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State Board Memo re Political Parties

On December 4, 2020, the New York State Board of Elections issued the following:

Election Law § 1-104 provides: “The term ‘party’ means any political organization which, excluding blank and void ballots, at the last preceding election for governor received, at least two percent of the total votes cast for its candidate for governor, or one hundred thirty thousand votes, whichever is greater, in the year in which a governor is elected and at least two percent of the total votes cast for its candidate for president, or one hundred thirty thousand votes, whichever is greater, in a year when a president is elected” (emphasis added). Please note that this is a change from prior years, where the status of a party was only determined during gubernatorial elections. Now, party status is determined during gubernatorial elections and presidential elections.

The recognized political parties appear here, in order: Democratic (DEM); Republican (REP); Conservative (CON), and Working Family (WOR).

Additionally, based upon prior court orders, all county boards are obligated to maintain enrollment lists for certain independent bodies/former parties.

The following former parties meet this criteria: Green (OTH-GRE); Libertarian (OTH-LBT); Independence (OTH-IND); SAM (OTH-SAM); Women’s Equality (OTH-WEP), and Reform (OTH-REF). Note: Any of these independent bodies that do not place a gubernatorial candidate at the next gubernatorial election (or become a party at that election) will come off this list.

These entities are to be tracked as though they are recognized parties, for enrollment report purposes only.

New York Accessible Electronic Absentee Ballot Application

The Special Needs Voters Accessible Absentee Application is now available on the NY State Board of Elections Website. Look under “Voting Information.”

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.

As always, please contact our office with any questions.