S5943

The New York State Senate passed legislation standardizing ballot order by moving judicial offices toward the end of ballots, after federal and state legislative candidates. The bill (S5943), sponsored by Sen. Skoufis, passed 45-17 on a roll call vote. The measure addresses what the sponsor characterized as a lack of statutory standardization in current ballot ordering practices. Opposition centered on concerns that the change would diminish focus on local elections and disrespect the judiciary as a coequal branch of government. Sen. Walczyk, the leading opponent, proposed an amendment to restore local elections to odd-numbered years, but the presiding officer ruled it nongermane. An appeal of that ruling failed on a show of hands vote of 21 ayes. Walczyk and 16 other senators voted against final passage, arguing the bill represents hyperpartisan policy that erodes decentralized principles and increases ballot length to as many as 25 candidates in a single cycle. The bill had been previously carried by former Sen. Kaminsky before Skoufis took over sponsorship.

The New York State Senate passed legislation to amend the Election Law on a 44-14 vote. Senate Print 5943, sponsored by Sen. Skoufis and listed as Calendar Number 781, received support from a majority of the chamber. Fourteen senators voted in opposition: Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Griffo, Lanza, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber. The bill is set to take effect on January 1. No floor debate on the measure was recorded in the session transcript.