N.Y. Election Law § 17-206 – Prohibitions on voter disenfranchisement

1. Prohibition against voter suppression. (a) No voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, standard, practice, procedure, regulation, or policy shall be enacted or implemented by any board of elections or political subdivision in a manner that results in a denial or abridgement of the right of members of a protected class to vote.
(b) A violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be established upon a showing that, based on the totality of the circumstances, members of a protected class have less opportunity than the rest of the electorate to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections.
2. Prohibition against vote dilution. (a) No board of elections or political subdivision shall use any method of election, having the effect of impairing the ability of members of a protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections, as a result of vote dilution.
(b) A violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be established upon a showing that a political subdivision:
1. (i) used an at-large method of election and either: (A) voting patterns of members of the protected class within the political subdivision are racially polarized; or (B) under the totality of the circumstances, the ability of members of the protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections is impaired; or
2. (ii) used a district-based or alternative method of election and that candidates or electoral choices preferred by members of the protected class would usually be defeated, and either: (A) voting patterns of members of the protected class within the political subdivision are racially polarized; or (B) under the totality of the circumstances, the ability of members of the protected class to elect candidates of their choice or influence the outcome of elections is impaired.
(c) For the purposes of demonstrating that a violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision has occurred, evidence shall be weighed and considered as follows: (i) elections conducted prior to the filing of an action pursuant to this subdivision are more probative than elections conducted after the filing of the action; (ii) evidence concerning elections for members of the governing body of the political subdivision are more probative than evidence concerning other elections; (iii) statistical evidence is more probative than non-statistical evidence; (iv) where there is evidence that more than one protected class of eligible voters are politically cohesive in the political subdivision, members of each of those protected classes may be combined; (v) evidence concerning the intent on the part of the voters, elected officials, or the political subdivision to discriminate against a protected class is not required; (vi) evidence that voting patterns and election outcomes could be explained by factors other than racially polarized voting, including but not limited to partisanship, shall not be considered; (vii) evidence that sub-groups within a protected class have different voting patterns shall not be considered; (viii) evidence concerning whether members of a protected class are geographically compact or concentrated shall not be considered, but may be a factor in determining an appropriate remedy; and (ix) evidence concerning projected changes in population or demographics shall not be considered, but may be a factor, in determining an appropriate remedy.
3. In determining whether, under the totality of the circumstances, a violation of subdivision one or two of this section has occurred, factors that may be considered shall include, but not be limited to: (a) the history of discrimination in or affecting the political subdivision; (b) the extent to which members of the protected class have been elected to office in the political subdivision; (c) the use of any voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, standard, practice, procedure, regulation, or policy that may enhance the dilutive effects of the election scheme; (d) denying eligible voters or candidates who are members of the protected class to processes determining which groups of candidates receive access to the ballot, financial support, or other support in a given election; (e) the extent to which members of the protected class contribute to political campaigns at lower rates; (f) the extent to which members of a protected class in the state or political subdivision vote at lower rates than other members of the electorate; (g) the extent to which members of the protected class are disadvantaged in areas including but not limited to education, employment, health, criminal justice, housing, land use, or environmental protection; (h) the extent to which members of the protected class are disadvantaged in other areas which may hinder their ability to participate effectively in the political process; (i) the use of overt or subtle racial appeals in political campaigns; (j) a significant lack of responsiveness on the part of elected officials to the particularized needs of members of the protected class; and (k) whether the political subdivision has a compelling policy justification that is substantiated and supported by evidence for adopting or maintaining the method of election or the voting qualification, prerequisite to voting, law, ordinance, standard, practice, procedure, regulation, or policy. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude any additional factors from being considered, nor shall any specified number of factors be required in establishing that such a violation has occurred.
4. Standing. Any aggrieved person, organization whose membership includes aggrieved persons or members of a protected class, organization whose mission, in whole or in part, is to ensure voting access and such mission would be hindered by a violation of this section, or the attorney general may file an action against a political subdivision pursuant to this section in the supreme court of the county in which the political subdivision is located.
5. Remedies. (a) Upon a finding of a violation of any provision of this section, the court shall implement appropriate remedies to ensure that voters of race, color, and language-minority groups have equitable access to fully participate in the electoral process, which may include, but shall not be limited to:
1. (i) a district-based method of election;
2. (ii) an alternative method of election;
3. (iii) new or revised districting or redistricting plans;
4. (iv) elimination of staggered elections so that all members of the governing body are elected on the same date;
5. (v) reasonably increasing the size of the governing body;
6. (vi) moving the dates of regular elections to be concurrent with the primary or general election dates for state, county, or city office as established in section eight of article three or section eight of article thirteen of the constitution, unless the budget in such political subdivision is subject to direct voter approval pursuant to part two of article five or article forty-one of the education law;
7. (vii) transferring authority for conducting the political subdivision's elections to the board of elections for the county in which the political subdivision is located;
8. (viii) additional voting hours or days;
9. (ix) additional polling locations;
10. (x) additional means of voting such as voting by mail;
11. (xi) ordering of special elections;
12. (xii) requiring expanded opportunities for voter registration;
13. (xiii) requiring additional voter education;
14. (xiv) modifying the election calendar;
15. (xv) the restoration or addition of persons to registration lists; or
16. (xvi) retaining jurisdiction for such period of time on a given matter as the court may deem appropriate, during which no redistricting plan shall be enforced unless and until the court finds that such plan does not have the purpose of diluting the right to vote on the basis of protected class membership, or in contravention of the voting guarantees set forth in this title, except that the court's finding shall not bar a subsequent action to enjoin enforcement of such redistricting plan.
17. (b) The court shall consider proposed remedies by any parties and interested non-parties, but shall not provide deference or priority to a proposed remedy offered by the political subdivision. The court shall have the power to require a political subdivision to implement remedies that are inconsistent with any other provision of law where such inconsistent provision of law would preclude the court from ordering an otherwise appropriate remedy in such matter.
6. Procedures for implementing new or revised districting or redistricting plans. The governing body of a political subdivision with the authority under this title and all applicable state and local laws to enact and implement a new method of election that would replace the political subdivision's at-large method of election with a district-based or alternative method of election, or enact and implement a new districting or redistricting plan, shall undertake each of the steps enumerated in this subdivision, if proposed subsequent to receipt of a NYVRA notification letter, as defined in subdivision seven of this section, or the filing of a claim pursuant to this title or the federal voting rights act.
1. (a) Before drawing a draft districting or redistricting plan or plans of the proposed boundaries of the districts, the political subdivision shall hold at least two public hearings over a period of no more than thirty days, at which the public is invited to provide input regarding the composition of the districts. Before these hearings, the political subdivision may conduct outreach to the public, including to non-English-speaking communities, to explain the districting or redistricting process and to encourage public participation.
2. (b) After all draft districting or redistricting plans are drawn, the political subdivision shall publish and make available for release at least one draft districting or redistricting plan and, if members of the governing body of the political subdivision would be elected in their districts at different times to provide for staggered terms of office, the potential sequence of such elections. The political subdivision shall also hold at least two additional hearings over a period of no more than forty-five days, at which the public shall be invited to provide input regarding the content of the draft districting or redistricting plan or plans and the proposed sequence of elections, if applicable. The draft districting or redistricting plan or plans shall be published at least seven days before consideration at a hearing. If the draft districting or redistricting plan or plans are revised at or following a hearing, the revised versions shall be published and made available to the public for at least seven days before being adopted.
3. (c) In determining the final sequence of the district elections conducted in a political subdivision in which members of the governing body will be elected at different times to provide for staggered terms of office, the governing body shall give special consideration to the purposes of this title, and it shall take into account the preferences expressed by members of the districts.
7. Notification requirement and safe harbor for judicial actions. Before commencing a judicial action against a political subdivision under this section, a prospective plaintiff shall send by certified mail a written notice to the clerk of the political subdivision, or, if the political subdivision does not have a clerk, the governing body of the political subdivision, against which the action would be brought, asserting that the political subdivision may be in violation of this title. This written notice shall be referred to as a "NYVRA notification letter" in this title. The NYVRA notification letter shall specify the potential violation or violations alleged and shall contain a statement of facts to support such allegation; provided, however, that failure to so specify shall not be a basis for dismissal of such judicial action, but may affect the calculation of reimbursement pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subdivision. The prospective plaintiff shall also send by first class mail or email a copy of the NYVRA notification letter to the civil rights bureau. For actions against a school district or any other political subdivision that holds elections governed by the education law, the prospective plaintiff shall also send by certified mail a copy of the NYVRA notification letter to the commissioner of education.
1. (a) A prospective plaintiff shall not commence a judicial action against a political subdivision under this section within fifty days of sending to the political subdivision a NYVRA notification letter.
2. (b) Before receiving a NYVRA notification letter, or within fifty days of mailing of a NYVRA notification letter, the governing body of a political subdivision may pass a resolution affirming: (i) the political subdivision's intention to enact and implement a remedy for a potential violation of this title; (ii) specific steps the political subdivision will undertake to facilitate approval and implementation of such a remedy; and (iii) a schedule for enacting and implementing such a remedy. Such a resolution shall be referred to as a "NYVRA resolution" in this title. If a political subdivision passes a NYVRA resolution, such political subdivision shall have ninety days after such passage to enact and implement such remedy, during which a prospective plaintiff shall not commence an action to enforce this section against the political subdivision. For actions against a school district, the commissioner of education may order the enactment of a NYVRA resolution pursuant to the commissioner's authority under section three hundred five of the education law. Within seven days of passing a NYVRA resolution, the political subdivision shall send by first class mail or email a copy of the resolution to the civil rights bureau.
3. (c) If the governing body of a political subdivision lacks the authority under this title or applicable state law or local laws to enact or implement a remedy identified in a NYVRA resolution, or fails to enact or implement a remedy identified in a NYVRA resolution, within ninety days after the passage of the NYVRA resolution, or if the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined under section 17-210 of this title, the governing body of the political subdivision shall undertake the steps enumerated in the following provisions:
  1. (i) The governing body of the political subdivision may approve a proposed remedy that complies with this title and submit such a proposed remedy to the civil rights bureau no later than one hundred twenty days after the passage of the NYVRA resolution. Such a submission shall be referred to as a "NYVRA proposal" in this title.
  2. (ii) Prior to passing a NYVRA proposal, the political subdivision shall hold at least one public hearing, at which the public shall be invited to provide input regarding the NYVRA proposal. Before this hearing, the political subdivision may conduct outreach to the public, including to non-English-speaking communities, to encourage public participation.
  3. (iii) Within sixty days of receipt of a NYVRA proposal, the civil rights bureau shall grant or deny approval of the NYVRA proposal. The civil rights bureau may invoke an extension of up to twenty days to review the proposal.
  4. (iv) The civil rights bureau shall only grant approval to the NYVRA proposal if it concludes that: (A) the political subdivision may be in violation of this title; (B) the NYVRA proposal would remedy any potential violation of this title cited in the NYVRA notification letter and would not give rise to any other violation of this title; (C) the NYVRA proposal is unlikely to violate the constitution or any relevant federal law; and (D) implementation of the NYVRA proposal is feasible.
  5. (v) If the civil rights bureau grants approval, the NYVRA proposal shall be enacted and implemented immediately, notwithstanding any other provision of law, including any other state or local law.
  6. (vi) If the political subdivision is a covered entity as defined under section 17-210 of this title, the political subdivision shall not be required to obtain preclearance for the NYVRA proposal pursuant to such section upon approval of the NYVRA proposal by the civil rights bureau.
  7. (vii) If the civil rights bureau denies approval, the NYVRA proposal shall not be enacted or implemented. The civil rights bureau shall explain the basis for such denial and may, in its discretion, make recommendations for an alternative remedy for which it would grant approval.
  8. (viii) If the civil rights bureau does not respond, the NYVRA proposal shall not be enacted or implemented.
4. (d) A political subdivision that has passed a NYVRA resolution may enter into an agreement with the prospective plaintiff providing that such prospective plaintiff shall not commence an action pursuant to this section against the political subdivision for an additional ninety days. Such agreement shall include a requirement that either the political subdivision shall enact and implement a remedy that complies with this title or the political subdivision shall pass a NYVRA proposal and submit it to the civil rights bureau.
5. (e) If, pursuant to a process commenced by a NYVRA notification letter, a political subdivision enacts or implements a remedy or the civil rights bureau grants approval to a NYVRA proposal, a prospective plaintiff who sent the NYVRA notification letter may, within thirty days of the enactment or implementation of the remedy or approval of the NYVRA proposal, demand reimbursement for the cost of the work product generated to support the NYVRA notification letter. A prospective plaintiff shall make the demand in writing and shall substantiate the demand with financial documentation, such as a detailed invoice for demography services or for the analysis of voting patterns in the political subdivision. A political subdivision may request additional documentation if the provided documentation is insufficient to corroborate the claimed costs. A political subdivision shall reimburse a prospective plaintiff for reasonable costs claimed, or in an amount to which the parties mutually agree. The cumulative amount of reimbursements to all prospective plaintiffs, except for actions brought by the attorney general, shall not exceed forty-three thousand dollars, as adjusted annually to the consumer price index for all urban consumers, United States city average, as published by the United States department of labor. To the extent a prospective plaintiff who sent the NYVRA notification letter and a political subdivision are unable to come to a mutual agreement, either party may file a declaratory judgment action to obtain a clarification of rights.
6. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, in the event that the first day for designating petitions for a political subdivision's next regular election to select members of its governing board has begun or is scheduled to begin within thirty days, or in the event that a political subdivision is scheduled to conduct any election within one hundred twenty days, a plaintiff alleging any violation of this title may commence a judicial action against a political subdivision under this section, provided that the relief sought by such a plaintiff includes preliminary relief for that election. Prior to or concurrent with commencing such a judicial action, any such plaintiff shall also submit a NYVRA notification letter to the political subdivision. In the event that a judicial action commenced under this provision is withdrawn or dismissed for mootness because the political subdivision has enacted or implemented a remedy or the civil rights bureau has granted approval of a NYVRA proposal pursuant to a process commenced by a NYVRA notification letter, any such plaintiff may only demand reimbursement pursuant to this subdivision.
8. Coalition claims permitted. Members of different protected classes may file an action jointly pursuant to this title in the event that they demonstrate that the combined voting preferences of the multiple protected classes are polarized against the rest of the electorate.