S6173B
An act to amend the Election Law and the Vehicle and Traffic Law — 2024-01-08 · Calendar #8
The New York State Senate passed S6173B, an act to amend the Election Law and the Vehicle and Traffic Law, on a roll call vote of 62-0 on Calendar Number 8. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Skoufis, faced a procedural challenge when Sen. Walczyk proposed an amendment requiring government-issued photo identification for in-person voting, with affidavit ballot provisions for those without ID. Walczyk argued the amendment would strengthen election integrity and reduce reliance on costly consultant programs, contending that voters themselves are the most effective validators of voter information. Acting President Bailey ruled the amendment nongermane under Rule 6, Section 4B. Sen. Lanza appealed the ruling, but the appeal was defeated on a show of hands vote of 21 ayes, sustaining the chair's decision. The bill then proceeded to passage without amendment.
PASSED
Ayes: 62
· Nays: N/A
Debate Summary
Sen. Walczyk proposed an amendment requiring valid government-issued photo identification for in-person voting, with affidavit ballot provisions for those without ID. He argued the amendment would help validate voter information and improve election integrity without creating inconvenience for voters. The Acting President ruled the amendment nongermane under Rule 6, Section 4B. Sen. Lanza appealed the ruling, but the appeal was defeated on a show of hands vote of 21 ayes, sustaining the chair's ruling.
Amendments
| Sponsor | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Sen. Walczyk | Requires valid government-issued photo identification for in-person voting; defines what constitutes valid identification; provides that voters without valid ID may cast an affidavit ballot, with the local Board of Elections responsible for determining validity. | defeated |