Bill Text: NY A06355 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

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 8-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to election law [A06355 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A06355-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          6355

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                      April 5, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M. of A. WEPRIN, COLTON, ZEBROWSKI, LAVINE, VANEL, SIMON
          -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GLICK -- read once and  referred  to
          the Committee 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 shall 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
    24  the field of advocacy for people with disabilities and such other appro-

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10614-01-3
        A. 6355                             2

     1  priate persons, groups, entities or organizations as  such  board  shall
     2  determine.
     3    §  2.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 2022-a to
     4  read as follows:
     5    § 2022-a. Ballots in Braille and large-print to be made available.  1.
     6  Absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print shall be made avail-
     7  able  upon  the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually
     8  impaired. Persons wishing to receive Braille  and  large-print  absentee
     9  ballots shall give notice thereof no less than thirty days prior to each
    10  election day to enable preparation and distribution of such ballots.
    11    2.   The  commissioner,  in  consultation  with  the  state  board  of
    12  elections, shall promulgate rules  for  the  preparation,  distribution,
    13  casting,  and  canvass  of Braille and large-print absentee ballots. The
    14  department shall develop the initial format for both Braille and  large-
    15  print  ballots in consultation with at least three New York state organ-
    16  izations with expertise in the field of advocacy for people  with  disa-
    17  bilities  and  such  other  appropriate  persons,  groups,  entities  or
    18  organizations as such board shall determine. For the  purposes  of  this
    19  section,  "Braille" refers to grade two Braille and "large-print" refers
    20  to a font of eighteen point or larger. Upon the printing  of  a  Braille
    21  ballot,  such  Braille  ballot shall be proofread by a qualified Braille
    22  reader. The department shall establish the minimum qualifications for  a
    23  Braille  ballot  proofreader  in  consultation  with  the state board of
    24  elections and at least three New York state organizations with expertise
    25  in the field of advocacy for people with  disabilities  and  such  other
    26  appropriate  persons,  groups, entities or organizations as such depart-
    27  ment shall determine.
    28    § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeed-
    29  ing the date on which it shall have become a law.  Effective  immediate-
    30  ly,  the  addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation
    31  necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective  date  are
    32  authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.