ALBANY – The State Senate passed legislation, Tuesday, sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey (D, Woodstock), authorizing political parties to use video or telephone conferencing to conduct party designations and nominations for village and town elections.
The bill, which passed unanimously, was included as part of a broader package of bills to accommodate social distancing concerns and expand ballot access for local elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During a public health crisis like COVID-19, we need to ensure that every step of our electoral process is pandemic-proof,” said Hinchey. “With local elections fast approaching, my bill recognizes that allowing our towns and villages to use video or telephone conferencing to nominate candidates for local office is a public health necessity at this time and essential to preserving our democratic process.
The package of bills advanced by the Senate addresses different impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on local elections, focusing on expanding absentee ballot access, lowering petitioning requirements for the 2021 elections, and advancing protections for residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
