S7550

Senate Print 7550, sponsored by Sen. Stewart-Cousins and relating to amendments to the Election Law, was laid aside on the calendar without debate or vote following a motion by Sen. Lanza.

The New York State Senate passed legislation moving the 2024 presidential primary from June to April 2 and expanding absentee ballot cure procedures, with a 41-21 vote largely along party lines. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gianaris and substituted as Assembly Bill 7690, was approved despite Republican opposition focused on election security concerns. The measure advances the presidential primary to increase New York's influence in the nominating process and allows boards of elections to accept unpostmarked absentee ballots received within seven days of Election Day if voters attest they mailed them on Election Day. Sen. Walczyk led the opposition, arguing the absentee ballot cure language fails to require voters to attest they mailed ballots before polls closed, potentially allowing ballots cast after voting ended to be counted. He characterized the provision as creating a loophole that undermines election integrity. Sen. Gianaris countered that the cure process addresses documented postal service failures to postmark ballots and noted the proposal was sanctioned by both the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee. All 21 nay votes came from Republican senators, while Sen. Gianaris was recorded in the affirmative.