What's happening
This bill requires New York's Board of Elections to notify absentee voters about the status and acceptance of their ballots, including reasons for rejection and instructions for correction.
Why it matters
Empowers voters to track their absentee ballots. By requiring written or online confirmation of both the receipt and acceptance of absentee ballots, the bill enhances transparency and allows voters to verify that their ballot was processed correctly.
Reduces voter disenfranchisement. If an absentee ballot is rejected, the voter will receive a clear explanation and guidance on how to correct the issue, offering a potential opportunity to fix mistakes and ensuring more votes can ultimately be counted.
Builds trust in the electoral process. Mandating proactive communication from the Board of Elections addresses concerns about lost or mishandled ballots, helping to increase public confidence in absentee voting and the overall integrity of elections.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Absentee Ballot Status
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to elections
- 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.
Notify Absentee Voters on Ballots
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Dan Quart
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
441
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. HOYLMAN, KAMINSKY -- 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 requiring the board of elections to notify absentee voters of the status of their ballot
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 8-412 of the election law is amended by adding two new subdivisions 3 and 4 to read as follows:
3. The board of elections shall provide written documentation or online confirmation of receipt of an absentee ballot and whether such ballot was accepted by the board.
4. When an absentee ballot is not accepted by the board of elections, the board shall provide the voter with written documentation or online confirmation that such ballot was not accepted. The written documentation or online confirmation provided to the voter by the board shall provide an explanation detailing the reason why the absentee ballot was not accepted and how the ballot may be corrected.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01317-01-9
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 requiring the board of elections to notify absentee voters of the status of their ballot
Purpose
To ensure that absentee voters are informed of the status of their ballot and given an opportunity to correct a ballot that is rejected
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends § 8-412 of the Election Law to require the Board of Elections to:
*Confirm receipt and status (either accepted or rejected) of a voter's absentee ballot, either in writing or online
*Provide a reason if the ballot has been rejected
*Provide a method for correction if the ballot has been rejected
Section 2 sets the effective date
Justification
Voters who use an absentee ballot should have the same opportunities to ensure that their vote is counted as in-person voters. Currently, absen- tee voters are unable to find out if their ballot was accepted by their local Board of Elections, or even if it arrived in the Board's office. This system will allow absentee voters to enjoy the same confidence in their vote that in-person voters do.
Prior legislative history
S.0129 of 2017-2018 (Hoylman): Died in Elections A.4154 of 2017-2018 (Quart): Died in Election Law S.4249 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Elections A.2071 of 2015-2016 (Quart): Died in Election Law S.4479 of 2013-2014 (Tkaczyk): Died in Elections A.2332 of 2013-2014 (Quart): Died in Election Law
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.