CURRAN BILL WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE POLLING PLACES WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.) recently submitted legislation that would require alternative polling places from school facilities when a school is in session. Curran cited the safety and security of children as his reason for drafting the legislation. The bill does not have a number as of today’s submission.

“Schools in New York State go to extraordinary lengths to make sure students are safeguarded in the event that school is used as a polling place. However, those same security measures can be a point of logistical frustration for voters when school is in session,” said Curran. “On normal school days, many schools are locked while students are on the premises so no one can enter without signing in, showing identification, and providing a purpose for being there. However, due to the fact that New York State does not require photo identification to vote, an individual can gain free access to a school facility on an election day without having to identification. This bill would protect minors in schools from the public at large by keeping school safety policies in place and providing an alternative polling place in the event a school is in session.”

The bill specifically amends Subdivision 1 of Section 4-104 of the Election Law, as amended by Chapter 512 of the Laws of 2010, to provide that no primary or secondary school shall be required to be open for voter registration or used as a polling place when school is in session or minors are scheduled to be present.

“Basically, this bill would require Boards of Elections throughout New York State to find alternate polling locations such as American Legion Halls, V.F.W’s and other public assembly locations rather than schools, which are in session on primary and special election dates,” stated the Assemblyman.

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