NEW YORK – Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris announced on July 19 that the Governor had signed his legislation (S.6429) aimed at ensuring more absentee ballots are valid and able to be counted.

“At a time when voting rights are under attack in other states, New York is doing the right thing by making it easier to vote, not harder,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. “I am grateful the legislature passed my bill with Assembly Member Bichotte Hermelyn to ensure more valid votes are counted and am pleased it is being signed into law today.”

Senator Gianaris’ legislation allows a ballot to be postmarked up to and including the deadline for hand-delivered ballots. Additionally, absentee ballots can be requested by a letter instead of just through signed application. Federal write-in absentee ballots, military ballots, special presidential ballots and special federal ballots received after Election Day must contain a postmark, cancellation mark or witness dated Election Day or earlier.