Provides that ballots for all elections shall be made available in Braille, upon request of a blind or visually impaired voter

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Adds new section 7-107 to the election law to state that ballots printed in Braille and large-print for every election shall be made available upon the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually impaired. These ballots shall be made available at polling places upon request and may be used by a voter in lieu of the voting machine. Persons wishing to use these ballots must give notice to the board of elections no less than 30 days prior to each election day. This section also gives the state board of elections the task of promulgating rules for the preparation, distribution, casting and canvass of these ballots. The ballots shall be developed in consultation with state disa- bility advocacy groups. This section defines "Braille" as grade two Braille and "large-print" is defined as a font 18 point or larger. After the ballots are printed they must be proofread by a qualified Braille reader whose qualifications will be established by the state board of elections and in consultation with advocacy organizations.

Section 2 adds a new section 2022-a to the education law that states ballots printed in Braille and large-print for every election shall be made available upon the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually impaired. These ballots shall be made available at polling places upon request and may be used by a voter in lieu of the voting machine. Persons wishing to use these ballots must give notice to the board of education no less than 30 days prior to each election day. This section also gives the state education commissioner of consulting with the state board of elections in order to promulgate rules for the preparation, distribution, casting and canvass of these ballots. The ballots shall be developed in consultation with state disability advoca- cy groups. This section defines "Braille" as grade two Braille and "large-print" is defined as a font 18 point or larger. After the ballots are printed they must be proofread by a qualified Braille reader whose qualifications will be established by the state board of education and in consultation with advocacy organizations and the state board of elections.

Section 3 establishes an effective date the first day of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law; provided that the promulgation of rules to implement the provisions of this act may commence at any time on or after the date on which this act shall have become law.

Justification

It is important that people who are blind or visually impaired have equal access to ballots in the voting process. While it is not the intent of this measure to replace the critical need for fully accessible voting machines for all people with disabilities, there are some indi- viduals who either need or wish to vote by absentee ballot. This act will enable blind and visually impaired persons to request Braille or large-print absentee ballots to be sent to their homes, or such persons can request that accessible ballots be available at their polling plac- es. Currently, blind or visually impaired people must have someone assist them when filling out absentee ballots because they are simply not produced in accessible formats. This situation eliminates the rights of blind or visually impaired people to vote independently, and it forc- es such individuals to trust that the person assisting them will vote according to their wishes.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

The first of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law; provided that the promulgation of rules to implement the provisions of this act may commence at any time on or after the date on which this act shall have become law.