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Assembly repeals law banning 'line warming' after federal court ruling
Summary
The Assembly voted to repeal a provision of the Election Law that had criminalized providing food or water to voters waiting in line. Supporters said the statute was struck down as unconstitutional in federal court; opponents warned the repeal could create ambiguity around the 100-foot electioneering rule.
The New York State Assembly on the floor passed legislation repealing section 17-140 of the Election Law, a decades-old provision that criminalized so-called “line warming” — the distribution of small items such as water or snacks to voters standing in line. The measure passed 91–46 after more than an hour of questions and debate.
Assemblymember Simon, the bill’s sponsor, said the repeal responds to a federal court ruling. “This bill repeals an out of date and unconstitutional line warming ban that criminalized the provision of food and water to voters waiting in line at the polls,” Simon said during floor debate, citing the decision in Brooklyn Branch of…
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