NY Elec L § 3-107 (2021)
2021 New York Laws ELN - Election Article 3 - Election Officials Title 1 - Statewide Provisions 3-107 - Powers and Duties of the State Board of Elections Respecting Elections and Crimes Against the Elective Franchise.

§  3-107. Powers and duties of the state board of elections respecting   elections and crimes against the elective franchise. Authority is hereby   conferred upon the  state  board  of  elections  to  appoint  a  special   investigator  to take charge of the investigation of cases arising under   the election law, and to appoint such additional  special  investigators   and  employees  as  it  may  deem necessary, and fix their compensation,   within the limits of appropriation available therefor, and  assign  them   to  any  election district or districts for the purpose of enforcing the   provisions of the election law. Moneys appropriated for carrying out the   provisions of this section shall be paid out of the  state  treasury  on   the  audit  and  warrant  of the comptroller upon the certificate of the   state board.Such special investigators shall, when directed by the state board  of   elections, investigate qualifications of persons to register or vote and   violations of the election law. Any such special investigator may:1. Visit and inspect any house, dwelling, building, inn, lodginghouse,   boarding-house, rooming-house, or hotel and interrogate any incarcerated   individual,  house-dweller,  keeper,  caretaker,  owner,  proprietor  or   landlord thereof or therein, as to any person  or  persons  residing  or   claiming to reside therein or thereat.2.  Inspect  and copy any books, records, papers or documents relating   to or affecting the election or the registration of voters,  or  require   the  board  or  officer  in charge thereof to furnish a copy of any such   record, paper or document without charge.3. Require any lodging-house, boarding-house or rooming-house  keeper,   landlord or proprietor to exhibit his register of the lodgers therein at   any time to such special investigator.4.  Procure  warrants of arrest and cause to be taken into custody the   person or persons named in such process.5. Go within the guard-rail at any polling place at any election.Any such special investigator also shall have all of the powers  of  a   peace  officer  as  set  forth in section 2.20 of the criminal procedure   law, for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter.Any person who neglects or refuses to furnish any information required   by the election law or authorized herein, or to exhibit records,  papers   or  documents herein authorized to be inspected or which are required to   be exhibited, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.The state board or any of its special investigators shall  have  power   to  issue  subpoenas  or  subpoenas  duces  tecum,  administer oaths and   examine witnesses under oath,  for  the  purpose  of  investigating  any   matter  within  the  jurisdiction  herein  prescribed for the purpose of   aiding the state board in enforcing the provisions of the election  law.   Such  subpoenas  shall  be  issued  in  the  name  of the state board of   elections. Such subpoenas may be served by any special  investigator  or   by  any  police  officer  or peace officer who is acting pursuant to his   special duties.Any person who shall omit,  neglect  or  refuse  to  obey  a  subpoena   attested in the name of the state board of elections or who shall refuse   to  testify  under  or  in  pursuance  thereof  shall  be  guilty  of  a   misdemeanor.Any such special investigator may call upon any member of the  police,   sheriff,  deputy  sheriff,  constable  or  other  public officer, or any   person, to assist him in carrying out the provisions  of  this  section.   Any  such  officer  or person who shall fail to render the assistance so   demanded or who shall wilfully hinder or delay such special investigator   in the exercise of any power or the performance of  any  duty  shall  be   guilty of a misdemeanor.