Prohibits the use of pasters, stickers and labels on ballots; repealer

BILL NUMBER:S6789

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to prohib- iting the use of pasters, stickers and labels on ballots; and to repeal section 7-126 of the election law relating to the use of pasters

Purpose

To prohibit the use of pasters, stickers and labels on ballots

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends subdivision 4 of section 8-308 of the Election Law to prohibit the use of stickers, labels or pasters on a ballot.

Section 2 amends section 17-134 of the Election Law adds stickers and labels to such section entitled "Unlawful Use of Pasters".

Section 3 repeals section 7-126 of the Election Law.

Justification

The use of stickers, labels or pasters can negatively affect a voting system's ability to accurately count votes, as such systems are calibrated to accept a specific ballot thickness, which increases with the inclusion of any such applications. Further, the adhesive used on stickers, labels and pastels can negatively impact the accuracy of a scanner, and when heated through the normal running of a scanner, can cause such items to become unattached, reaffixed to the ballots, or create situations where subsequent ballots may not be accepted by the scanner or read by the scanner. Any of these scenarios can result in the disenfranchisement of voters and inaccuracies in vote counts, all of which can be avoided by the prohibition of stickers, labels or pasters. This bill is updating the Election Law as to the current practice of Boards of Elections and the inapplicablility of stickers, labels and pasters now that paper ballots, rather than lever machines, are in use.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.