A plan to change the timeline for special elections, and most likely the election to replace Rep. Elise Stefanik, has been unveiled.

Late Friday afternoon, lawmakers filed a bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, that would allow the governor of New York to schedule a special election to replace a congressional representative on the general election date of that year, which this year is Nov. 4.

If passed before Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, resigns from her position representing New York’s 21st Congressional District, that could mean the north country would go without a representative in Congress for almost the entire legislative session in Washington, D.C.

In a statement, Stewart-Cousins said that the legislation comes as a response to concerns over affordability and high costs. Advocates of changing the timeline have expressed concerns over the costs of running another election in the case of special elections.

“Right now, New Yorkers are facing unprecedented challenges including the strain on our democracy and our high cost of living. At a time when people need our government to work more efficiently, this legislation is a common-sense approach that saves taxpayer dollars while maximizing voter turnout,” she said. “In this moment of national uncertainty, we must protect democratic participation while ensuring the government remains fiscally responsible. This legislation achieves both.”

While Democrats have expressed concerns over unnecessary costs and voter turnout, Republicans are accusing them of corruption and plotting to deprive the north country of its representative in Congress.

In a statement, Republican Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt II said that this bill is a blatant attempt to play politics with NY-21, whose representative is on a clear path to resignation ahead of her appointment to the United Nations ambassadorship for the Trump administration.

There are already two vacancies in Congress, both Republican seats, and Republican control in Washington is only secured by three votes as of now. While the two vacancies are likely to be filled with Republicans by April, keeping the likely Republican NY-21 seat vacant until November keeps Republican control in the House on thin ice for longer.

“This bill isn’t about fairness, democracy, or saving money,” Ortt said. “This is the Democrats telling the voters of New York to go to hell. These shameless Albany politicians can’t win on their disastrous policies like sky-high crime, out-of-control taxes, or an illegal migrant crisis they created, so they’re resorting to using Albany swamp tactics.”

While her nomination to become U.N. ambassador has passed the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations with bipartisan support, the full Senate floor vote to confirm her is not scheduled yet, and Republicans have been talking about delaying it to keep her vote in the House until at least April.

If she does resign in April, the governor would be able to schedule the special election for seven months later, and the eventual winner would take office almost immediately after Nov. 4. That would mean the region has no representation as lawmakers debate government spending, the next five-year Farm Bill and the continued work of President Donald J. Trump to reshape the American government and implement his agenda.

The region would also have no representative able to provide constituent work — helping residents with passports, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, or other interactions with the federal government.

Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay, R-Pulaski, said in a statement that he feels this legislation warrants intervention.

“We see bad bills on a daily basis in Albany, but a maneuver so blatantly corrupt is more rare,” he said. “This needs to be investigated, litigated, and shut down by any means necessary.”