Relates to protecting people from civil arrest while going to, remaining at, or returning from polling places
S 8596 prohibits civil arrests (such as for debt collection) of voters while they are traveling to, at, or returning from polling places in New York, directly affecting voters during election activities. The bill requires law enforcement to obtain a judicial warrant for any arrest in these situations and mandates that officers identify themselves and provide warrants to polling staff if entering a polling place. It also creates reporting requirements for law enforcement actions near polls and allows voters to sue for violations, with courts empowered to issue protective orders.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 3, 2025
Last action Jan 7, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO CODES
upper
Dec 3, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO RULES
upper
1 primary · 7 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Pete Harckham
DDemocratic/Working Families
Co
Andrew Gounardes
DDemocratic
Co
Gustavo Rivera
DDemocratic/Working Families
Co
Julia Salazar
DDemocratic/Working Families
Co
Lea Webb
DDemocratic/Working Families
Co
Luis Sepúlveda
DDemocratic
Co
NF
Nathalia Fernández
DDemocratic
Co
Robert Jackson
DDemocratic/Working Families
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