NONE, ONE OF GENERAL CIRCULATION WITHIN  THE
   42  SPECIAL DISTRICT.
   43    S  15-304.  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  ELECTIONS  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  BOARD OF
   44  ELECTIONS. THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT MAY ADOPT  A
   45  RESOLUTION  SUBJECT  TO A PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM, AS PROVIDED IN THE TOWN
   46  LAW, PROVIDING THAT SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY THE
   47  BOARD OF ELECTIONS. UPON APPROVAL OF SUCH A RESOLUTION BY THE  BOARD  OF
   48  COMMISSIONERS  AND  BY  A PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM, IF A VALID PETITION FOR
   49  SUCH A REFERENDUM IS TIMELY FILED, THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL  CONDUCT
   50  ALL SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTIONS IN SUCH SPECIAL DISTRICT. SUCH RESOLUTION
   51  SHALL  TAKE  EFFECT  AT THE FIRST ELECTION HELD IN SUCH SPECIAL DISTRICT
   52  MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER ITS ADOPTION AND SHALL CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR
   53  ALL SUCH ELECTIONS UNTIL A  SUBSEQUENT  RESOLUTION  PROVIDING  OTHERWISE
   54  SHALL, IN A LIKE MANNER, HAVE TAKEN EFFECT.
   55    S  15-306.  REGISTRATION  OF  VOTERS.  IN  A SPECIAL DISTRICT ELECTION
   56  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PURSUANT  TO  A  RESOLUTION  ADOPTED
       S. 4948                            13
    1  PURSUANT  TO  THE  PROVISIONS OF THE TOWN LAW, ONLY THOSE PERSONS REGIS-
    2  TERED TO VOTE WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ON THE TENTH DAY  BEFORE  SUCH
    3  ELECTION SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
    4    S  25. Subdivision 2 of section 16-102 of the election law, as amended
    5  by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
    6    2. A proceeding with respect to a petition shall be instituted  within
    7  fourteen  days  after the last day to file the petition, or within three
    8  business days after the officer or board with whom or which  such  peti-
    9  tion was filed, makes a determination of invalidity with respect to such
   10  petition, whichever is later; except that a proceeding with respect to a
   11  petition  for a village, SPECIAL TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT election or an
   12  independent nomination for a special election shall be instituted within
   13  seven days after the last day to file the  petition  for  such  village,
   14  SPECIAL  TOWN  OR SPECIAL DISTRICT election or independent nomination or
   15  within three business days after the officer or board with whom or which
   16  such petition was  filed,  makes  a  determination  of  invalidity  with
   17  respect  to such petition, whichever is later. A proceeding with respect
   18  to a primary, convention, meeting of a party committee, or caucus  shall
   19  be  instituted  within  ten  days  after  the holding of such primary or
   20  convention or the filing of the certificate of nominations made at  such
   21  caucus or meeting of a party committee.
   22    S  26. Subdivision 5 of section 16-106 of the election law, as amended
   23  by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   24    5. A proceeding under subdivisions one and three of this section  must
   25  be  instituted  within  twenty  days  and  under subdivision two OF THIS
   26  SECTION, within thirty days after  the  election  or  alleged  erroneous
   27  statement  or  determination  was made, or the time when the board shall
   28  have acted in the particulars as to which it is claimed to  have  failed
   29  to  perform  its  duty,  except that such a proceeding with respect to a
   30  village, SPECIAL TOWN OR SPECIAL DISTRICT election  must  be  instituted
   31  within ten days after such election, statement, determination or action.
   32    S  27.  Section  361-a of the county law, as amended by chapter 359 of
   33  the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   34    S 361-a. Expenses of boards of elections outside New York City; appor-
   35  tionment of. The board of elections in each county, outside of the  city
   36  of  New York, on or before the fifteenth day of December and not earlier
   37  than the first day of October, in each year, shall certify to the  clerk
   38  of  the legislative body of the county, the total amount of the expenses
   39  of such board of elections, including salaries for the  preceding  year,
   40  and, if the legislative body of any county shall so direct, shall certi-
   41  fy to such clerk the portions of such expenses which under provisions of
   42  law are to be borne by any city or cities in said county and the portion
   43  thereof  which  is to be borne by the rest of such county and such clerk
   44  shall thereupon notify the proper local official or officials,  who,  in
   45  spreading  upon  the  assessment-rolls  the  taxes to be levied upon the
   46  taxable property in the city or any such cities, and in the rest of  the
   47  county,  shall  include in the amount so spread the amounts certified by
   48  the board of elections to be borne by such city or cities, respectively,
   49  and in the amount spread upon the assessment-rolls of the taxable  prop-
   50  erty in the several towns or other political subdivisions of the rest of
   51  the  county  the  amount  so  certified by said board of elections to be
   52  borne by such towns or political subdivisions respectively. Whenever any
   53  additional expenses either for salaries or supplies in addition  to  the
   54  regular  county-wide  primary and GENERAL election expenses are incurred
   55  by a board of elections incidental to any election in  any  city,  town,
   56  SPECIAL  DISTRICT  or  village, such board of elections shall certify to
       S. 4948                            14
    1  the county legislative body a detailed statement of  such  expenses  and
    2  said  county  legislative body may cause the amount thereof to be levied
    3  against such city, town, SPECIAL DISTRICT or village or may certify  the
    4  amount  thereof to such city, town, SPECIAL DISTRICT or village and such
    5  city, town, SPECIAL DISTRICT or village shall upon  such  certification,
    6  include  the  amount  so  certified  in the next budget and tax levy and
    7  shall pay the same to the county.
    8    S 28. Section 64 of the town law is amended by adding a  new  subdivi-
    9  sion 26 to read as follows:
   10    26.  RESOLUTIONS.    MAY  ADOPT  A RESOLUTION, SUBJECT TO A PERMISSIVE
   11  REFERENDUM, PROVIDING THAT ALL SPECIAL ELECTIONS IN SUCH TOWN  SHALL  BE
   12  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  COUNTY  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS. UPON APPROVAL OF SUCH A
   13  RESOLUTION BY THE TOWN BOARD AND BY THE VOTERS IN A PERMISSIVE  REFEREN-
   14  DUM,  IF  A  VALID  PETITION  FOR SUCH A REFERENDUM IS TIMELY FILED, THE
   15  COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CONDUCT ALL SPECIAL  ELECTIONS  REQUIRED
   16  TO  BE HELD IN SUCH TOWN OR ANY PART THEREOF. SUCH RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE
   17  EFFECT FOR THE FIRST SUCH ELECTION HELD MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS  AFTER  ITS
   18  ADOPTION  AND  SHALL  CONTINUE  IN EFFECT FOR ALL SUCH ELECTIONS UNTIL A
   19  SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTION PROVIDING OTHERWISE SHALL, IN A LIKE MANNER,  HAVE
   20  TAKEN EFFECT.
   21    S 29. Subdivision 4 of section 81 of the town law, as amended by chap-
   22  ter 434 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
   23    4.  Such petition shall be subscribed and authenticated, in the manner
   24  provided by the  election  law  for  the  authentication  of  nominating
   25  petitions,  by electors of the town qualified to vote upon a proposition
   26  to raise and expend money, in number equal to at least five  per  centum
   27  of  the  total  votes cast for governor in said town at the last general
   28  election held for the election of state officers, but such number  shall
   29  not  be less than one hundred in a town of the first class nor less than
   30  twenty-five in a town of the second class.  If such a petition be  filed
   31  in  the office of the town clerk not less than sixty days, nor more than
   32  seventy-five days, prior to a biennial town  election,  the  proposition
   33  shall  be  submitted  at  such  biennial  election.    If  a petition be
   34  presented at any other time, a special election shall be  called  to  be
   35  held not less than sixty days, nor more than seventy-five days after the
   36  filing  of  such  petition  EXCEPT THAT IF SUCH SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE
   37  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE  DATES  PRESCRIBED  BY  THIS
   38  SUBDIVISION  FOR  CONDUCTING  SUCH  ELECTION ARE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF A
   39  GENERAL OR PRIMARY ELECTION CONDUCTED BY SUCH BOARD OF  ELECTIONS,  THEN
   40  SUCH  SPECIAL  ELECTION SHALL BE HELD NOT LESS THAN THIRTY NOR MORE THAN
   41  FORTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER SUCH GENERAL OR PRIMARY ELECTION.
   42    S 30. Section 83 of the town law, as amended by  chapter  134  of  the
   43  laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
   44    S  83. Conduct of town elections. The town board shall select from the
   45  list of election inspectors and ballot clerks previously designated  for
   46  general  election purposes, pursuant to the election law, persons to act
   47  as election inspectors and ballot clerks for each voting place at  which
   48  a  special  town election NOT CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
   49  shall be held. Election inspectors and ballot clerks for  biennial  town
   50  elections  shall be those appointed as provided by the election law, and
   51  both special town elections and biennial elections shall  be  conducted,
   52  the  votes  canvassed,  and the results certified and returned so far as
   53  practicable in the manner prescribed by such law. Upon  the  closing  of
   54  the polls at any election NOT CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
   55  at which a proposition or propositions shall be voted upon, the election
   56  inspectors shall proceed to canvass the votes thereat and shall complete
       S. 4948                            15
    1  such  canvass  without adjournment. As soon as possible after completion
    2  OF THE CANVASS OF ANY ELECTION NOT CONDUCTED  BY  THE  COUNTY  BOARD  OF
    3  ELECTIONS  the  inspectors  shall file with the town clerk a certificate
    4  setting  forth  the  holding  of the election, the total number of votes
    5  cast upon each proposition, and the number of votes cast for and against
    6  each proposition, together with the name and  address  of  every  person
    7  voting at such election upon such proposition or propositions.
    8    S 31. Subdivision 2 of section 84 of the town law, as amended by chap-
    9  ter 281 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
   10    2.  The  town  board of a town may, by resolution adopted at a regular
   11  meeting, determine that thereafter personal registration of voters shall
   12  be required for special town elections NOT CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD
   13  OF ELECTIONS.  Such resolution and the notice hereinafter  provided  for
   14  shall specify the day or days, the place or places, and the hours during
   15  which  a  board  or boards of registration shall meet for the purpose of
   16  preparing a register of voters of the town qualified  to  vote  in  such
   17  special elections, who shall present themselves personally for registra-
   18  tion  for such special election. The town clerk shall give notice at the
   19  expense of the town, by the publication  of  a  notice  in  a  newspaper
   20  published  in  said  town,  if  there be any, or, if there be none, in a
   21  newspaper published in the county  having  general  circulation  in  the
   22  town,  specifying the day or days, the place or places, and hours during
   23  which the board or boards of registration will meet for the  purpose  of
   24  preparing a register of qualified voters of the town as provided in this
   25  section. The first publication of such notice shall be at least ten days
   26  prior to the first day fixed by the town board on which boards of regis-
   27  tration  shall  meet. In addition, the town clerk shall post or cause to
   28  be posted in five conspicuous places in said town copies of such  notice
   29  at  least  ten  days  prior  to the first day fixed by the town board on
   30  which the boards of registration shall meet.
   31    S 32. Subdivision 1 of section 84-a of the town law, as added by chap-
   32  ter 396 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
   33    1. Absentee ballots shall be provided PURSUANT TO  THE  PROVISIONS  OF
   34  THIS  SECTION for all special town elections NOT CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY
   35  BOARD OF ELECTIONS for which personal registration is required.
   36    S 33. Subdivisions 1 and 6 of section 175 of the town law, subdivision
   37  1 as amended by chapter 185 of the laws of 2010  and  subdivision  6  as
   38  amended  by  chapter  586  of  the  laws of 2004, are amended to read as
   39  follows:
   40    1. An annual election shall be held  in  each  fire  district  on  the
   41  second  Tuesday  in  December,  except  that  in the Ocean Bay Park fire
   42  district, the Lonelyville fire district, the Davis Park  fire  district,
   43  the  Cherry Grove fire district and the Fire Island Pines fire district,
   44  Suffolk county, such annual election shall be held on the second Tuesday
   45  in July, except that in the town of  Salisbury,  Herkimer  county,  such
   46  annual  election  shall be held on the Tuesday next succeeding the first
   47  Monday in November from six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in
   48  the evening and except that in the Belfast fire district, Allegany coun-
   49  ty, such annual election shall be held on the first Tuesday in December.
   50  The board of fire commissioners shall give notice [thereof] OF  SUCH  AN
   51  ELECTION NOT CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS by the publication of a
   52  notice  once  in  one or more newspapers having a general circulation in
   53  the district. The first publication of such notice  shall  be  not  less
   54  than  twenty-seven  days and not more than thirty-four days prior to the
   55  date of such election. Such notice shall specify the time when  and  the
   56  place where such election will be held, the officers to be elected ther-
       S. 4948                            16
    1  eat and their terms of office, and the hours during which the polls will
    2  be  open for the receipt of ballots. The secretary of such fire district
    3  shall prepare the ballots for all elections of  fire  district  officers
    4  NOT  CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS and the polls shall remain open
    5  for the receipt thereof at all elections of fire district officers  from
    6  six  o'clock  in  the evening until nine o'clock in the evening and such
    7  additional consecutive hours prior thereto as the board of fire  commis-
    8  sioners of such district may have determined and specified in the notice
    9  thereof. The board of fire commissioners shall designate a resident fire
   10  district elector, who shall be a registered voter of the town, to act as
   11  chairman  of any election of said district NOT CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF
   12  ELECTIONS and shall designate not less than two nor more than four resi-
   13  dent fire district electors, who shall be registered voters of the  town
   14  to  act  as election inspectors and ballot clerks at ANY such elections.
   15  No elective officer of the fire district shall serve as such chairman or
   16  as an election inspector or ballot clerk. The board of fire  commission-
   17  ers  may  adopt  a  resolution  providing  that  such chairman, election
   18  inspectors and ballot clerks shall be paid for their respective services
   19  at any such annual election or at  any  special  election  of  the  fire
   20  district.  Such  resolution,  if  adopted,  shall fix the amount of such
   21  compensation, as follows: if the hours during which the  polls  will  be
   22  open  for  the  receipt  of  ballots are from six o'clock in the evening
   23  until nine o'clock in the evening,  a  sum  not  to  exceed  thirty-five
   24  dollars for each such official; if additional consecutive hours prior to
   25  six o'clock in the evening are determined and specified in the notice of
   26  election, a sum not to exceed fifty dollars for each such official.
   27    6.  If  in  any  fire  district the number of voters is so great as to
   28  render it inexpedient or impossible to conduct the election at one poll-
   29  ing place, the board of fire commissioners may divide the fire  district
   30  into  election  districts  and  provide  a  polling  place for each such
   31  election district,  provided,  however,  that  the  number  of  election
   32  districts in any fire district shall not exceed one for each six hundred
   33  electors  plus  one  for  a  remaining fraction of six hundred.  In such
   34  event, the notice specified in subdivision one  of  this  section  shall
   35  describe  the election districts and state where the polling places will
   36  be located[, and the]. THE board of fire commissioners  shall  designate
   37  not  less  than  two nor more than four resident fire district electors,
   38  who shall be registered voters of the town, to act as  election  inspec-
   39  tors  and  ballot  clerks at each such polling place IN ANY ELECTION NOT
   40  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.  The board of fire  district
   41  commissioners  may  adopt  a  resolution  providing  that  such election
   42  inspectors and ballot clerks shall be paid for their respective services
   43  at any such annual election or at  any  special  election  of  the  fire
   44  district.  Such  resolution,  if  adopted,  shall fix the amount of such
   45  compensation as follows: if the hours during which  the  polls  will  be
   46  open  for  the  receipt  of  ballots are from six o'clock in the evening
   47  until nine o'clock in the evening,  a  sum  not  to  exceed  thirty-five
   48  dollars for each such official; if additional consecutive hours prior to
   49  six o'clock in the evening are determined and specified in the notice of
   50  election,  a  sum not to exceed fifty dollars for each such official. No
   51  elective officer of the fire district shall serve as an election inspec-
   52  tor or ballot clerk.
   53    S 34. Subdivision 1, the opening paragraph and paragraph (a) of subdi-
   54  vision 2, the opening paragraph of subdivision 3 and subdivisions 5  and
   55  6 of section 175-a of the town law, subdivision 1 as amended by  chapter
   56  169  of  the  laws  of  1997, the opening paragraph and paragraph (a) of
       S. 4948                            17
    1  subdivision 2, the opening paragraph of subdivision 3 and subdivision  5
    2  as added by chapter 202 of the laws of 1984 and subdivision 6 as amended
    3  by chapter 456 of the laws of 1986, are amended to read as follows:
    4    1. The board of fire commissioners of any fire district may provide by
    5  resolution,  that a proposition be submitted at any annual fire district
    6  election providing that additional personal registration of  voters  not
    7  registered  with  the  board  of  elections  shall  be permitted for all
    8  elections in such fire district NOT CONDUCTED BY  THE  COUNTY  BOARD  OF
    9  ELECTIONS.  Such additional personal registration may be terminated by a
   10  resolution  of  the  board  of  fire  commissioners and the passage of a
   11  proposition at any annual fire district election.
   12    Registration for all fire district  elections  NOT  CONDUCTED  BY  THE
   13  COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS shall be conducted as follows:
   14    (a)  Only  those  persons registered with the board of elections on or
   15  before the [twenty-third] TWENTY-FIRST  day  before  such  election  and
   16  those  persons  whose  names  are  placed  on the fire district register
   17  pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be entitled to vote  in
   18  such district.
   19    The  register  for  the  annual  fire  district  election FOR DISTRICT
   20  ELECTIONS NOT CONDUCTED BY  THE  COUNTY  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  shall  be
   21  prepared  in each fire district by the inspectors of election thereof on
   22  the days prior to registration day, if any, designated therefor, on  the
   23  registration  day,  if  any,  at  the times and places designated by the
   24  resolution of the board of fire commissioners. In preparing such  regis-
   25  ter,  the  inspectors of election shall comply with the following proce-
   26  dure:
   27    5. Registration for  special  fire  district  elections  FOR  DISTRICT
   28  ELECTIONS  NOT  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS shall be held
   29  in the same manner as  is  provided  herein  for  annual  fire  district
   30  elections,  and  registration days therefor shall be the same as if said
   31  special fire district election were the annual fire district election.
   32    6. In lieu of the provisions for designating  the  chairman,  election
   33  inspectors and ballot clerks, as set forth in subdivision one of section
   34  one  hundred  seventy-five  of this [chapter] ARTICLE, the board of fire
   35  commissioners shall, by resolution adopted at least forty days prior  to
   36  the  annual  fire district election FOR DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT CONDUCTED
   37  BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, designate  a  resident  fire  district
   38  elector  to  act  as chairman of any election of said district and shall
   39  designate not less than two nor more than four  resident  fire  district
   40  electors  to  act  as  election  inspectors  and  ballot  clerks in such
   41  election. Such resolution shall fix the compensation of the chairman and
   42  inspectors and, in addition, the board of fire commissioners may provide
   43  for alternate inspectors who shall assume the office of  inspector  upon
   44  the inability or refusal of an inspector to assume or perform his duties
   45  and  for  any clerical help which they may deem necessary. Such clerical
   46  help shall perform their duties under the direction and control  of  the
   47  chairman and inspectors of election.
   48    S  35. Subdivisions 7, 8 and 29 of section 176 of the town law, subdi-
   49  vision 7 as amended by chapter 35 of the laws of 1996, subdivision 8  as
   50  amended  by  chapter 602 of the laws of 1947 and subdivision 29 as added
   51  by chapter 568 of the laws of 1949, are amended to read as follows:
   52    7. Shall require that candidates for district offices file their names
   53  with the secretary of the fire district OR, IF THE ELECTION FOR DISTRICT
   54  OFFICES IS CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WITH SUCH  COUNTY
   55  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS, at least twenty days prior to the date of such fire
   56  district elections and in addition may provide by resolution  that  such
       S. 4948                            18
    1  nominations  be  submitted in petition form subscribed by AT LEAST twen-
    2  ty-five  qualified  voters  of  the  district.  Thereafter  the  ballots
    3  prepared  for  the  election of fire district officers shall specify the
    4  names  of the candidates duly filed and in addition provide proper blank
    5  spaces for each office to be filled at such election. If any such resol-
    6  ution shall be adopted, the requirements thereof shall be  specified  in
    7  the  notice of each fire district election held thereafter. The board of
    8  fire commissioners may rescind such resolution at any time and thereaft-
    9  er fire district officers shall be elected as otherwise provided herein.
   10    8. Shall appoint officials for fire district elections  NOT  CONDUCTED
   11  BY  THE  COUNTY  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS as provided in section one hundred
   12  seventy-five of this chapter and  may  provide  for  their  compensation
   13  pursuant to such section.
   14    29.  May authorize the use of voting machines at any annual or special
   15  election held within the fire district and such voting machine shall  be
   16  used  in  accordance  with the provisions contained in [article nine of]
   17  the election law.
   18    S 36. Section 176 of the town law is amended by adding a new  subdivi-
   19  sion 35 to read as follows:
   20    35.  MAY  ADOPT  A  RESOLUTION,  SUBJECT  TO  A PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM,
   21  PROVIDING THAT ALL ELECTIONS IN SUCH FIRE DISTRICT SHALL BE CONDUCTED BY
   22  THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS. UPON APPROVAL OF SUCH A RESOLUTION BY THE
   23  BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND BY THE VOTERS IN A PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM,  IF
   24  A VALID PETITION FOR SUCH A REFERENDUM IS TIMELY FILED, THE COUNTY BOARD
   25  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL  CONDUCT  ALL ELECTIONS REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN SUCH
   26  FIRE DISTRICT. SUCH RESOLUTION SHALL TAKE  EFFECT  FOR  THE  FIRST  SUCH
   27  ELECTION HELD MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER ITS ADOPTION AND SHALL CONTINUE
   28  IN EFFECT FOR ALL SUCH ELECTIONS UNTIL A SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTION PROVIDING
   29  OTHERWISE SHALL, IN A LIKE MANNER, HAVE TAKEN EFFECT.
   30    S  37.  Section  212 of the town law, as amended by chapter 421 of the
   31  laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
   32    S 212. Annual election and notice thereof. The district  commissioners
   33  of  such  improvement  district  shall  publish  at  the  expense of the
   34  district the notice of each election of improvement district commission-
   35  ers held pursuant to this article WHICH IS NOT CONDUCTED BY  THE  COUNTY
   36  BOARD OF ELECTIONS.  Such notice shall be published at least once in one
   37  or  more  newspapers  having general circulation in the district and the
   38  first publication thereof shall be at least twenty days before  the  day
   39  of  such  election. The notice of annual election shall specify the time
   40  when and the place or places where such election shall be held  and  the
   41  hours  during  which  the polls will be open for the receipt of ballots.
   42  Notice of such election shall also be posted  on  the  websites  of  the
   43  district and the town in which the district is located, if such websites
   44  are  maintained,  on the signboard of the town, and conspicuously posted
   45  in three or more designated public locations within the district, on  or
   46  about  the day on which such notice is published. Such election shall be
   47  held at a suitable place or places within the district designated by the
   48  district commissioners and the polls shall remain open from six  o'clock
   49  in  the  evening  until  nine o'clock in the evening and such additional
   50  consecutive hours prior thereto as the district commissioners may deter-
   51  mine and specify in the notice of such election. The  board  of  commis-
   52  sioners  of such district shall designate for each district election NOT
   53  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS not less than  two  nor  more
   54  than  four  resident  taxpayers to act as election inspectors and ballot
   55  clerks for each designated polling place.  The  board  of  commissioners
   56  shall fix the compensation of such election inspectors and ballot clerks
       S. 4948                            19
    1  in  an  amount not to exceed ten dollars per hour each for every hour or
    2  part thereof of such service and such compensation  shall  be  a  charge
    3  against  the  district.  The  board  of  commissioners shall cause to be
    4  prepared the ballots for all elections NOT CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD
    5  OF  ELECTIONS,  and may authorize the use of voting machines approved by
    6  the [secretary of] state BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  at  any  SUCH  annual  or
    7  special  election  of  the district in accordance with [article nine of]
    8  the election law.  After  the  polls  shall  have  been  closed  at  any
    9  election,  the  election  inspectors  and  ballot clerks at each polling
   10  place shall immediately canvass the  ballots  cast  and  shall  publicly
   11  announce  the  result  of the vote at that polling place. Within twenty-
   12  four hours the chairman of the board of commissioners, election  inspec-
   13  tors  and  ballot  clerks  shall  execute  and file a certificate of the
   14  result of the canvass with the board of commissioners of the improvement
   15  district and with the clerk of  the  town  in  which  said  district  is
   16  located.
   17    S 38. Subdivision 1, the opening paragraph and paragraph (a) of subdi-
   18  vision  2, the opening paragraph of subdivision 3 and subdivisions 4 and
   19  5 of section 213-a of the town law, subdivision 1 as amended by  chapter
   20  530  of  the  laws  of  1992, the opening paragraph and paragraph (a) of
   21  subdivision 2, the opening paragraph of subdivision 3 and subdivisions 4
   22  and 5 as added by chapter 400 of the laws of 1985, are amended  to  read
   23  as follows:
   24    1.  The  board  of  commissioners of any improvement district in which
   25  commissioners are elected may provide by resolution that  a  proposition
   26  be  submitted at any annual improvement district election providing that
   27  additional personal registration of voters not registered with the board
   28  of elections shall be permitted for all elections  in  such  improvement
   29  district NOT CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   30    Registration  for  all improvement district elections NOT CONDUCTED BY
   31  THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS shall be conducted as follows:
   32    (a) Only those persons registered with the board of  elections  on  or
   33  before  the  [twenty-third]  TWENTY-FIRST  day  before such election and
   34  those persons whose names are placed on the improvement district  regis-
   35  ter pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be entitled to vote
   36  in such district.
   37    The  register  for  [the] ANY annual improvement district election NOT
   38  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS shall  be  prepared  in  each
   39  district  by  the  inspectors  of  election thereof on the days prior to
   40  registration day, if any, designated therefor, AND on  the  registration
   41  day, if any, at the times and places designated by the resolution of the
   42  board  of  commissioners.  In preparing such register, the inspectors of
   43  election shall comply with the following procedure:
   44    4. The SECRETARY OF THE BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  OF  THE  improvement
   45  district  [secretary]  shall  furnish  the  inspectors  of  election, at
   46  district expense, with all necessary registration books, papers,  equip-
   47  ment and supplies.
   48    5.  In  lieu of the provisions for designating the election inspectors
   49  and ballot clerks, as set forth in section two hundred  twelve  of  this
   50  [chapter]  ARTICLE,  in  improvement districts where additional personal
   51  registration is permitted FOR DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT  CONDUCTED  BY  THE
   52  COUNTY  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS, the board of commissioners shall, by resol-
   53  ution adopted at least forty days prior to the annual district election,
   54  designate a resident improvement district elector to act as chairman  of
   55  any  election of said district and shall designate not less than two nor
   56  more than four resident district electors to act as election  inspectors
       S. 4948                            20
    1  and  ballot  clerks  in ANY such election. Such resolution shall fix the
    2  compensation of the chairman and inspectors and, in addition, the  board
    3  of  commissioners  may provide for alternate inspectors who shall assume
    4  the office of inspector upon the inability or refusal of an inspector to
    5  assume  or  perform  his duties and for any clerical help which they may
    6  deem necessary. Such clerical help shall perform their duties under  the
    7  direction and control of the chairman and inspectors of election.
    8    S  39.  Subdivision  1  of  section 213-b of the town law, as added by
    9  chapter 400 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
   10    1. The board of commissioners of any  improvement  district  in  which
   11  commissioners  are  elected,  may,  by  resolution, provide for absentee
   12  ballots for the election of the commission[, in accordance with].   SUCH
   13  ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT CONDUCTED BY THE
   14  COUNTY  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS SHALL BE CAST PURSUANT TO the provisions of
   15  this section. SUCH ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR IMPROVEMENT  DISTRICT  ELECTIONS
   16  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL BE CAST PURSUANT TO THE
   17  PROVISIONS OF THE ELECTION LAW. Such resolution shall take effect at the
   18  first  such  election  held  more than sixty days after its adoption and
   19  shall continue in effect for  all  such  elections  until  a  subsequent
   20  resolution providing otherwise shall, in like manner, have taken effect.
   21    S  40.  Subdivision  20  of section 215 of the town law, as amended by
   22  chapter 400 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
   23    20. [May] SHALL provide by resolution  that  candidates  for  district
   24  offices  shall  file  their  names  with  the  secretary of the board of
   25  commissioners OR, IF THE ELECTION FOR DISTRICT OFFICES IS  CONDUCTED  BY
   26  THE  COUNTY  BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WITH SUCH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS, at
   27  least thirty days prior to the date of the district elections,  and,  in
   28  addition,  require  that  such  nominations  FOR  DISTRICT ELECTIONS NOT
   29  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS be submitted in petition form
   30  subscribed by twenty-five registered voters of the district.   Thereaft-
   31  er,  the ballots for the election of district officers shall specify the
   32  names of the candidates duly filed  and,  in  addition,  provide  proper
   33  blank  spaces for each office to be filled at such election. If any such
   34  resolution shall be adopted, the requirements thereof shall be specified
   35  in the notice of each district election  NOT  CONDUCTED  BY  THE  COUNTY
   36  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  held  thereafter.  The  board of commissioners may
   37  rescind such resolution at any time  and  thereafter  district  officers
   38  shall be elected as otherwise provided herein.
   39    S  41. Section 215 of the town law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
   40  sion 24 to read as follows:
   41    24. MAY ADOPT  A  RESOLUTION,  SUBJECT  TO  A  PERMISSIVE  REFERENDUM,
   42  PROVIDING  THAT  ALL  ELECTIONS  IN  SUCH  IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT SHALL BE
   43  CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.  UPON  APPROVAL  OF  SUCH  A
   44  RESOLUTION  BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND BY THE VOTERS IN A PERMIS-
   45  SIVE REFERENDUM, IF A VALID PETITION FOR SUCH  A  REFERENDUM  IS  TIMELY
   46  FILED,  THE  COUNTY  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL  CONDUCT  ALL ELECTIONS
   47  REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN SUCH IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. SUCH RESOLUTION  SHALL
   48  TAKE  EFFECT FOR THE FIRST SUCH ELECTION HELD MORE THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER
   49  ITS ADOPTION AND SHALL CONTINUE IN EFFECT FOR ALL SUCH ELECTIONS UNTIL A
   50  SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTION PROVIDING OTHERWISE SHALL, IN A LIKE MANNER,  HAVE
   51  TAKEN EFFECT.
   52    S 42. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 24 of the municipal home
   53  rule  law,  as amended by chapter 271 of the laws of 1986, is amended to
   54  read as follows:
   55    a. A local law adopted by a county, city or town and subject to refer-
   56  endum on petition as provided in this section  or  in  any  other  state
       S. 4948                            21
    1  statute,  if  not  also  subject to mandatory referendum, shall not take
    2  effect until at least forty-five days  after  its  adoption;  nor  until
    3  approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the qualified electors
    4  of  the  local  government  voting  on a proposition for its approval if
    5  within forty-five days after its adoption there be filed with the  clerk
    6  a  petition  protesting against such local law, signed and authenticated
    7  as herein required by  qualified  electors  of  such  local  government,
    8  registered  to  vote  therein at the last preceding general election, in
    9  number equal to at least ten per centum of the  total  number  of  votes
   10  cast  for  governor  at  the  last  gubernatorial election in such local
   11  government. If such petition be so filed, a proposition for the approval
   12  of such local law shall be submitted at the  next  general  election  of
   13  state  or  local  government  officers held in such local government not
   14  less than sixty days after the filing of such petition, unless the peti-
   15  tion request and the legislative body adopt a local law submitting  such
   16  proposition  at  a  special election held not less than sixty days after
   17  the adoption of the local  law  providing  for  such  special  election,
   18  EXCEPT  THAT  IF SUCH SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF
   19  ELECTIONS, THE DATE FIXED FOR SUCH SPECIAL ELECTION MAY  NOT  BE  WITHIN
   20  THIRTY  DAYS OF A GENERAL OR SPECIAL ELECTION CONDUCTED BY SUCH BOARD OF
   21  ELECTIONS.   The petition may be made  upon  separate  sheets,  and  the
   22  signatures to each sheet shall be signed and authenticated in the manner
   23  provided by the election law for the signing and authentication of nomi-
   24  nating  petitions so far as applicable. The several sheets so signed and
   25  authenticated, when fastened together and offered for filing,  shall  be
   26  deemed  to  constitute  one  petition. The clerk shall examine each such
   27  petition so filed with him and not later than thirty days after the date
   28  of its filing, or forty-five days before the  day  of  the  election  at
   29  which  such referendum would appear on the ballot, whichever is earlier,
   30  shall transmit to the legislative body a certificate that he  has  exam-
   31  ined  it  and has found that it complies or does not comply, as the case
   32  may be, with all the requirements of law. If within five days after  the
   33  last  day  to  file such certificate a written objection to the determi-
   34  nation of the clerk be filed with the  supreme  court,  or  any  justice
   35  thereof,  of  a  judicial district in which such local government or any
   36  part thereof is located, such court or justice shall determine any ques-
   37  tion arising thereunder and make such  order  as  justice  may  require.
   38  Such  proceeding  shall be heard and determined in the manner prescribed
   39  by section 16-116 of the election law.
   40    S 43. This act shall take  effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
   41  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
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