What's happening
This bill requires absentee ballots in New York to be available in Braille and large-print for blind or visually impaired voters upon request.
Why it matters
Expands accessible voting. By requiring Braille and large-print absentee ballots, the bill addresses significant barriers faced by blind and visually impaired voters, enabling more independent and private ballot completion.
Sets clear standards and input requirements. The bill mandates consultation with at least three New York organizations specializing in disability advocacy to help design the ballots and set qualifications for Braille proofreaders, ensuring expertise and user input shape implementation.
Provides financial support for implementation. County boards of elections will be reimbursed for the costs of producing accessible ballots, reducing the financial burden on local governments and supporting consistent statewide access.
Establishes detailed procedures. The legislation requires the state board of elections and the education department to create rules for preparing, distributing, casting, and canvassing these ballots, aiming for a smooth, standardized process that protects ballot integrity and accessibility.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Braille Ballots for Blind Voters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to elections
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.683
- Referred to elections
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4786
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 1, 2017
Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, DILAN, KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
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 Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 7-107 to read as follows:
§ 7-107. Absentee ballots in Braille and large-print to be made available. 1. Absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print shall be made available upon the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually impaired. Persons wishing to receive Braille or large-print absentee ballots must give notice thereof to the board of elections no less than thirty days prior to each election day to enable the board to prepare and distribute such ballots.
2. The state board of elections shall promulgate rules for the preparation, distribution, casting, and canvass of Braille and large-print absentee ballots. The state board of elections shall develop the initial format for both Braille and large-print ballots in consultation with at least three New York state organizations with expertise in the field of advocacy for people with disabilities and such other appropriate persons, groups, entities or organizations as the state board of elections shall determine. For the purpose of this section, "Braille" refers to grade two Braille and "large-print" refers to a font of eighteen point or larger. Upon the printing of a Braille ballot, the board of elections shall require such Braille ballot to be proofread by a qualified Braille reader. The state board of elections shall establish the minimum qualifications for a Braille ballot proofreader in consultation with at least three New York state organizations with expertise in 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.
LBD05669-02-7
S. 4786 2
priate persons, groups, entities or organizations as such board shall determine.
3. The state board of elections shall reimburse each county board of elections in an amount equal to the amount such county board of elections expended on producing absentee ballots in Braille or large print.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 2022-a to read as follows:
§ 2022-a. Ballots in Braille and large-print to be made available. 1. Absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print shall be made available upon the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually impaired. Persons wishing to receive Braille and large-print absentee ballots must give notice thereof no less than thirty days prior to each election day to enable preparation and distribution of such ballots.
2. The commissioner, in consultation with the state board of elections, shall promulgate rules for the preparation, distribution, casting, and canvass of Braille and large-print absentee ballots. The department shall develop the initial format for both Braille and largeprint ballots in consultation with at least three New York state organizations with expertise in the field of advocacy for people with disabilities and such other appropriate persons, groups, entities or organizations as such board shall determine. For the purposes of this section, "Braille" refers to grade two Braille and "large-print" refers to a font of eighteen point or larger. Upon the printing of a Braille ballot, such Braille ballot shall be proofread by a qualified Braille reader. The department shall establish the minimum qualifications for a Braille ballot proofreader in consultation with the state board of elections and at least three New York state organizations with expertise in the field of advocacy for people with disabilities and such other appropriate persons, groups, entities or organizations as such department shall determine.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law and the education law, in relation to making absentee ballots available in Braille and large-print
Purpose
To allow blind or visually impaired individuals access to absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds a new section 7-107 to the election law requiring that absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print be made available upon the request of any registered voter who is blind or visually impaired and that persons wishing to receive such 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 (SBOE) the task of promulgating rules for the preparation, distribution, casting and canvassing of such ballots; directs that such rules be developed in consultation with state disability advocacy groups; defines Braille and large-print for the purposes of this section; and provides proof reading standards for the ballots. In addition, the state Board of Elections will reimburse the county Board of Elections for the production costs of the ballots.
Section 2 adds a new section 2022-a to the education law that states absentee ballots printed in Braille and large-print shall be made available upon request of any registered voter who is blind or visually impaired. Those wishing to receive such ballots must give notice no less than thirty days prior to each election day. The commissioner in consultation with the SBOE are to promulgate rules for the preparation, distribution, casting and canvass of these ballots; directs that such rules be developed in consultation with the SBOE and state disability advocacy groups; defines Braille and large-print for the purposes of this section; and provides proof reading standards for the ballots.
Section 3 is the effective date.
Justification
This act will enable blind and visually impaired persons to request and receive Braille or large-print absentee ballots. While the adoption and implementation of technologically advanced ballot marking devices with optical scanners has marked a new milestone for accessibility of in-person voting for individuals with disabilities, currently, blind or visually impaired people must have someone assist them in filling out absentee ballots because such ballots are not produced in accessible formats. The present situation interferes with the rights of blind or visually impaired people to vote independently.
Legislative history
2015-16 - S. 5085 - Rules Committee/A. 2104-a - Passed Assembly.
Fiscal implications
There will be costs associated with the production of the Braille and large print ballots.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, however that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.