What's happening
This bill allows victims of domestic violence to request and receive special ballots by mail for elections.
Why it matters
Expands access and privacy for domestic violence survivors. by allowing them to request special ballots via mail, reducing the need to appear in person at election offices, which could compromise their safety or anonymity.
Provides a safer way to participate in elections. for those who have fled their residences due to abuse, ensuring they do not have to risk returning to a potentially dangerous environment just to vote.
Aligns the timeline and process for special ballots with absentee ballots,. offering a familiar and standardized method for survivors to receive and return ballots, potentially increasing voter turnout among this vulnerable group.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Mail Ballots to Abuse Victims
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1086
- Referred to elections
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.
Mail Ballots for Abuse Victims
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5741
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to mailing special ballots for victims of domestic violence
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 11-306 of the election law, as amended by chapter 163 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
1. A voter may deliver to the board of elections, in person or by mail, at any time during the period in which absentee ballot applications may be delivered, a signed written statement swearing or affirming:
(a) that he or she is the victim of domestic violence;
(b) that he or she has left his or her residence because of such violence; and
(c) that because of the threat of physical or emotional harm to himself or herself or to family or household members, he or she wishes to cast a special ballot in the next election. The statement must include the voter's address of registration. The board of elections shall mail a special ballot to every qualified voter eligible for such a ballot who requests to cast such ballot by mail, whose statement is received by the board of elections not earlier than the thirtieth day nor later than the seventh day before the election for which the ballot is requested and which states the address to which the ballot is to be mailed. The board of elections shall permit such a voter to cast a special ballot at an office of such board of elections [not earlier than one week before the election and] not later than the close of the polls on election day, or by mail within the same time and in the same manner in which absentee ballots may be cast. Such ballots shall be retained at the board of elections and cast and canvassed pursuant to the provisions of section 9-209 of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10727-02-7
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, in relation to mailing special ballots for victims of domestic violence
Purpose
To allow victims of domestic violence to cast a special ballot by mail.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 11-306 of the election law to allow a voter to request a special ballot for a victim of domestic violence by mail. The section further provides that the board of elections shall mail such ballot to every qualified voter who requests to cast such ballot by mail, whose statement is received by the board of elections not earlier than the thirtieth day nor later than the seventh day before the election for which the ballot is requested and which states the address to which the ballot is to be mailed. Lastly, the section provides that such ballot may be cast by mail within the same time and in the same manner in which absentee ballots may be cast. Section 2 is the effective date, which would be immediately.
Justification
This legislation will give all victims of domestic violence the right to vote by mailing in a ballot, including those who remain in the county where they are registered. Voters who will be absent from the county in which they are registered on Election Day, are eligible to vote via absentee ballot. The absentee ballot is mailed to the voter, and the voter completes the ballot and mails it back to the County Board of Elections. A victim of domestic violence who remains in the county in which they are registered to vote, however, is not eligible to vote via absentee ballot.
Currently, there is an option for a victim of domestic violence to vote in person by special ballot at the County Board of Elections where they are registered, rather than voting at their polling place. However, it may not be safe for a survivor to vote in person in the same county where her abuser resides. Allowing the special ballot to be cast by mail, in the same manner as an absentee ballot, will ensure that all domestic violence victims can safely exercise their right to vote.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.