Authorizes ballot by mail by removing cause for absentee ballot voting.
Summary
This bill is a proposed constitutional amendment to expand New York voting access by authorizing ballot-by-mail voting. It would remove the current constitutional language that limits absentee voting to voters who are absent from their county or city of residence, or who cannot appear in person because of illness or physical disability. In place of those restrictions, the bill would allow the Legislature to provide by general law for voting by mail in any election.
Because the measure is a constitutional amendment, it does not itself create the new voting system immediately. Instead, it would first amend article 2, section 2 of the state constitution, then be referred to a later legislative session and published before voter consideration, following the constitutional amendment process. If adopted, it would give lawmakers broader authority to establish mail voting rules for all qualified voters.
Impact
The bill would change the New York Constitution by deleting the existing absentee-voting eligibility limits and replacing them with broader authority for the Legislature to permit voting by mail in any election. This would affect Election Law and any future implementing statutes by allowing the state to design a universal or expanded mail voting system rather than one tied to specific excuses such as absence, illness, or disability. The practical impact would be on qualified voters, election administrators, and county boards of elections, which would need to follow whatever mail-voting framework the Legislature later enacts.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a voting-access expansion, which typically draws support from election-reform advocates and concern from those wary of changing absentee-ballot rules. The available record does not show any formal sentiment from committee discussion or floor action.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the shift from excuse-based absentee voting to broader ballot-by-mail authority. Supporters would likely argue that removing the need to prove absence, illness, or disability makes voting more accessible and modernizes election administration. Opponents may raise concerns about ballot security, voter verification, administrative burden, and the policy implications of moving away from in-person voting as the default. Because no transcripts or votes are included, specific legislators or groups holding these views cannot be identified from the record provided.
In voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for voting by absentee electors and for canvassing of official absentee ballots and mail-in ballots; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for voting by mail-in electors.
In voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots, for date of application for absentee ballot, for envelopes for official absentee ballots and for voting by absentee electors and providing for secure ballot return receptacles; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots, for date of application for mail-in ballot, for approval of application for mail-in ballot, for envelopes for official mail-in ballots and for voting by mail-in electors.
In voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots.