New York S 4469: Relates to absentee ballots for school district elections due to a religious commitment

Bill Text

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S04469 Summary:

BILL NOS04469A

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORMAYER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§2018-a & 2018-b, Ed L

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Relates to absentee ballots for school district elections due to a religious commitment or following such applicant's religious teaching or tenet that forbids secular activity on that day.

Go to top S04469 Actions:

BILL NOS04469A

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02/05/2025REFERRED TO EDUCATION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO EDUCATION

05/19/20261ST REPORT CAL.1175

05/20/2026AMENDED 4469A

05/20/20262ND REPORT CAL.

05/21/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

06/05/2026COMMITTED TO RULES

Go to topS04469 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS04469 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS04469 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4469--A
 Cal. No. 1175

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 5, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- recommitted
 to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8
 -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first report,
 amended on first report, ordered to a second report and ordered
 reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report

 AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to absentee ballots for
 school district elections due to a religious commitment

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Paragraphs a and c of subdivision 2 of section 2018-a of
 2 the education law, as amended by chapter 541 of the laws of 2025, are
 3 amended to read as follows:
 4 a. A qualified voter may vote as an absentee voter under this section
 5 if on the occurrence of an election such voter expects to be:
 6 (1) absent from their county of residence; or
 7 (2) unable to appear personally at the polling place because of
 8 illness or physical disability, or duties related to the primary care of
 9 one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled, or because
 10 such voter will be or is a patient in a hospital; or
 11 (3) a resident or patient of a veteran's administration hospital; or
 12 (4) absent from such voter's voting residence because such voter is
 13 detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial, or
 14 confined in jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other than
 15 a felony, provided that such voter is qualified to vote in the election
 16 district of such voter's residence[.]; or
 17 (5) unable to be present due to such voter's observance of a religious
 18 commitment or following such voter's religious teaching or tenet that
 19 forbids secular activity on that day.
 20 c. The application for an absentee ballot when filed must contain in
 21 each instance the following information:
 22 (1) Applicant's full name, date of birth, and residence address,
 23 including the street and number, if any, rural delivery route, if any,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08446-02-6

 S. 4469--A 2

 1 mailing address if different from the residence address and an address
 2 to which the ballot shall be mailed.
 3 (2) A statement that the applicant is a qualified and registered
 4 voter.
 5 (3) A statement, as appropriate, that on the day of such election the
 6 applicant expects in good faith to be in one of the following catego-
 7 ries:
 8 (a) absent from their county of residence; provided, however, if the
 9 applicant expects to be absent from such county for a duration covering
 10 more than one election and seeks an absentee ballot for each election,
 11 such applicant shall state the dates when they expect to begin and end
 12 such absence; or
 13 (b) unable to appear at a polling place because of illness or physical
 14 disability or duties related to the primary care of one or more individ-
 15 uals who are ill or physically disabled; or
 16 (c) a resident or patient of a veteran's administration hospital; or
 17 (d) detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial
 18 or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other