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Bill

A 396

Relates to exempting certain public school buildings from being designated as early polling locations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Al Stirpe

Exempts certain public school buildings from serving as early voting sites, creates rules for exemptions and alternative locations, and impacts voter access and school operations.

REFERRED TO ELECTION LAW
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 396

Summary of New York Assembly Bill A.396

Overview

A.396, introduced January 8, 2025 and referred to the Assembly Committee on Election Law, would exempt certain public school buildings from being designated as early polling locations. The bill is sponsored by primary sponsor Albert A. Stirpe.

What the bill would do

  • Amend election law to prohibit certain public school buildings from being designated as early polling places.
  • Create a framework to define which school buildings qualify for exemption and how exemptions are applied within the process of selecting early voting sites.

Note: The specific criteria that determine which school buildings are exempt are not provided in the summary you supplied. The exact language and definitions would appear in the bill text itself.

Key provisions (as generally expected in this type of measure)

  • A prohibition or exclusion mechanism: The bill would add exemptions to the list of potential early voting sites, specifically removing certain public school facilities from eligibility.
  • Site designation responsibilities: If certain school buildings are exempt, election officials (e.g., boards of elections and local municipalities) would need to designate alternative locations for early voting.
  • Administrative guidance: The measure would likely require rules or procedures for identifying exempt buildings and for communicating site changes to the public.

Note: Details such as which buildings qualify, how exemptions are determined, timelines for transition, and cost considerations would be contained in the bill’s full text.

Affected parties and potential impact

  • Public school districts and school facilities: Schools that would be exempt from serving as early polling locations.
  • Boards of elections and election administrators: Responsible for identifying exempt buildings and selecting alternative sites.
  • Voters in affected districts: May experience changes in where early voting can occur, potentially affecting accessibility and convenience.
  • School operations: Reduced disruption during voting periods on exempt campuses.

Potential implications include:
- Access to early voting: Depending on the availability of alternative sites, there could be implications for voter convenience and turnout.
- Operational considerations for schools: Fewer polling-related activities on exempt campuses could benefit school operations during election periods.
- Geographic and equity considerations: Transitions to alternative sites may affect different communities unevenly unless mitigated by careful site selection.

Procedural status and timeline

  • Status: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Election Law (as of the provided information).
  • Action timeline: The bill would move through committee review, potential amendments, and floor consideration if it advances. If enacted, it would become law upon signing by the governor (subject to veto or legislative override, as applicable) and any specified effective date in the bill.

Related legislation

  • Related bills from prior sessions: A.7554, A.6076, and A.2338. These references indicate similar or related proposals addressing the use of public school facilities as polling venues in earlier sessions.

Notes for readers

  • The analysis above reflects the bill’s stated purpose and typical components of this policy area. Specific language, definitions, exemptions, and implementation details would be found in the full text of A.396 and any accompanying fiscal or impact statements.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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