WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York;

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to be continue; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule, or regulation would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency or if necessary to assist or aid in coping with such disaster, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through April 13, 2020 the following:

Suspension of laws and regulations:

• Section 8-400 of the Election Law is temporarily suspended and otherwise altered to provide that due to the prevalence and community spread of COVID-19, temporary illness for the purpose of this section shall include the potential for contraction of the COVID-19 virus for any election held on or before April 1, 2020;

• Solely for any election held on or before April 1, 2020, Section 8-400 of the Election Law is hereby further modified to allow for electronic application, with no requirement for in-person signature or appearance to be able to access an absentee ballot; and deadlines to apply for such ballot are hereby modified to no later than March 23, 2020 and such ballots once voted shall be postmarked no later than March 24, 2020 or may be delivered in person to any board of elections; and

• Article 6 of the Election Law is modified to the extent necessary to reduce required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to Section 6-136 of such law to 1.5% of the enrolled voters required, or 30% of the stated threshold, whichever is less. Further such provisions are modified to require that gathering of signatures shall be suspended effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 5 p.m.

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of Executive Order through April 13, 2020:

Any school district which is closing pursuant to a local state of emergency declared as a result of the COVID-19 virus shall be required to first consult with local department of health and also exhaust any available time including snow days and vacation days. Additionally, the State Education Department shall promulgate guidance for districts to ensure access to meals for students in need, critical educational supports for students and distance learning options.