NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6355
SPONSOR: Weprin (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law and the education law, in relation to
making absentee ballots available in Braille and large-print
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
to amend the election law and the education law, in relation to making
absentee ballots available in Braille and large-print
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
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.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
Adding a new subsection (3) to 7-107, that will require the state to
reimburse counties for the exact amount that they spend producing the
braille or large-print, ballots.
JUSTIFICATION:
This act will enable blind and visually impaired persons to request and
receive Braille or large-print absentee ballots. While the adoption and
implementation of technologically advanced ballot marking devices with
optical scanners has marked a-new milestone for accessibility of in-per-
son voting for individuals with disabilities, currently, blind or visu-
ally impaired people must have someone assist them in filling out absen-
tee ballots because such ballots are not produced in accessible formats.
The present situation interferes with the rights of blind or visually
impaired people to vote independently.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
02/06/17 referred to election law
03/28/17 amend and recommit to election law
03/28/17 print number 4961a
05/04/17 amend and recommit to election law
05/04/17 print number 4961b
05/09/17 reported referred to ways and means
05/16/17 reported
05/18/17 advanced to third reading cal.419
05/22/17 passed assembly
01/03/18 RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
01/03/18 ordered to third reading cal.354
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
There will be minimal costs associated with the production of the
Braille and large-print ballots.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however that effec-
tive immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
