S1809

The New York State Senate passed legislation Wednesday allowing full-time college students to serve as elections inspectors in counties where they attend school, even if they are not county residents. Senate Print 1809, sponsored by Sen. Fernandez, passed 39-21 on a largely party-line vote. The bill addresses a critical shortage of poll workers and inspectors while requiring students to be registered New York voters and at least 18 years old. Supporters, including Sens. Gounardes and Krueger, argued the measure provides valuable civic engagement opportunities for young people and helps alleviate staffing shortages at polling sites. Opponents, led by Sens. Walczyk and Martins, raised election integrity concerns, arguing that college students have no meaningful connection to the communities they would serve and questioning whether the Board of Elections can adequately verify citizenship status. Sen. Walczyk specifically cited New York City's efforts to register noncitizens and noted that immigration lawyers have requested voter roll removals. Sen. Martins argued the Legislature should either maintain historical standards requiring poll workers to be community residents or expand eligibility consistently to other non-residents, such as commuters, who also support local economies.