Relates to absentee ballots for relating to absentee ballots for school district elections

Latest action Nov 21, 2025

Clarifies valid reasons to obtain an absentee ballot for elections in school districts which do not utilize poll registration.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Signed into law.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A5301, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To update requirements for absentee ballot applications for school elections. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends paragraphs a and c section 2018-a of the education law, to clarify valid reasons to obtain an absentee ballot for elections in school districts which do not utilize poll registration. Section 2 amends subdivision 2 of section 2018-b of the education law, to clarify valid reasons to obtain an absentee ballot for elections in school districts which do utilize poll registration. Section 3 sets the effective date.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateApr 2, 2025Result: passed
(50) (12) (0) (1)
Vote: Committee vote · Education
Senate EducationFeb 11, 2025Result: passed
(13) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Al Taylor, Lea Webb and 2 more on Agora

Democratic4

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Shelley Mayer says this is needed

Under New York State law, school elections are generally governed under the education law, not the election law. While this can provide flexi- bility to school districts, it also means that when election law stat- utes are updated, the corresponding education law provisions may not be. Such is the case for education law provisions concerning absentee ballots, which require much more information from applicants than election law does. For example, voters who will be on vacation on the date of the election, under current law, are needlessly required to disclose the locations where they will be on vacation, the dates, the name of their employer if they have one, and whether or not they are self-employed. These unnecessary requirements act as a barrier to voters utilizing their right under the law to vote remotely.

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.

Full history

Nov 21, 2025
Signed
SIGNED CHAP.541
NY Senate
Nov 17, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
May 21, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.218
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.218
NY Assembly
May 21, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 21, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly

Show full history (10 earlier events)

May 21, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A5301
NY Assembly
May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Apr 2, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Apr 2, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Apr 2, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 24, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 12, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 11, 2025
1ST Report CAL.309
1ST REPORT CAL.309
NY Senate
Jan 21, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO EDUCATION
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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