New York Assembly Bill A00722

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/8/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Orders the names on ballots for special elections in the same manner as ordered for general and primary elections.

Summary

This bill amends the New York Election Law to change how candidate names are ordered on ballots in special elections. Under current law, the ballot-order rule in section 7-116 applies to general elections, and this bill would expressly extend that same ordering method to special elections as well. The ranking would continue to be based on the party whose gubernatorial candidate received the highest vote total in the most recent governor’s race, with that party placed in row or column A (or the first position), and the remaining parties listed in descending order of those vote totals. The measure is narrow and procedural rather than substantive. It does not change who may run, how votes are counted, or the conduct of special elections generally; it only standardizes the placement of candidate names on the ballot. The bill takes effect immediately if enacted, which would make the ballot-order rule applicable to upcoming special elections without delay.

Impact

The bill would amend Election Law section 7-116 to include special elections in the existing ballot-order framework used for general elections, and the section heading would be updated accordingly. Its practical effect is to require election officials to use the same party-ordering rule for special elections that already governs general elections, potentially affecting ballot design, printing, and candidate placement in those contests. The change would apply to political parties and candidates appearing on special-election ballots statewide.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the supplied materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the proposal appears administrative and likely intended to create consistency in ballot formatting rather than to advance a controversial policy change. The available context suggests a neutral-to-supportive posture, but the absence of discussion or voting history limits any firm conclusion about legislative sentiment.

Contention

The bill’s only apparent point of contention is whether special elections should follow the same ballot-order rule as general elections. Any disagreement would likely center on whether ballot position can influence voter behavior and whether special elections should be treated differently from regular elections. No specific opponents, supporters, or objections are identified in the provided materials, and there is no transcript evidence showing active dispute.