New York Laws
Article 4 - Proceedings Preliminary to Registration, Enrollment and Elections
4-108 - Certification of Proposed Constitutional Amendments and Questions.

§ 4-108. Certification of proposed constitutional amendments and
questions. 1. a. Whenever any proposed amendment to the constitution or
other question provided by law to be submitted to a statewide vote shall
be submitted to the people for their approval, the state board of
elections at least three months prior to the general election at which
such amendment, proposition or question is to be submitted, shall
transmit to each county board of elections a certified copy of the text
of each amendment, proposition or question and a statement of the form
in which it is to be submitted.

b. Whenever any proposal, proposition or referendum as provided by law
is to be submitted to a vote of the people of a county, city, town,
village or special district, at an election conducted by the board of
elections, the clerk of such political subdivision, at least three
months prior to the general election at which such proposal, proposition
or referendum is to be submitted, shall transmit to each board of
elections a certified copy of the text of such proposal, proposition or
referendum and a statement of the form in which it is to be submitted.
If a special election is to be held, such transmittal shall also give
the date of such election.

c. Such certified copy shall set out all new matter in italics and
enclose in brackets, [ ], all matter to be eliminated from existing
law, and at the bottom of each page shall be appended the words:

Explanation: Matter in italics is new, to be added; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law, to be omitted.

d. In addition to the text, such transmittal shall contain an abstract
of such proposed amendment, proposition or question, prepared by the
state board of elections concisely stating the purpose and effect
thereof in a clear and coherent manner using words with common and
everyday meanings.

2. The form in which the proposed amendment, proposition or question
is to be submitted shall consist of only an abbreviated title indicating
generally and briefly, and in a clear and coherent manner using words
with common and every-day meanings, the subject matter of the amendment,
proposition or question. If more than one such amendment, proposition or
question is to be voted upon at such election, each such amendment,
proposition or question respectively shall be separately and
consecutively numbered.

3. The attorney general shall advise in the preparation of such
abstract and such form of submission.