Bill > S01874

This bill amends the New York State Penal Law to expand the crime of criminal impersonation in the first degree by adding a new provision that makes it illegal to pretend to be a member of a board of elections, an election officer, or an employee of such an organization with the intent to cause another person to rely on that false pretense. Currently, the law already criminalizes impersonating police officers or federal law enforcement agents when done with the intent to induce submission to false authority and in the course of attempting to commit a felony. The new provision specifically targets election-related impersonation, using language from the Election Law to define the terms "board of elections" and "election officer". This change appears aimed at protecting the integrity of election processes by making it a class E felony to fraudulently represent oneself as an election official. The bill will take effect on the first of November following its passage into law, providing a clear timeline for implementation of the new legal provision.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1874