Relates to split shifts for election inspectors or poll clerks.
Summary
S01842 would amend New York’s Election Law to allow county boards of elections to use split shifts for election inspectors and poll clerks, with adjusted compensation. The bill is designed to give election administrators more flexibility in staffing polling places, likely making it easier to cover long election days and manage worker availability.
The measure also sets a safeguard: at least one election inspector and one poll clerk from each of the two major political parties must be present at each poll site for the full time the polls are open. County boards of elections would be responsible for adopting rules and procedures to ensure proper poll site operation under this split-shift arrangement.
Impact
The bill would modify section 3-400 of the Election Law by expressly authorizing split shifts for both election inspectors and poll clerks, rather than limiting such arrangements to inspectors alone. It affects county boards of elections, poll workers, and the administration of polling places by permitting more flexible staffing and compensation structures while preserving bipartisan presence requirements at every poll site throughout voting hours.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows unanimous support at every stage: the Senate Elections Committee approved the bill 7-0, the Senate passed it 61-0, and the Assembly passed it 144-0. That record suggests broad bipartisan agreement that the change is a practical administrative improvement to election operations.
Contention
No major opposition is reflected in the available materials. The only notable policy constraint is the requirement that each poll site maintain continuous presence of at least one election inspector and one poll clerk from each of the two major political parties, which appears intended to preserve election integrity and bipartisan oversight while allowing staffing flexibility. Any concern would likely center on ensuring smooth poll site operations and adequate training under split shifts, but no specific objections are recorded.
Authorizes, under certain circumstances, full-time college and university students to act as election inspectors and poll clerks in the election district where their college or university is located.
Subtracts from the federal adjusted gross income any income earned by election inspectors, poll clerks, or election coordinators earned while working in relation to a general, primary, run-off primary, or special election to the extent includable in gross income for federal tax purposes; exempts such income from being included in the calculation of the amount of benefits under public assistance programs.
Subtracts from the federal adjusted gross income any income earned by election inspectors, poll clerks, or election coordinators earned while working in relation to a general, primary, run-off primary, or special election to the extent includable in gross income for federal tax purposes; exempts such income from being included in the calculation of the amount of benefits under public assistance programs.