Changes party enrollment of voters where the enrolled party contained the word "Independence" or "Independent"

Latest action Dec 5, 2025

Changes party enrollment of voters where the enrolled party contained the word "Independence" or "Independent" to not being enrolled in any party.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Rejected by the executive.

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

Vetoed

New York State Senate

Same as A7804, 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.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

To automatically change the voter enrollment of individuals who are currently enrolled in a political party that includes the words 'Inde- pendence' or `Independent.' Said individuals will be unenrolled from any political party.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMar 10, 2025Result: passed
(40) (21) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Elections
Senate ElectionsFeb 10, 2025Result: passed
(5) (2) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Jonathan Jacobson and Rachel May

Democratic2

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why James Skoufis says this is needed

Chapter 671 of 2022 prohibits a state party from using the word "Inde- pendent" or "Independence" in its name. Evidence suggested that many voters who were registered as members of the Independence Party did not realize they were registered in the Party; they intended to register as independent (i.e. unaffiliated) voters but were confused by the name of the Independence Party. This new bill will move all voters who remain enrolled in the now-de- funct Independence Party or other defunct party with "Independent" or "Independence" in its name to the unaffiliated/blank rolls. It is important to note that unlike voters who remain registered in parties such as the Libertarian party, Women's Equality Party, and others that have lost ballot access, the Independence Party is unique since it is now prohibited from regaining its ballot status, distin- guishing it from other parties that still have the potential to restore their ballot access.

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

Dec 5, 2025
Vetoed
VETOED MEMO.77
NY Senate
Dec 1, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
NY Senate
May 29, 2025
Ordered to Third Reading Rules CAL.345
ORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.345
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 29, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly

Show full history (10 earlier events)

May 29, 2025
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR A7804
NY Assembly
May 28, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
NY Assembly
Apr 11, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly
Mar 10, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Mar 10, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
NY Assembly
Feb 12, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 11, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 10, 2025
1ST Report CAL.292
1ST REPORT CAL.292
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
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 22, 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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