Election Law

Prohibits campaign contributions by business entities other than a political committee; limits contributions by persons other than political parties and candidates in excess of $25,000 annually; limits contributions to political committees in excess of $2,500 annually; authorizes adjustments every two years based on the consumer price index.

This bill amends New York's election law to clarify that a voter's ballot remains valid even if it is torn. Currently, the law states that defacing a ballot can render it void, but this legislation specifically removes the penalty for tearing a ballot while keeping restrictions on other forms of damage or markings. The change directly affects voters who may accidentally rip their ballots, ensuring their votes are still counted as long as the intent is clear. By updating the legal definition of ballot validity, the measure aims to prevent the accidental disqualification of ballots due to minor physical damage.

Provides that any person, firm, association, corporation, campaign, committee, or organization found guilty of knowingly disseminating or publishing media without the consent of the person depicted and who knew or should have known that it was materially deceptive shall forfeit to the state board of elections a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars for each and every offense and three times the total amount spent on creating and promoting the materially deceptive media.

This bill creates a new crime for taking possession of ballots that eligible voters have already marked and submitted through legal means. It specifically makes it a class E felony for anyone to seize, confiscate, remove, or otherwise take control of these valid ballots. The law includes exceptions for election officials working with proper approval and law enforcement officers acting under a valid court order. By defining these actions as a felony, the legislation aims to protect the integrity of the voting process from unauthorized interference.

Provides that at a primary election, a voter who is not enrolled in a political party may designate the ballot of one political party qualified to participate in such election and shall be provided with and permitted to vote only in the primary election of the political party so designated; excludes presidential primary elections.