What's happening
This bill requires New York election boards to provide Haitian Creole voting materials and information online and in printed booklets.
Why it matters
Improves accessibility for Haitian Creole speakers. , helping ensure that voting information and materials are understandable to a significant New York community that may otherwise face language barriers.
Supports informed participation and reduces confusion. by providing voter registration forms, absentee ballot instructions, and general voting FAQs in Haitian Creole, making it easier for eligible voters to engage with the electoral process.
May increase voter turnout and civic engagement. within the Haitian Creole-speaking population, potentially leading to more representative outcomes in elections and greater trust in the system.
Sets a precedent for multilingual inclusion. in election materials, which could pave the way for further language accommodations for other communities with limited English proficiency in the future.
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Who cares
Boards of elections
They would have to provide Haitian Creole website information matching what they provide in other non-English languages and produce and distribute a voter information booklet citywide.
Haitian Creole-speaking prospective voters
They would receive Haitian Creole instructions for completing an English-language voter registration form, along with general voter information and frequently asked questions.
Haitian Creole-speaking absentee voters
They would receive booklet instructions in Haitian Creole explaining absentee ballot eligibility criteria and the application process.
Headline styles
Haitian Creole Voting Materials
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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 David Carlucci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7208
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE, HOOPER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to requiring boards of elections to provide 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. Each board of elections 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 the 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.
LBD07004-02-7
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.