BILL NUMBER:S5121

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the election law, in relation to
directing the state board of elections to implement any necessary
procedures allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in a primary

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of the bill is to provide all voters the opportunity to
vote in a single primary election of the voter's choice

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends section 8-302 of the election law by
adding a new subdivision 4-a, which provides that at a primary
election, a voter whose registration poll record reflects that the
voter is an unaffiliated registered voter, shall be granted the
opportunity to vote in a single primary election of the voter's
choice.

Section 2 provides that the state board of elections shall implement
any rules and regulations necessary to permit an unaffiliated
registered voter the opportunity to vote in a single, primary
election.

Section 3 provides that this act shall take effect immediately
              

JUSTIFICATION:

By restricting unaffiliated voters to general elections, voters who
choose not to identify with any party lose the chance to participate
in any primary election. The consequences of this are such that
unaffiliated voters do not have an opportunity to have their voices
heard when multiple candidates are vying for a party nomination. In
districts where one party affiliation is much more significant than
any other, the primary election can, in effect, determine the general
election's outcome This bill aims to provide the opportunity for
unaffiliated voters to participate appreciably in the electoral
process, by allowing unaffiliated voters to vote in a single primary
election of the voter's choice.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.