Provides notice regarding the timeliness of the receipt by the board of elections of ballots capable of return by mail

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Requires a conspicuous notice with timely ballot return options to ensure ballots arrive on time, including mail, express, drop boxes, and in-person returns.

REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW

Purpose and intent

S. 10563 would require that any ballot issued under New York’s election-law framework that is permitted to be returned by mail include a conspicuous written notice.

The notice aims to inform voters of all timely return options and encourage prompt or alternative return methods to ensure the ballot is received by the appropriate elections board.

Key provisions and changes

New Section 7-127 establishes a mandate to accompany early mail, absentee, and special ballots capable of return by mail with a notice.

Contents of the notice:

Methods for timely return, including:
Return by mail
Use of express delivery services
Return by the voter or an agent to the appropriate board of elections
Return at an early voting site or on election day at a poll site
Deposit in a ballot drop box (per section 8-416)
Guidance to ensure timely receipt, encouraging use of alternative return methods if return is near the election date
Reminder to obtain a hand-cancellation date on ballots sent by domestic mail to ensure the mailing date can be determined
For overseas voters: guidance to consult anticipated delivery times of chosen services
Information on where to find the boards’ websites, phone numbers, hours of operation for drop-off locations, and other return options

Dissemination of the notice:

The state board of elections, county boards of elections, and the New York City Board of Elections must prominently publish the notice on their official websites (and in substantially similar form).
The notices must be transmitted to electronic mail addresses or telephone numbers maintained by boards for voters who requested an early mail ballot.
The notice must be posted on the boards’ official social media accounts.

Implementation:

The State Board of Elections will promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the section.

Who and what would be affected

Voters who receive ballots that are returnable by mail (early mail, absentee, or special ballots).

Elections boards at the state, county, and city levels (State Board of Elections, county boards, New York City Board of Elections) responsible for distributing and posting the notices and maintaining communications with voters.

The offices responsible for establishing and maintaining ballot drop boxes and early voting/poll-site return options.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective date: Immediately upon enactment.

Legislative path:

Introduced May 22, 2026.
Referred to Elections in the Senate; subsequently progressed through committee and leadership steps (as of the latest action, the bill advanced through committee and Senate floor action in June 2026).

Administrative follow-up:

The State Board of Elections would publish rules and regulations to implement the notice requirements.
Agencies would need to integrate notices into websites, email communications, and social media channels.

Potential impact and considerations

Aims to reduce uncertainty about ballot return methods and improve timely receipt of ballots.

Could help voters who rely on mail or delivery services by clarifying options and delivery expectations, especially for overseas voters.

Requires consistent dissemination across multiple platforms and jurisdictions to ensure broad notice coverage.

May necessitate coordination with ballot printing timelines to ensure notices accompany ballots without delaying mailing.