A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to internet voting in certain municipal elections.

Int. No. 376

By Council Members Cabrera, Rodriguez and Espinal

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to internet voting in certain municipal elections.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. The New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 1056-c to read as follows:

§ 1056-c Internet voting in certain municipal elections.

a. The New York city board of elections shall identify and procure, or shall itself develop, a voting system allowing any covered voter to cast his or her vote online at a personal computer for any covered office in a covered election.

b. For the purposes of this section:

(1) “covered election” shall mean any election for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, or councilmember for which all candidates were nominated by independent nominating petition and any election held pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 8-100 of the state election law;

(2) “covered office” shall mean the offices of mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and councilmember; and

(3) “covered voter” shall mean any person who meets the requirements of subdivision 1 of section 8-400 of the election law for voting absentee, or who is a military voter as defined in section 10-102 of the election law, with respect to a covered election, and who requests or is otherwise entitled to an absentee ballot or military ballot in accordance with state law for such election.

c. Notwithstanding title II of article 7 of the election law, the voting system procured or developed pursuant to subdivision a of this section shall be deployed without being submitted to the state board of elections for approval, and need not comply with the requirements of such title.

d. The provisions of this section shall be in effect notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of the election law.

§2. This local law shall take effect immediately following its ratification by the voters of this city in a referendum to be held in the general election next following its enactment.

dss

LS 5056/2013

6/4/14