Includes a statement on the envelopes of ballots for early mail voters, absentee voters and special presidential voters for signature affirmation

PassedLatest action May 11, 2026

Includes a statement on the envelopes of ballots for early mail voters, absentee voters and special presidential voters for signature affirmation.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed the legislature and is awaiting a signature.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A1566, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Election Law.

Committee

Election Law · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Elections · New York State Senate, Governmental Operations · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this legislation is to provide conspicuous language on absentee ballot envelopes to remind voters that they need to sign the envelope.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 23, 2026Result: passed
(59) (1) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Elections
Senate ElectionsFeb 24, 2026Result: passed
(5) (1) (0) (1)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 5, 2025Result: passed
(60) (1) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Elections
Senate ElectionsFeb 25, 2025Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jamaal Bailey, Lea Webb and 2 more on Agora

Democratic4

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Robert Jackson says this is needed

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive increase in absentee votes to be cast. Many people choose to vote by mail rather than at polling stations due to health concerns or convenience. When they cast their votes either by mailing their absentee ballots, handing them in at polling stations,or delivering them to the Board of Elections, many of these voters did not sign the back of the absentee ballot envelope. Thousands of ballots were deemed invalid because voters did not sign the back of the absentee ballot envelope. This legislation is designed to address this issue. Conspicuous language beneath the signature line that tells voters to sign the absentee ballot envelope will inform and remind voters to sign the envelope. This will help to ensure that absentee ballots cast will be 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.

Full history

May 11, 2026
Ordered to Third Reading CAL.445
ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.445
NY Assembly
May 11, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 11, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED BY S5183B
NY Assembly
May 7, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.445
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.445
NY Assembly
May 6, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly

Show full history (21 earlier events)

Mar 26, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Election Law
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly
Mar 23, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 23, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 23, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly
Mar 12, 2026
Amended
AMENDED ON THIRD READING 5183B
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2026
Amended
AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 5183A
NY Senate
Mar 5, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Mar 4, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 26, 2026
1ST Report CAL.443
1ST REPORT CAL.443
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
NY Senate
Apr 2, 2025
Amend and Recommit to Election Law
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly
Mar 5, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Mar 3, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 26, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 25, 2025
1ST Report CAL.413
1ST REPORT CAL.413
NY Senate
Feb 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
NY Senate
Jan 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly

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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