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Bill

Bill

A 400

Relates to the composition of boards of elections

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Nily Rozic

A 400 reforms the composition of boards of elections - appointment rules, member counts, terms, and qualifications - to boost independence and accountability for voters.

OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · A 400

Summary of Assembly Bill A 400 (New York)

Overview

  • Bill number and title: A 400 — Relates to the composition of boards of elections
  • Sponsor: Nily Rozic (primary)
  • Status: Opinion referred to Judiciary
  • Introduced: January 8, 2025
  • Current procedural track: The bill was referred to the Assembly Committee on Election Law on January 8, 2025, with an accompanying referral to the Attorney General for an opinion. On January 29, 2025, the Legislature indicated the Attorney General’s opinion (and related procedural actions) was referred to the Judiciary for consideration.

Note: The full text of the bill is not provided in the material. The summary below describes the bill’s aim based on its title and typical topics addressed by legislation concerning the “composition of boards of elections.” The exact provisions, numbers, and mechanisms would be detailed in the bill’s official text.

Purpose and potential scope

  • The bill is focused on how boards of elections are composed. While the precise changes are not listed here, such bills commonly address:
    • Appointment processes (who appoints, by whom, and with what approvals)
    • The number of board members and terms of office
    • Qualifications and eligibility criteria for board members
    • Requirements related to bipartisanship or nonpartisanship
    • Grounds for removal, discipline, or replacement of members
    • Procedures for filling vacancies and handling vacancies during terms
    • Provisions to enhance independence, transparency, or accountability

Key provisions (likely areas to be clarified in the text)

Because the bill text is not provided, the following are typical elements that such legislation might include. The actual bill may adopt some, all, or alternative provisions:
- Specification of the exact number of board members per jurisdiction (e.g., per county or statewide) and term lengths
- Eligibility criteria for appointment (e.g., residency, prior election administration experience, conflict-of-interest safeguards)
- Appointment authority (which officials or bodies appoint members; whether appointments require bipartisan or multi-branch consent)
- Reappointment and term limits to ensure turnover and continuity
- Removal for cause and the process for removing or replacing members
- Measures to promote nonpartisan administration of elections or balanced representation across parties
- Administrative and reporting requirements to enhance oversight and accountability
- Compliance with existing election laws and coordination with state and local election officials

Affected entities and stakeholders

  • Boards of elections (the primary subject) and their members
  • County or city election offices that interact with boards
  • State and local officials involved in appointments or oversight
  • Voters and election participants benefiting from clarity, stability, and potential improvements in election administration

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Referral history: Refers to Election Law (Jan 8, 2025) and to the Attorney General for opinion (Jan 8, 2025). The AG’s opinion was subsequently referred to Judiciary (Jan 29, 2025).
  • Next steps: Await the Attorney General’s opinion and the Judiciary’s review and potential action. If the Judiciary issues a ruling or guidance, the bill could progress toward further floor consideration or amendments.

Related legislation

  • Related/Companion bills: A 6597 and A 755 (prior-session); S 5195 (companion)
  • These related bills may share themes or provide parallel or alternative approaches to the composition of boards of elections.

Bottom line

A 400 seeks to reform the composition of boards of elections. The exact changes, their scope, and their practical impact will depend on the bill’s final text. The current path indicates early-stage legislative review, with requests for an attorney general opinion and consideration by the Judiciary. Review of the official bill text will be necessary to assess precise provisions, fiscal impact, and implementation timelines.

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

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