Governor Signs Bills to Lower Threshold for Petition Signatures

The Governor signed two bills aimed at reducing the number of petition signatures required to qualify for the ballot this week. The first bill reduces, temporarily, the required number of petition signatures by 25 percent for candidates in this election cycle. The need for this measure stems from the passage and signing of election reform bills earlier this year which consolidated the state and federal primaries, ultimately shortening the time frame for which signatures could be filed. The second bill permanently reduces the number of signatures needed for local ward, town, city, or county committees to 3 percent of party enrollment.

Governor Cuomo said:

“New York has made significant progress in modernizing our voting laws and ensuring fairness in our electoral system with the passage of key legislation this year. These changes further our progress by easing the burden for potential candidates who may not have had the chance to adjust to earlier petition dates this election, helping to ensure that candidates who want to run for office have the chance to do so.”