Town of Babylon, NY Chapter 61 Ward Districts

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Babylon as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Office of Town Board — See Ch. 60.

Article I Procedures for Ballot Propositions Proposing Ward Districts

[Adopted 6-28-2018 by L.L. No. 18-2018]

§ 61-1 Petition.

The Town Board may, upon its own motion, and shall, upon a petition in such form and filed with the Town Clerk as specifically set forth herein, cause to be submitted at a biennial Town election, a proposition to establish a system of Ward Districts for the election of Councilmen/Wardens within the Town of Babylon.

§ 61-2 Procedure for submission of petition.

Any petition seeking an election proposition to establish Ward Districts shall be submitted to the Town Clerk in the following manner:

A. The petition shall be subscribed and authenticated by voters registered to vote in the Town of Babylon at the time of signature. All witnesses must be registered to vote within the Town of Babylon at the time of signature.

B. The petition shall designate, in writing, the name and mailing address of a contact person.

C. The number of signatures on the petition must be equal to at least 5% of the total votes cast for Governor in the Town of Babylon at the last general election in the Town held for the election of state officers.

D. All signatures on the petition must be subscribed and authenticated in the manner set forth in the New York State Election Law for the authentication of nominating petitions.

E. All signatures on the petition submitted to the Town Clerk must be dated at the time of signature; such date shall be no greater than 180 days prior to the filing of the petition with the Clerk.

§ 61-3 Contents of proposition.

The proposition contained within the petition or within the Town Board's own motion must set forth clearly to the voters of the Town of Babylon a summary of the change proposed. At minimum, the proposition must explain:

A. That an at-large system exists in the Town which enables every registered voter to elect all members of the Town Board;

B. That Ward Districts are proposed;

C. The number of Ward Districts proposed;

D. That, if approved, voters would vote for one Councilperson/Warden only in their respective ward, rather than each of at-large Councilpersons/Wardens running for election;

E. That, if approved, the Town Board would establish the Ward Districts.

§ 61-4 Objections to petition; rejection.

A. Written objections to the petition may be submitted to the Town Clerk in the manner and during the time periods set forth in the New York State Election Law for the filing of objections to nominating petitions.

B. If a determination is made that a petition is insufficient following a review by the Town Clerk and the Town Attorney, the Town Clerk shall give notice of the determination by registered mail to the contact person on the petition. If the determination of insufficiency of the petition is made upon specific objections to the petition, as set forth in the New York State Election Law, the Town Clerk shall also give notice of the determination to the objectors.

§ 61-5 Procedure for establishment or abolishment of Ward Districts.

A. Whenever a proposition for the establishment of Ward Districts is adopted, the establishment shall occur in the manner set forth in Town Law § 85 in its current form and as amended.

B. The procedure for abolishment of Ward Districts shall be as set forth in the Town Law § 85 in its current form and as amended.