S644

The New York State Senate passed legislation establishing minimum staffing requirements for county boards of elections, with the measure clearing on a 41-21 vote largely along party lines. Senate Print 644, sponsored by Sen. Mannion, requires a minimum of four full-time staff members for every 40,000 active registered voters in a county, with additional staffing mandated at higher voter thresholds. The bill was developed based on testimony from a 2021 statewide elections hearing and is intended to prevent election errors and protect the integrity of New York's electoral system. Mannion argued the measure is essential to democracy and noted that $2 million was secured in the prior budget to help alleviate pressures on local boards. However, Republican senators and some Democrats opposed the bill as an unfunded mandate that infringes on local control. Sen. Walczyk questioned the basis for the staffing formula and noted the bill was not requested by counties or the Association of Counties. Sen. Rhoads and Sen. Helming argued the measure represents top-down control without demonstrated need and will ultimately burden property taxpayers. Sen. Borrello characterized it as an unfunded mandate on boards already operating on limited budgets. All 21 votes against the bill came from Republican senators: Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Martins, Mattera, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber, and Weik.