Queens Pol Wants To Scrap Votes For Candidates Who Drop Out

QUEENS, NY — A Queens lawmaker wants to automatically reject votes for candidates who dropped out of a race — and give voters a do-over.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo has proposed a state requirement to reject ballots when voters select a candidate who dropped out before the election, he announced Monday. The bill, S.6618, says voters would be notified that their choice is no longer a candidate and get the chance to fill out a new ballot.

Addabbo pointed to the June primary election for Queens district attorney as a case where such a rule would've had an impact.

City Council Member Rory Lancman, one of seven candidates, dropped out of the race just days before the day of the election. He still received more than 1,000 votes.

"I believe a lot of voters weren’t aware of the change and still voted for him on Election Day, when they may have wanted to vote for someone else if they knew he was no longer an active candidate," Addabbo said.

"With my bill, voters would get the opportunity to fill out a new ballot and ensure their vote is cast for an active candidate, or they can leave their vote the way it was if they please," he added.

The New York State Board of Elections would be in charge with implementing the change if Addabbo's bill becomes law. If passed, it would go into effect in 2021.