A 400: Relates to the composition of boards of elections; provides that such boards shall have other qualifications for performing their duties as the legislature may direct.
The proposed constitutional amendment aims to ensure equal representation of the two major political parties in the composition of boards of elections. These boards are responsible for tasks such as qualifying voters, distributing ballots, and counting votes at elections. The amendment requires these boards to have equal representation of the two parties that received the highest and next highest number of votes in the general election preceding their appointment or election. Existing laws on this subject will continue until the legislature decides otherwise. The amendment will not apply to town or village elections. The proposed amendment will be referred to the first regular legislative session after the next general election and will be published for three months prior to that election.
| Jan. 30, 2026 | opinion referred to judiciary |
| Jan. 08, 2026 | to attorney-general for opinion |
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to election law |
| Jan. 29, 2025 | opinion referred to judiciary |
| Jan. 08, 2025 | referred to election law |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 400 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 8 of article 2 of the constitution, in relation to the composition of boards of elections 1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 8 of article 2 2 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 3 § 8. All laws creating, regulating or affecting boards or officers 4 charged with the duty of qualifying voters, or of distributing ballots 5 to voters, or of receiving, recording or counting votes at elections, 6 shall secure equal representation of the two political parties which, at 7 the general election next preceding that for which such boards or offi- 8 cers are to serve, cast the highest and the next highest number of 9 votes. All such boards and officers shall be appointed or elected in 10 such manner, and upon the nomination of such representatives of said 11 parties respectively, as the legislature may direct and shall have such 12 other qualifications for performing their duties as the legislature may 13 direct. Existing laws on this subject shall continue until the legisla- 14 ture shall otherwise provide. This section shall not apply to town, or 15 village elections. 16 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be 17 referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the 18 next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in 19 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be 20 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD89017-01-5