THE BOARD OF ELECTION

What is the Board of Election ?

The Board of Election is a board appointed by the Election Commissioner not less than 30 days prior to each general election to supervise and manage each polling place. Prospective appointees to the Election Board must be registered to vote in State elections. Members serve until they resign or are removed, or until their successors have been appointed.
The Board shall be composed of a sufficient number of members to have at least two Board Members present at each polling place. Board Members are required to be impartial and independent and are not allowed to participate in any political activity.
Members of the Board may be removed at any time by the Election Commissioner for any good and just cause.

Duties of the Board of Election

Section 16 of the General Election Law 1990 states that the powers and duties of each member of the Election Board shall be:

(1) to perform all duties prescribed by law;

(2) to supervise and manage each polling place;

(3) to receive, preserve and maintain ballot boxes, locks, maps, cards or instruction and other supplies and equipment necessary to conduct the election;

(4) to give instructions deemed necessary for the orderly conduct of elections;

(5) to provide the issuance of all notices and publications concerning elections;

(6) to review and examine the sufficiency and validity of nominating petitions and other documents where the Election Commissioner designates the Board to act in his or her stead;

(7) to receive and transmit all ballot boxes, locked and sealed, to the Election Commissioner;

(8) to receive, investigate and decide complaints concerning election irregularities and determine the residence qualifications of voters, subject to review and appeal in accordance with the provisions of this act;

(9) to recommend to the Election Commissioner appropriate polling places within each election district as may be deemed suitable and convenient to [the] public; and

(10) to perform such other duties as are prescribed by law or regulations issued by the Election Commissioner.