The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman Donaldson and Legislators Heppner, Roberts. Rodriguez, and Ronk)

Chairman of the Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee, David B. Donaldson, and Legislators Archer, Bartels, Delaune, Eckert, Greene, Heppner, and Rodriguez, offer the following:

WHEREAS, the New York State Legislature adopted early voting in January of 2019 in an effort to enhance voter participation; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Board of Elections has received funding to allocate to counties based on the number of early voting locations and voter enrollment to assist with the implementation of early voting; and

WHEREAS, the Early Voting Law requires designation of poll sites to consider criteria such as population density, travel time to early voting location from the voter place of residence; whether the early voting site is on or near public transportation routes and commuter traffic patterns; and

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Board of Elections has identified the need for at least seven early voting locations given the geography of Ulster County; and

WHEREAS, The City of Kingston and the Villages of Saugerties, New Paltz and Ellenville are the most densely populated areas in the County; and

WHEREAS, The City of Kingston and the Villages of Saugerties, New Paltz and Ellenville are the most accessible to public transportation; and

WHEREAS, SUNY New Paltz has offered the use of the Student Union Building at no cost to the Board of Elections; and

WHEREAS, SUNY Ulster S.T.R.I.V.E. located in the City of Kingston has offered the use of their facility at no cost to the Board of Elections; and

WHEREAS, the Village of Ellenville has offered the use of their facility at no cost to the Board of Elections; and

WHEREAS, The Town of Saugerties has offered use of their facilities at no cost to the Board of Elections; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature recommends the Board of Elections, at a minimum, designate early voting polling centers to be located in the City of Kingston, the Village of Saugerties, Village of New Paltz and Village of Ellenville in order to enhance voter participation of Ulster County residents and shall provide appropriate provisions for appropriations to achieve a successful early voting plan,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

                                                          AYES:                NOES:

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE