What's happening
This bill requires boards of elections in New York City to provide Haitian Creole voting materials and information.
Why it matters
Addresses language barriers for Haitian Creole speakers in New York City. , helping ensure that this community has equitable access to essential voting information, forms, and instructions, which can boost voter participation and engagement.
Mandates comprehensive coverage of voting materials. , not just ballots—this includes voter registration forms, absentee ballot instructions, and a general FAQ, all provided in Haitian Creole, which supports informed decision-making throughout the voting process.
Targets outreach in a linguistically diverse city. , particularly benefiting neighborhoods with significant Haitian populations, and sets a precedent for expanding language access for other growing communities in the future.
May improve compliance with federal and state voting rights laws. by proactively reducing the risk of disenfranchisement due to language obstacles, thereby strengthening the legitimacy and inclusiveness of city elections.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Haitian Creole Voting Materials
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Haitian Creole Voting Materials
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
311
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to providing Haitian Creole language voting materials
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-507 to read as follows:
§ 3-507. Boards of elections; voting materials in Haitian Creole. A board of elections in a city with a population of over one million shall provide the same information in Haitian Creole that it provides in languages other than English on its website. It shall also produce and disseminate citywide a booklet that includes: (a) a voter registration form in English with instructions in Haitian Creole; (b) instructions in Haitian Creole regarding the criteria and application process for obtaining an absentee ballot; and (c) a section with general voter information in Haitian Creole including frequently asked questions. Such board may include other languages on its website and in such booklet.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding that date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01301-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.