Establishes an election security navigator program within the state board of elections
This bill establishes an Election Security Navigator Program within the New York State Board of Elections. The program would be led by a director with expertise in election cybersecurity, operational security, and personnel management, and would provide voluntary assistance to local boards of elections. Its core purpose is to help local election offices mitigate cybersecurity threats, improve physical and operational preparedness, share threat information, conduct risk assessments, plan for incidents and continuity of operations, and receive training and standardized guidance.
The bill also requires the State Board of Elections to design the program through a needs-based assessment, consult with state, federal, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector experts, and then adopt regulations after public hearings in Albany and New York City. It directs the board to issue annual public reports on the program’s performance, services, risks identified, and funding needs, and it includes a student program partnership with the State University of New York beginning in the second year of reporting. The bill further authorizes the board to seek federal, private, and intergovernmental funding and to coordinate with agencies to carry out the program.
The bill would add a new section 3-113 to the Election Law and create a new state-level support structure for county and local boards of elections. It would not directly change voting rules or election administration procedures, but it would expand the State Board of Elections’ authority to provide cybersecurity and operational support, coordinate information sharing, and help local boards access grants such as HAVA, Homeland Security, and state and local cybersecurity funding. It also requires a dedicated annual budget request of at least $3 million, adjusted for inflation, and makes certain needs-assessment information confidential and exempt from FOIL disclosure unless ordered by a court.
The bill’s framing is strongly supportive of election administration and security, emphasizing cybersecurity threats, disinformation, physical threats, and resource constraints faced by local election offices. Although there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, the text suggests a policy consensus-oriented approach focused on technical assistance rather than regulation or enforcement. The bill’s structure, including voluntary participation and consultation with local boards and experts, indicates an effort to make the proposal broadly acceptable to election administrators.
The main potential points of contention are funding, confidentiality, and state oversight. The bill requires a minimum annual appropriation of $3 million, which could draw scrutiny from budget-conscious lawmakers. Its confidentiality provisions for needs assessments may raise transparency concerns because they limit FOIL access. There may also be debate over how much authority the State Board of Elections should have in prioritizing services, coordinating with local boards, and shaping local election security practices, even though the program is voluntary.