New York Assembly Bill A05043

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/11/25
• Refer: 2/11/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Allows delivery of an application for an absentee ballot to the board of elections through and on the day of the election.

Summary

This bill amends New York’s Election Law to change the deadline for in-person delivery of an absentee ballot application. Under current law, applications delivered in person to the board of elections must be received no later than the day before the election; this bill would allow those applications to be delivered through and on the day of the election. The existing deadline for absentee ballot applications submitted by mail or through the electronic absentee ballot application transmittal system would remain unchanged, continuing to require receipt by the board of elections no later than the tenth day before the election. The bill is narrowly focused on absentee voting administration and does not alter the substantive eligibility rules for obtaining an absentee ballot. Its practical effect would be to give voters and their agents more time to submit in-person applications, potentially reducing missed opportunities for eligible voters who decide late or encounter barriers before Election Day. The bill would take effect immediately if enacted.

Impact

The bill would amend section 8-400 of the Election Law to extend the receipt deadline for in-person absentee ballot applications from the day before the election to Election Day itself. This change would affect boards of elections, voters seeking absentee ballots, and any authorized agents delivering applications on a voter’s behalf. It would not change the deadlines for mailed or electronic applications, which would still be due ten days before the election.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be a straightforward election-administration proposal with an access-oriented purpose. The caption and amendment language suggest support for making absentee voting more flexible, especially for voters who need to apply late. No contrary positions are documented in the provided materials.

Contention

No committee transcript or voting history was provided, so there are no recorded points of contention in the available materials. The only likely policy issue raised by the bill’s language is the balance between expanding voter access and maintaining administrative deadlines for boards of elections. Any disagreement would likely center on whether allowing same-day in-person applications could complicate election-day processing or, conversely, whether it is a necessary accommodation for voters.