N.Y. Election Law § 17-204: Definitions

§ 17-204. Definitions. For the purposes of this title:

1. "At-large" method of election means a method of electing members to

the governing body of a political subdivision: (a) in which all of the

voters of the entire political subdivision elect each of the members to

the governing body; (b) in which the candidates are required to reside

within given areas of the political subdivision and all of the voters of

the entire political subdivision elect each of the members to the

governing body; or (c) that combines at-large elections with

district-based elections, unless the only member of the governing body

of a political subdivision elected at-large holds exclusively executive

responsibilities. For the purposes of this title, at-large method of

election does not include ranked-choice voting, cumulative voting, and

limited voting.

2. "District-based" method of election means a method of electing

members to the governing body of a political subdivision using a

districting or redistricting plan in which each member of the governing

body resides within a district or ward that is a divisible part of the

political subdivision and is elected only by voters residing within that

district or ward, except for a member of the governing body that holds

exclusively executive responsibilities.

3. "Alternative" method of election means a method of electing members

to the governing body of a political subdivision using a method other

than at-large or district-based, including, but not limited to,

ranked-choice voting, cumulative voting, and limited voting.

4. "Political subdivision" means a geographic area of representation

created for the provision of government services, including, but not

limited to, a county, city, town, village, school district, or any other

district organized pursuant to state or local law.

5. "Protected class" means a class of individuals who are members of a

race, color, or language-minority group, including individuals who are

members of a minimum reporting category that has ever been officially

recognized by the United States census bureau.

5-a. "Language minorities" or "language-minority group" means persons

who are American Indian, Asian American, Alaskan Natives or of Spanish

heritage.

6. "Racially polarized voting" means voting in which there is a

divergence in the candidate, political preferences, or electoral choice

of members in a protected class from the candidates, or electoral choice

of the rest of the electorate.

7. "Federal voting rights act" means the federal Voting Rights Act of

1965, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq., as amended.

8. The "civil rights bureau" means the civil rights bureau of the

office of the attorney general.

9. "Government enforcement action" means a denial of administrative or

judicial preclearance by the state or federal government, pending

litigation filed by a federal or state entity, a final judgment or

adjudication, a consent decree, or similar formal action.