SLATER AND WEBER INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CLOSE PETITION FRAUD LOOPHOLE EXPOSED IN NY-17 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CASE

Today, Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) and State Sen. Bill Weber (SD-38) introduced A.11218 to amend New York Election Law § 16-102 by establishing a clear statutory threshold for petition fraud. Under the bill, when a court determines that 25% or more of the signatures on a designating or nominating petition are fraudulent, the court shall issue a final order declaring the entire petition invalid and permeated with fraud.

The legislation comes one week after Justice David Fried of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Rockland, issued a Decision & Order in Riccardi & Lawler v. Phillips-Staley (Index No. 032794/2026), adjudicating 501 signatures collected by a single paid canvasser on the designating petition of Democratic congressional candidate Effie Phillips-Staley as fraudulent. The court referred the matter to the district attorneys of every county in New York’s 17th Congressional District for criminal investigation. In his decision, Justice Fried explicitly noted “the issues relevant to paid canvas operation oversight and or standards, if at all, is a policy matter reserved to the Legislature.”

“When a court finds that hundreds of signatures on a candidate’s petition are fraudulent and refers the matter for criminal investigation, that candidate should not be on the ballot. Period,” said Assemblyman Matt Slater. “New York’s election laws were not written for an era of paid canvassing operations producing fraud at this scale. We can’t claim to be protecting democracy if candidates are allowed to commit widespread fraud and remain on the ballot.”

“Justice Fried put it plainly: the Legislature has the power to fix this, and it is our responsibility to act. Petition fraud is not a partisan problem, and this common-sense bill should pass with a large majority,” stated Sen. Bill Weber. “I am proud to carry this bill in the Senate alongside Assemblyman Slater, and I urge my colleagues in both parties to move it without delay.” 

Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), a petitioner in the case, joined Slater and Weber in urging swift passage:

“A court in New York just ruled that 501 signatures on a congressional candidate’s petition were fraudulent, referred the case for criminal investigation and that candidate is still on the ballot,” said Rep. Mike Lawler. “Voters deserve to know that every name on a petition is real. I thank Matt and Bill for their leadership and urge Albany to pass A.11218 without delay.”

A.11218 directly addresses Judge Fried’s decision by:

• Establishing a clear 25% statutory threshold for fraud-based petition invalidation;

• Removing ambiguity for courts forced to weigh competing standards on a case-by-case basis; and

• Restoring voter confidence that designating petitions submitted to the New York State Board of Elections reflect genuine support, not paid fraud.

A.11218 was introduced on May 1, 2026, and referred to the Assembly Committee on Election Law. The full text of the bill is available on the New York State Assembly website.