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Senate bill · S10563 (2025-26)

Provides notice regarding the timeliness of the receipt by the board of elections of ballots capable of return by mail

Latest action Jun 4, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A11486, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Sponsor

James Skoufis

State Senator, District 42 · Democratic

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Summary

Provides notice regarding the timeliness of the receipt by the board of elections of ballots capable of return by mail to advise voters that such ballot should be returned to the board of elections as soon as possible by any approved method, and further recommend the use of alternative methods of return besides domestic mail services if the voter will be returning their ballot within several days of the election.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Election Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To ensure mail ballot voters have advance notice of the timeliness of the receipt of mailed in ballots.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Election Law · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Elections · New York State Senate.

The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

Current New York State law establishes that mail ballot voters may have their votes counted up to seven days past election day, so long as their ballot is postmarked by election day. A new rule created by the United States Postal Service (USPS) puts this practice at risk, as it estab- lishes that USPS does not have to postmark mail at the time when it is received. This has implications on whether mail ballot votes will count, as these postmarks serve to confirm whether these ballots were submitted and received before the polls close. With such a significant change regarding the timing of when mail in ballots can be received such that votes are counted, it is imperative that all voters, mail ballot voters included, have an opportunity to exercise their civic duty to the fullest extent. This bill would do so by equipping mail ballot voters with the information they need so that they can take the steps necessary to ensure that their ballots are received by election day and can thus have their votes counted.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 4, 2026Result: passed

    (59) (1) (0) (3)

Full history

  1. Jun 4, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 4, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 4, 2026

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1771

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1771

    NY Senate

  4. Jun 4, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  5. Jun 4, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW

    NY Assembly

Show full history (2 earlier events)
  1. May 27, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW

    NY Assembly

  2. May 22, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

    NY Senate