Bill Text: NY A04961 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Provides that absentee ballots for all elections shall be made available in Braille and large print, upon request of a blind or visually impaired voter no less than 30 days prior to each election day.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-01-03 - ordered to third reading cal.354 [A04961 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A04961-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          4961
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 6, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  WEPRIN,  CUSICK, COLTON, ENGLEBRIGHT, ORTIZ,
          ZEBROWSKI, MOYA, CAHILL, LAVINE -- Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M.  of  A.
          FARRELL, GLICK, HIKIND, PERRY -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Election Law
        AN  ACT  to amend the election law and the education law, in relation to
          making absentee ballots available in Braille and large-print
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  The election law is amended by adding a new section 7-107
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 7-107. Absentee ballots in Braille and large-print to be made avail-
     4  able.  1. Absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print  shall  be
     5  made  available upon the request of any registered voter who is blind or
     6  visually impaired.  Persons wishing to receive  Braille  or  large-print
     7  absentee  ballots  must give notice thereof to the board of elections no
     8  less than thirty days prior to each election day to enable the board  to
     9  prepare and distribute such ballots.
    10    2.  The state board of elections shall promulgate rules for the prepa-
    11  ration, distribution, casting, and canvass of  Braille  and  large-print
    12  absentee  ballots.    The  state  board  of  elections shall develop the
    13  initial format for both Braille and large-print ballots in  consultation
    14  with  at  least three New York state organizations with expertise in the
    15  field of advocacy for people with disabilities and such other  appropri-
    16  ate  persons,  groups,  entities  or organizations as the state board of
    17  elections shall determine. For the purpose of  this  section,  "Braille"
    18  refers  to grade two Braille and "large-print" refers to a font of eigh-
    19  teen point or larger.  Upon the printing of a Braille ballot, the  board
    20  of  elections  shall  require  such  Braille ballot to be proofread by a
    21  qualified Braille reader.  The state board of elections shall  establish
    22  the minimum qualifications for a Braille ballot proofreader in consulta-
    23  tion  with at least three New York state organizations with expertise in
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05669-01-7
        A. 4961                             2
     1  the field of advocacy for people with disabilities and such other appro-
     2  priate persons, groups, entities or organizations as  such  board  shall
     3  determine.
     4    §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 2022-a to
     5  read as follows:
     6    § 2022-a. Ballots in Braille and large-print to be made available.  1.
     7  Absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print shall be made avail-
     8  able  upon  the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually
     9  impaired. Persons wishing to receive Braille  and  large-print  absentee
    10  ballots  must give notice thereof no less than thirty days prior to each
    11  election day to enable preparation and distribution of such ballots.
    12    2.  The  commissioner,  in  consultation  with  the  state  board   of
    13  elections,  shall  promulgate  rules  for the preparation, distribution,
    14  casting, and canvass of Braille and large-print  absentee  ballots.  The
    15  department  shall develop the initial format for both Braille and large-
    16  print ballots in consultation with at least three New York state  organ-
    17  izations  with  expertise in the field of advocacy for people with disa-
    18  bilities  and  such  other  appropriate  persons,  groups,  entities  or
    19  organizations  as  such  board shall determine. For the purposes of this
    20  section, "Braille" refers to grade two Braille and "large-print"  refers
    21  to  a  font  of eighteen point or larger. Upon the printing of a Braille
    22  ballot, such Braille ballot shall be proofread by  a  qualified  Braille
    23  reader.  The department shall establish the minimum qualifications for a
    24  Braille ballot proofreader in  consultation  with  the  state  board  of
    25  elections and at least three New York state organizations with expertise
    26  in  the  field  of  advocacy for people with disabilities and such other
    27  appropriate persons, groups, entities or organizations as  such  depart-
    28  ment shall determine.
    29    § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeed-
    30  ing  the  date on which it shall have become a law; provided that effec-
    31  tive immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any  rule  or
    32  regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
    33  date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.