S 5711 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requires elections and terms of certain officials occur on even-numbered years except in the city of New York

This bill requires elections for certain judges (outside New York City) and city officials to occur in even-numbered years, instead of odd-numbered years as currently permitted. It directly affects judicial officers like supreme court justices, county court judges, and city council members in most of New York State, excluding New York City. Key provisions include mandating that vacancies for these positions be filled at the next even-numbered year election (not sooner) and extending temporary appointments until the following December. New York City remains exempt, maintaining its current system of holding elections in odd-numbered years for its judicial and municipal offices. The bill aims to standardize election timing across most of the state while preserving NYC's existing schedule.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Jun 2026
Assembly Passage
Jun 2026
Governor
Introduced Feb 28, 2025 Last action Jun 17, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

S5711B S5711C · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reprinted as amended after committee review, incorporating significant changes to election scheduling rules. The text was updated to clarify that judicial vacancies outside New York City occur at even-numbered year elections, and the legislature is now granted authority to schedule specific elections in odd-numbered years for terms expiring in even-numbered years. Additionally, the definition of city elections was narrowed to apply only to the City of New York rather than all cities.
Scope change
The bill's scope was refined to explicitly limit the new election scheduling authority to offices outside the City of New York, counties wholly included in that city, and villages, while also clarifying that the new rules apply only to elections occurring after the amendment's effective date.
TIMELINE

Changed the language regarding judicial vacancy timing to ensure clarity that terms expiring in odd-numbered years are treated as vacant immediately upon expiration.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the old Section 10 with new text granting the legislature power to schedule elections in odd-numbered years for terms expiring in even-numbered years, with specific transitional rules for elections between now and 2034.

SCOPE

Narrowed the definition of 'city officers' in the constitutional amendment to apply exclusively to the City of New York, removing references to other cities.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill version numbers from 'B' to 'C' and page markers to reflect the amended text.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 4, 2026 · Assembly Jun 5, 2026

How they voted

3822
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 63
Jun 4, 2026
D Democratic41
38 Yea 3
92% Yea
R Republican22
22 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Amendments
6
Jun 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED ASSEMBLY
lower
Jun 4, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
lower
Jun 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED SENATE
upper
Jun 4, 2026
Committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
Jun 4, 2026
Committee
OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
Jun 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 5711C
upper
Jun 3, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO JUDICIARY
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 5711B
upper
Jun 1, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO JUDICIARY
upper
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 5711A
upper
May 21, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO JUDICIARY
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Committee
COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
upper
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of James Skoufis
James Skoufis
DDemocratic
NY
42