New York Election Law Section 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 thirty-six
  days prior to the  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.

Last modified: February 3, 2019