Bill Text: NY S02300 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Enacts the voter friendly ballot act; relates to the form of the ballot for elections; removes additional provisions for primary elections for New York city.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-24 - SIGNED CHAP.411 [S02300 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-S02300-Amended.html


                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                         2300--A
            Cal. No. 160
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                    January 23, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced by Sens. KAVANAGH, ADDABBO, HOYLMAN, KAMINSKY, PARKER, RIVERA
          -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
          the  Committee on Elections -- reported favorably from said committee,
          ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a  second
          report  and  ordered  reprinted,  retaining  its place in the order of
          second report
        AN ACT to amend the election law, in  relation  to  enacting  the  voter
          friendly  ballot act; and to repeal section 7-108 of such law relating
          to the form of ballots
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
     2  the "voter friendly ballot act".
     3    § 2. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section  7-102  of  the  election
     4  law,  as added by chapter 371 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as
     5  follows:
     6    a. In the event that a candidate in a primary election  believes  that
     7  the  name  of  another candidate for the same office or position at such
     8  election is sufficiently similar to his or hers so as to cause confusion
     9  among the voters, such candidate may, not later than five days after the
    10  last day to file the certificates or petitions of designation, file with
    11  the board of elections with which  such  certificates  or  petitions  of
    12  designation  are  filed, a request that such board determine that such a
    13  sufficient similarity exists.
    14    § 3.  Section 7-104 of the election law, as amended by chapter 165  of
    15  the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
    16    §  7-104.  Ballots; form of[, voting machine]. 1. All ballots shall be
    17  printed and/or displayed in a format and arrangement,  of  such  uniform
    18  size  and style as will fit the ballot [frame], and shall be in as plain
    19  and clear a type or display as the space will reasonably  permit,  using
    20  only  sans  serif  print fonts. Such type or display on the ballot shall
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02454-02-9

        S. 2300--A                          2
     1  satisfy all requirements and standards set forth pursuant to the federal
     2  Help America Vote Act.
     3    2.  The names of parties or independent bodies which contain more than
     4  fifteen letters may, whenever limitations of space so require, be print-
     5  ed on the ballot in an abbreviated form. In printing the names of candi-
     6  dates whose full names contain  more  than  fifteen  letters,  only  the
     7  surname  must  be printed in full. The officer or board charged with the
     8  duty of [preparing the  ballots]  certifying  the  candidates  for  such
     9  office  shall  request  each such candidate to indicate, in writing, the
    10  shortened form in which, subject to this restriction, his  or  her  name
    11  shall  be printed. If no such indication is received from such candidate
    12  within the time specified in the request, such officer  or  board  shall
    13  make the necessary determination.
    14    3.  (a) The party name or other designation[, and a designating letter
    15  and number] shall be affixed to the name of each candidate, or, in  case
    16  of  presidential  electors, to the names of the candidates for president
    17  and vice-president of such party.
    18    (b) A column/row designating number may be affixed to the name of each
    19  candidate, or in the case of presidential electors, to the names of  the
    20  candidates for president and vice-president of such party.
    21    (c) The titles of offices may be arranged horizontally, with the names
    22  of  candidates  for an office and the space, slot or device for write-in
    23  [ballots] votes for such office arranged vertically under the  title  of
    24  the  office,  or  the titles of offices may be arranged vertically, with
    25  the names of candidates for an office and the space, slot or device  for
    26  write-in  [ballots] votes for such office arranged horizontally opposite
    27  the title of the office.
    28    [(c)] (d) Each office shall occupy as many  columns  or  rows  on  the
    29  [machine]  ballot  as  the  number  of  candidates to be elected to that
    30  office, except where candidate  placements  due  to  cross  endorsements
    31  require additional columns or rows.
    32    4. (a) The names of all candidates nominated by any party or independ-
    33  ent body for an office shall always appear in the row or column contain-
    34  ing  generally  the names of candidates nominated by such party or inde-
    35  pendent body for other offices except as hereinafter provided.
    36    (b) When the same person has been nominated for an office to be filled
    37  at the election by more than one party, the voting machine shall  be  so
    38  adjusted  that  his  or  her  name  shall  appear  in each row or column
    39  containing generally the names of candidates for other offices nominated
    40  by any such party.
    41    (c) If such candidate has also been nominated by one or more independ-
    42  ent bodies, his or her name shall appear only  in  each  row  or  column
    43  containing generally the names of candidates for other offices nominated
    44  by  any  such  party  and  the  name of each such independent body shall
    45  appear in one such row or column to be designated by the candidate in  a
    46  writing  filed  with  the  officer  or  board  charged  with the duty of
    47  [providing ballots] certifying the candidates for  such  office,  or  if
    48  such  person  shall  fail to so designate, the names of such independent
    49  bodies shall appear in such row or column as such officer or board shall
    50  determine.
    51    (d) If any person shall be nominated for any office by one  party  and
    52  two  or  more  independent  bodies  his  or her name shall appear on the
    53  [voting machine] ballot twice; once in  the  row  or  column  containing
    54  generally  the  names  of candidates for other offices nominated by such
    55  party, and once in the row or column containing generally the  names  of
    56  candidates  nominated  by the independent body designated by such person

        S. 2300--A                          3
     1  in a writing filed with the officer or board charged with  the  duty  of
     2  [providing  ballots]  certifying  the  candidates for such office and in
     3  connection with the name of such person in  such  row  or  column  shall
     4  appear  the  name  of each independent body nominating him or her or, if
     5  such person shall fail to so designate, the name of such  candidate  and
     6  the  names of such independent bodies shall appear in such row or column
     7  as such officer or board shall determine.
     8    (e) If any person is nominated for any office only by  more  than  one
     9  independent  bodies,  his  or  her  name  shall appear but once upon the
    10  machine in one such row or column to be designated by the candidate in a
    11  writing filed with the officer or board charged with the duty of provid-
    12  ing ballots, or if the candidate shall fail  to  so  designate,  in  the
    13  place  designated  by  the  officer  or  board  charged with the duty of
    14  [providing ballots] certifying the candidates for such  office,  and  in
    15  connection  with  his  or  her  name there shall appear the name of each
    16  independent body nominating him or her, but, where the capacity  of  the
    17  [machine]  ballot  will permit, the name of such person shall not appear
    18  or be placed in a column or on a  horizontal  line  with  the  names  of
    19  persons nominated by a party for other offices.
    20    5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision four of this section,
    21  the  name  of  a  person who is nominated for the office of governor, or
    22  state senator, or member of assembly, shall appear on the ballot as many
    23  times as there are parties or independent bodies nominating him or  her,
    24  and  there  shall be a separate voting [and registering device] position
    25  at each place in which such name shall appear.
    26    6. If any type of machine used in any  county  or  city  contains  any
    27  feature  approved  by  the state board of elections, the use of which is
    28  neither required nor prohibited by the provisions of this  chapter,  the
    29  board  of elections may, by resolution, require that one or more of such
    30  features shall be used in such county.  Thereafter all machines of  such
    31  type  used  in  such county or city shall be operated in conformity with
    32  any such resolution. Any such resolution may thereafter be rescinded  by
    33  such  board  and  after being so rescinded may be re-adopted. Once re-a-
    34  dopted by any board of elections, such a resolution may not be rescinded
    35  again by such board.
    36    7. The ballot shall have printed upon it in black ink for  each  party
    37  or  independent  row,  at the head of the column or the beginning of the
    38  row containing the names of candidates, [the image of a closed fist with
    39  index finger extended pointing to the party or independent row.  In  the
    40  same space, in black letters as large as the space will permit, shall be
    41  printed]  the name of the party or independent body [and at the right of
    42  the fist and below the index finger shall be printed in  black  ink  the
    43  emblem] and the designating [letters] letter of the row or column.
    44    8. With respect to candidates for the offices of governor and lieuten-
    45  ant governor of a party or independent body, ballots shall be printed so
    46  that  the  names of such candidates for both offices shall appear in the
    47  same row or column, with the name of the candidate for governor  appear-
    48  ing  first  and  the  ballot  shall be so adjusted that both offices are
    49  voted for jointly and have but one designating  [letter  or]  number  if
    50  such column/row designating numbers are utilized.
    51    9.  In those counties in which ballots are required by federal law, or
    52  otherwise, to be provided in a language other than English, there  shall
    53  be  versions  of  the ballot printed in English and in each of the addi-
    54  tional languages required so that  each  version  of  the  ballot  shall
    55  contain  English  and no more than two other languages. The county board
    56  of elections in such counties  shall  instruct,  in  their  poll  worker

        S. 2300--A                          4
     1  training  and  materials,  the  procedures to be followed to ensure that
     2  each voter receives a ballot with the appropriate language as determined
     3  by the state board.
     4    10. Each ballot shall contain instructions for marking the ballot. The
     5  instructions shall be printed in line lengths no wider than five inches.
     6  Ballot instructions may be printed on the front or back of the ballot or
     7  on a separate sheet or card. If such instructions are not printed on the
     8  front  of the ballot, there shall be printed on the ballot, in the larg-
     9  est size type practicable, the following legend:  "See  instructions  on
    10  the  other  side"  or  "See  instructions (insert where instructions are
    11  found)", whichever is appropriate.
    12    11. The offices appearing on  all  ballots  shall  be  listed  in  the
    13  customary order.
    14    12.  If  two  or more candidates are nominated for the same office for
    15  different terms, the term for which each is nominated shall  be  printed
    16  as a part of the title of the office.
    17    13.  The  text  for  ballot  instructions  shall  be  substantially as
    18  follows, so that it accurately reflects the ballot layout:
    19                                INSTRUCTIONS
    20  Mark the (insert "oval" or "square") to the left of  the  name  of  your
    21  choice. (Provide illustration of correctly-marked voting position here.)
    22  To vote for a candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot, (insert
    23  "mark  the oval (or square) to the left of 'write-in' and print the name
    24  clearly" or "print the name clearly in  the  box  labeled  'write-in'"),
    25  staying  within the box. Any mark or writing outside the spaces provided
    26  for voting may void the entire ballot. The number of choices  is  listed
    27  for  each  contest.  Do  not  mark  the  ballot for more candidates than
    28  allowed. If you do, your vote in that contest will  not  count.  If  you
    29  make a mistake, or want to change your vote, ask a poll worker for a new
    30  ballot.
    31    14.  The  state  board  of elections shall provide line drawing illus-
    32  trations to supplement these instructions. At a minimum, an illustration
    33  of the correct way to mark the ballot shall be provided, but nothing  in
    34  this  section  shall  be construed to limit the board in providing addi-
    35  tional illustrations.
    36    15.  When  a  question  or  proposal  is  included  on   the   ballot,
    37  instructions substantially like the following shall be included:
    38             Instructions for Voting on Questions and Proposals
    39  To  vote on a question or proposal, mark the (insert "oval" or "square")
    40  to the (insert "left", "above" or "below") of your choice. If you make a
    41  mistake, or want to change your vote,  ask  a  poll  worker  for  a  new
    42  ballot.
    43    16.  When  a  question  or proposal appears on the back of the ballot,
    44  there shall appear on the front of the ballot words or a symbol indicat-
    45  ing that the voter should turn over the ballot.
    46    17. The voting oval or square shall be to the left of the name of  the
    47  candidate.
    48    18.  All  text,  including  the  name of each candidate as provided in
    49  subdivision three of this  section,  shall  be  printed  using  standard
    50  capitalization  in  accordance  with  instructions provided by the state
    51  board of elections and shall not be printed using all capital letters.

        S. 2300--A                          5
     1    19. The ballot shall use one font or font  family  with  enough  vari-
     2  ations for all text needs.
     3    20.  "Vote  for one" or "Vote for up to ......" (the blank space to be
     4  filled with the number of persons to be  nominated  for  the  office  or
     5  elected  to  the  position), as applicable, shall be printed immediately
     6  below each office title appearing on the ballot.
     7    21. No party emblems shall be printed on the ballot.
     8    22. The names of candidates for the same office shall  appear  on  the
     9  same  page and in the same column or columns or row or rows of that page
    10  of a printed ballot, and may not be separated by a perforation.
    11    23. All text, including the title of each office and the name of  each
    12  candidate,  shall be printed flush left and shall not be centered on the
    13  ballot or in any column or row appearing on the ballot; provided  howev-
    14  er,  in  a  multi-column  or  multi-row contest, the title and number of
    15  allowable selections to be made for each such office may be centered.
    16    24. If used, shading shall be used consistently, so  as  to  differen-
    17  tiate instructions from ballot section dividers and contest information.
    18    25. Above, below, or to the right of the name of each candidate, shall
    19  be  printed,  in  less prominent type face than that in which the candi-
    20  date's name is printed, the name of the political party  or  independent
    21  body by which the candidate was nominated or designated.
    22    26.  All  paper  ballots  of  the same kind for the same polling place
    23  shall be identical.
    24    27. To the extent practicable, the ballot shall also comply  with  the
    25  following specifications:
    26    (a)  The  instructions  in  subdivision  ten  of this section shall be
    27  printed in the upper left hand corner of the front of the ballot;
    28    (b) The name of each candidate shall be printed using a font  size  of
    29  not less than nine points;
    30    (c)  When the instructions are contained on the ballot, there shall be
    31  a clear delineation between the ballot instructions and the first office
    32  or ballot question or proposal through the use of  white  space,  illus-
    33  tration, shading, color, font size, or bold type.
    34    § 4. Section 7-106 of the election law, the section heading and subdi-
    35  visions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 as amended and subdivisions 8, 9, 10 and 11
    36  as  renumbered by chapter 165 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as
    37  follows:
    38    § 7-106.  [Election day paper ballots; form of] Ballots; form of,  for
    39  ballot  scanners,  general,  primary,  or  special elections; additional
    40  requirements. 1.  In addition to ballot  requirements  provided  for  in
    41  section  7-104  of  this article, all ballots to be used with all ballot
    42  scanners shall comply with the following provisions.
    43    2. Paper ballots which are to be  counted  by  a  ballot  scanner  may
    44  consist of two or more sheets which are divided into perforated sections
    45  which  can  be separated at the time the ballot is scanned. Such ballots
    46  shall be printed  on  paper  of  a  quality,  size,  color,  and  weight
    47  [approved  by  the  state  board  of  elections] specified in the voting
    48  system's technical  requirements  documentation  and  shall  be  clearly
    49  distinguishable from sample ballots by size, color or other means.
    50    [2.]  3. All paper ballots of the same kind for the same polling place
    51  shall be identical. [A different, but in each  case  uniform  style  and
    52  size  of  type,  shall be used for printing the names of candidates, the
    53  titles of offices, political designations, and the reading form  of  all
    54  questions submitted. The names of candidates shall be printed in capital
    55  letters in black-faced type.

        S. 2300--A                          6

     1    3.]  4.  Each election day ballot shall be printed on the sheet with a
     2  stub which shall be  separated  therefrom  by  a  line  of  perforations
     3  extending  across  the  entire  ballot. On the face of the stub shall be
     4  printed "No........" the blank to be filled with consecutive  number  of
     5  ballots  beginning  with  "No.  1",  and increasing in regular numerical
     6  order.
     7    [4.] 5. On such ballot shall be printed the following indorsement, the
     8  blanks properly filled in:
     9  Official Ballot for (General, Primary or Special, as  applica-
    10  ble)
    11  Election
    12  County of ........................
    13  (Assembly    or    Legislative,    as   applicable)   District
    14  .....................
    15  (Ward  and  City  or  town  ..................,  as   applica-
    16  ble)............
    17  Election District ...........................
    18  (Insert date of election.)
    19  (Insert names of election commissioners providing the ballot.)
    20    [5.  The following ballot instructions shall be printed in heavy black
    21  type:
    22                                INSTRUCTIONS
    23    (1) Mark only with a writing  instrument  provided  by  the  board  of
    24  elections.
    25    (2)  To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on this ballot fill
    26  in the (insert oval or square, as applicable) above or next to the  name
    27  of the candidate.
    28    (3)  To  vote  for  a  person whose name is not printed on this ballot
    29  write or stamp his or her name in  the  space  labeled  "write-in"  that
    30  appears  (insert  at  the bottom of the column, the end of the row or at
    31  the bottom of the candidate names, as applicable) for such office  (and,
    32  if  required  by  the  voting  system  in  use  at  such  election,  the
    33  instructions shall also include "and fill in the (insert oval or square,
    34  as applicable) corresponding with the write-in space in which  you  have
    35  written in a name").
    36    (4)  To  vote  yes  or  no  on a proposal, if any, that appears on the
    37  (indicate where on the ballot the  proposal  may  appear)  fill  in  the
    38  (insert oval or square, as applicable) that corresponds to your vote.
    39    (5)  Any  other  mark  or  writing, or any erasure made on this ballot
    40  outside the voting squares or blank spaces provided for voting will void
    41  this entire ballot.
    42    (6) Do not overvote. If you select a greater number of candidates than
    43  there are vacancies to be filled, your ballot  will  be  void  for  that
    44  public office, party position or proposal.
    45    (7) If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, return it and
    46  obtain  another.  Do  not  attempt  to correct mistakes on the ballot by
    47  making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all
    48  or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you  make  a
    49  mistake  in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices,
    50  you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replace-
    51  ment ballot upon return of the original ballot.

        S. 2300--A                          7

     1    (8) After completing your ballot, insert it into  the  ballot  scanner
     2  and  wait for the notice that your ballot has been successfully scanned.
     3  If no such notice appears, seek the assistance of an election inspector.
     4    6. The instructions in subdivision five of this section may be printed
     5  on  the  front  or back of the ballot or on a separate sheet or card. If
     6  such instructions are not printed on the  front  of  the  ballot,  there
     7  shall be printed on the ballot, in the largest size type for which there
     8  is  room,  the following legend: "See instructions on the other side" or
     9  "See enclosed instructions", whichever is appropriate.
    10    7. Each such ballot shall be printed in sections in which  the  candi-
    11  dates'  names and political designations, the ballot proposals and other
    12  requisite matter shall each be boxed in  by  heavy  black  perpendicular
    13  lines  of  equal  width.  In  each such section shall be voting ovals or
    14  squares which voters may fill in. If applicable, ovals or squares  shall
    15  be  provided next to the blank spaces provided for a voter to write in a
    16  name.
    17    8. The space for the title of an office shall be three-eighths  of  an
    18  inch,  and  the name of a candidate or for writing in a name, one-fourth
    19  of an inch, in depth. At the left of the name of each designated  candi-
    20  date  shall  be  an  enclosed  voting space, three-eighths of an inch in
    21  width and approximately one-fourth of an inch in depth,  bounded  above,
    22  below and to the right by black lines, heavier than those which separate
    23  the  spaces  containing  the  names of candidates. To the left of voting
    24  spaces which do not adjoin a vertical line  dividing  two  parts,  there
    25  shall be a heavy black vertical line approximately one-eighth of an inch
    26  in  width. No voting space shall be provided in the space for writing in
    27  names.  In such case, the space corresponding to a voting space shall be
    28  all black.
    29    9. Below the names of the candidates for each office or position there
    30  shall be printed as many blank spaces, for writing in names  of  persons
    31  for whom the voter desires to vote, as there are persons to be nominated
    32  or elected.
    33    10.  In  case  the sections shall be so numerous as to make the ballot
    34  unwieldy if they are printed in one column, they may be  printed  in  as
    35  many  columns  as  shall  be  necessary,  and  in that case, in order to
    36  produce a rectangular ballot, blank sections may be used.
    37    11.  The names of parties or independent  bodies  which  contain  more
    38  than  fifteen  letters may, whenever limitations of space so require, be
    39  printed on the ballot in an abbreviated form. In printing the  names  of
    40  candidates  whose full names contain more than fifteen letters, only the
    41  surname must be printed in full.  The officer or board charged with  the
    42  duty of preparing the ballots shall request each such candidate to indi-
    43  cate,  in  writing,  the  shortened  form  in  which,  subject  to  this
    44  restriction, his name  shall  be  printed.  If  no  such  indication  is
    45  received  from  such candidate within the time specified in the request,
    46  such officer or board shall make the necessary determination. No  emblem
    47  shall  occupy  a space longer in any direction than the voting square to
    48  which it relates.]
    49    § 5.  Section 7-108 of the election law is REPEALED.
    50    § 6. Section 7-110 of the election law, as amended by chapter  647  of
    51  the laws of 1982, is amended to read as follows:
    52    §  7-110. Ballots; form for ballot proposals; additional requirements.
    53  Ballot proposals shall appear on the [voting machine  or]  ballot  in  a
    54  separate  section  or  on  a separate sheet or card.  At the left of, or
    55  below or above, each proposal shall appear [two voting  levers  or]  two
    56  voting  [squares, each at least one-half inch square] positions. Next to

        S. 2300--A                          8
     1  the first [lever or square] voting position shall be  printed  the  word
     2  "Yes," and next to the second [lever or square] voting position shall be
     3  printed  the word "No." The proposals shall be numbered consecutively on
     4  the [voting machine or] ballot. The number of each proposal shall appear
     5  in  front of its designation as an amendment, proposition or question in
     6  the following form:  "Proposal one, an amendment; proposal two, a propo-
     7  sition; proposal three, a question".
     8    § 7. Section 7-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter  234  of
     9  the  laws  of 1976, paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 as amended by chapter
    10  433 of the laws of 1984 and paragraph (f) of subdivision 2 as amended by
    11  chapter 461 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
    12    § 7-114. Ballots; form for primary election; additional  requirements.
    13  1.  (a)  [The] On the face of the official ballot for a primary election
    14  [shall be divided into parts.  Descriptive words to indicate the purpose
    15  of each part shall be printed at its head. Beginning at the left or top,
    16  the first part shall be entitled, and shall be for "Candidates] contests
    17  and candidates for nomination for public office[". The second part shall
    18  be entitled, and shall be for "Candidates] shall appear first,  followed
    19  by  contests  and  candidates  for party positions.["] When necessary, a
    20  part may be divided into two or more columns or rows, but the  names  of
    21  all persons designated for the same office or party position shall be in
    22  the same column or row.
    23    (b)  [In each part shall be printed the titles of the offices or party
    24  positions, as the case may be, for which the part is  to  be  used,  and
    25  under  each  such  title  shall  be  printed the names of the designated
    26  candidates for the office or position.
    27    (c)] Where a candidate for nomination for the same  public  office  or
    28  for  election  to  the  same party position is designated by two or more
    29  petitions, his or her name shall be  placed  upon  the  ballot  for  the
    30  primary election but once as such a candidate.
    31    [(d)]  (c)  The ballot shall not contain a space for voting for candi-
    32  dates for uncontested offices and positions,  and  no  ballot  shall  be
    33  printed for a party [whose primary is uncontested] for which there is no
    34  contested office or position unless a petition for opportunity to ballot
    35  has been filed.
    36    2.  (a)  [The paper ballot for a primary election shall conform to the
    37  form for paper ballots set forth in this article with respect to quality
    38  and weight of paper, perforated line, and number on the stub on the back
    39  of the ballot.
    40    (b) On the back of the paper ballot, on the  stub,  immediately  below
    41  the  number,  shall  be the name of the party. On the back of the ballot
    42  and below the stub, and immediately to the left of  the  center  of  the
    43  ballot, and on the front of the ballot, below the perforated line, shall
    44  be  printed,  in  addition  to  the other information required for paper
    45  ballots, the name and emblem of the party and the words "Official prima-
    46  ry ballot."
    47    (c) On the front of the stub, above the perforated line at the top  of
    48  the paper ballot shall be printed the same instructions as on the gener-
    49  al election ballot.
    50    (d)  The  parts  of the paper ballot below such heavy black horizontal
    51  line shall be separated by a heavy black vertical line  or  lines,  one-
    52  fourth of an inch in width. Descriptive words to indicate the purpose of
    53  each part shall be printed at its head, below the heavy black horizontal
    54  line.  Immediately below such captions shall be printed two light paral-
    55  lel horizontal lines  approximately  one-sixteenth  of  an  inch  apart,
    56  extending across each part.

        S. 2300--A                          9

     1    (e)  The  names  of candidates on paper ballots shall be numbered with
     2  arabic numerals printed in heavy faced type beginning with "one" for the
     3  first candidate named in the first  part  and  continuing  in  numerical
     4  order to and including the last candidate named in the last part, except
     5  that where] on the official primary election ballot, the ballot endorse-
     6  ment shall include the name of the party for which such ballot is valid.
     7    (b)  where  two  or more candidates are to be elected to a party posi-
     8  tion, the names of candidates  designated  by  each  petition  shall  be
     9  grouped together, and [each group shall have but one number, which shall
    10  be printed opposite the approximate center of the group] may be referred
    11  to collectively on the ballot as a group.
    12    [(f)  The  number  of a candidate shall be printed on the paper ballot
    13  between the voting space and the name of the candidate. Each group shall
    14  have a bracket embracing the names in the group.
    15    (g) Spaces containing names of candidates and for  writing  in  names,
    16  and  intervening spaces on the paper ballot, shall be separated by light
    17  horizontal lines. Names  of  candidates  shall  be  printed  in  capital
    18  letters  not  less  than one-eighth nor more than three-sixteenths of an
    19  inch in height.
    20    (h)] (c) The paper ballots of no two parties shall  be  identified  by
    21  the  same  color    or  color markings, and the state board of elections
    22  shall select the color for each new party[, and not  later  than  twelve
    23  weeks  before  a  primary  election,  shall  transmit  to  each board of
    24  elections].  The state board of elections shall include with the board's
    25  ballot certification a certificate stating the colors so selected.
    26    § 8.  Subdivisions 2, 3, 4 and 6 of section 7-116 of the election law,
    27  subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 234 of the laws of 1976, subdivision
    28  3 as amended by chapter 9 of the laws of 1978 and  the  second  undesig-
    29  nated  paragraph  of subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 121 of the laws
    30  of 1997, are amended to read as follows:
    31    2. The officer or board who or which prepares the ballot shall  deter-
    32  mine  the  order  in which shall appear, below the names of party candi-
    33  dates the nominations made only by independent bodies. Such  officer  or
    34  board  also  shall  determine the order in which shall be printed[, in a
    35  section of such ballot] the names of two or more candidates nominated by
    36  one party or independent body, for  an  office  to  which  two  or  more
    37  persons  are  to  be elected; provided, however, that any such candidate
    38  may, by a writing filed with such board or officer not later  than  [one
    39  week] three business days after the adjournment of the convention or one
    40  week  after the primary election nominating him or her, or otherwise not
    41  later than two days after the filing  of  the  petition  or  certificate
    42  nominating  him or her, demand that such order be determined by lot, and
    43  in that case such order shall be so determined, upon two days notice  by
    44  mail  given  by such board or officer to each candidate for such office.
    45  The state board of elections shall perform the duties required  by  this
    46  subdivision in all cases affecting nominations filed in its office.
    47    3.  The officer or board with whom or which are filed the designations
    48  for a public office or party position shall determine by lot,  upon  two
    49  days notice by mail given by such board or officer to each candidate for
    50  such  office  or  position  and  to  the committee, if any, named in the
    51  designating petition, the order in which shall be printed on  the  offi-
    52  cial  primary  ballot,  under  the  title of the office or position, the
    53  names of candidates for public office, the names  of  candidates  for  a
    54  party  position  to which not more than one person is to be elected, and
    55  the groups of names of candidates for party position where two  or  more
    56  persons  are  to  be  elected thereto and any petition designates two or

        S. 2300--A                         10
     1  more persons therefor, provided, however, that whenever groups of  names
     2  for  more  than  one party position are designated by the same petition,
     3  the order in which they shall be printed on the official primary  ballot
     4  shall  be  determined by a single lot. Candidates for delegate or deleg-
     5  ates and alternate delegate or delegates to  conventions  designated  by
     6  the same petition shall, for the purpose of this subdivision, be treated
     7  as  one  group. The names of candidates, if any, for a party position to
     8  which two or more persons are to be elected, who are designated by indi-
     9  vidual petitions and not in a group shall be printed [below] after  such
    10  group  or  groups,  in such order between themselves, as such officer or
    11  board shall determine by lot upon the notice specified in this  subdivi-
    12  sion.  The names within a group of candidates designated for party posi-
    13  tion  by  one  petition shall be printed in the same order in which they
    14  appear in the petition, unless they  appear  in  a  different  order  on
    15  different  pages  of  the petition, in which case their order within the
    16  group shall be determined by such officer  or  board  by  lot  upon  the
    17  notice  specified in this subdivision. Candidates for members of a state
    18  committee designated by a single petition shall,  for  the  purposes  of
    19  this  subdivision,  be  treated  as  one group. However, the notice to a
    20  committee of the drawing need not be mailed to more than  five  members,
    21  if  there  be  that many, and as to offices or party positions for which
    22  designating petitions are filed with the board of elections of the  city
    23  of New York the notice shall be given to the committees only.
    24    4.  If  a  vacancy  in a designation or nomination be filled after the
    25  making, in the manner provided in this section, of  a  determination  of
    26  the  order  in  which the names of candidates for the office or position
    27  are to be printed, to the extent practicable, the name of the  candidate
    28  designated  or  nominated  to  fill such vacancy shall be printed in the
    29  place so determined for the original candidate.
    30    6. [In the city of New York, the ballot  on  the  voting  machine  for
    31  primary elections shall conform to the following additional provisions:
    32    The names of the candidates designated for such public office or party
    33  position  in  the  primary of a party shall be placed under the title of
    34  the office or position in the alphabetical order of their  surnames,  in
    35  the  first or lowest numbered assembly district and election district of
    36  any political unit or subdivision  within  a  county.    If  candidates'
    37  surnames  are identical, their given or first name shall determine their
    38  order.  Thereafter the names shall be rotated by election  districts  by
    39  transposing the first named candidate to the bottom of the order at each
    40  succeeding  election  district, so that each name shall appear first and
    41  in each other position in an equal number, as nearly as possible, of the
    42  election districts and except, further, that where two  or  more  candi-
    43  dates  are to be elected to the same party position, the names of candi-
    44  dates for such a position which appear on the same designating  petition
    45  shall  be  grouped  together  on  the ballot in the order in which their
    46  names appear on the designating petition and the group rotated alphabet-
    47  ically in relation to other groups or individual candidates according to
    48  the surname of the first person on  the  designating  petition  of  such
    49  group.    Groups  of candidates for delegate and alternate delegate, and
    50  groups of candidates for male and female delegate and  male  and  female
    51  alternate  delegate  to the same convention designated on the same peti-
    52  tion shall be rotated  together  alphabetically  in  relation  to  other
    53  groups  or  individual  candidates according to the surname of the first
    54  person listed on such designating petition in the  group  of  candidates
    55  for  whichever  of  such  delegate  or alternate delegate positions will
    56  appear first on the voting machine. If the rules of  a  party  committee

        S. 2300--A                         11

     1  provide  for  equal  representation  of the sexes among the members of a
     2  state committee    elected from each unit of  representation,  elections
     3  for  male  and  female members of such a committee from a single unit of
     4  representation  shall  be conducted as elections for two different party
     5  positions. Notwithstanding the provisions  of  this  paragraph,  if  the
     6  board  of elections has assigned numbers to the candidates for an office
     7  or position because of identical or similar names among such candidates,
     8  the names of such candidates shall be placed under  the  title  of  such
     9  office  or position in the order of such numbers in such first or lowest
    10  numbered district, and the  names  shall  not  be  rotated  by  election
    11  district.  Such names shall appear in the identical order on each ballot
    12  in each election district.
    13    County committee candidates or groups of candidates shall  be  printed
    14  within  the  first  election  district of each assembly district or part
    15  thereof, according to the priority of filing  of  designating  petitions
    16  and  they  shall  then  be  rotated  by election district by placing the
    17  candidate or group of candidates designated in the same petition as  the
    18  candidate  or group of candidates which was printed first in an election
    19  district at the bottom of the order  in  the  next  succeeding  election
    20  district  in which a candidate or group of candidates designated in such
    21  petition appears on the ballot.
    22    In cases where a name is added to or removed from the ballot by  court
    23  order  too  late  to  make  a  complete adjustment to these requirements
    24  feasible, the name may be added at the bottom of the list of  candidates
    25  in  all  election  districts, or removed from the ballot in all election
    26  districts without changing the previously arranged order of other  names
    27  and  without  invalidating  the election.   Any inadvertent error in the
    28  order of names discovered too late to correct the order of the names  on
    29  the ballots concerned shall not invalidate an election.
    30    Except  where  a  contest  or  candidate is removed from the ballot by
    31  court order too late to make complete  compliance  with  this  paragraph
    32  feasible,  the  title  of  each  public office or party position and the
    33  names of the candidates for such office or  position  appearing  on  any
    34  voting  machine used for primary elections in the city of New York shall
    35  appear on such machine  immediately  adjacent  to  one  another,  either
    36  horizontally or vertically; and no blank spaces shall separate the names
    37  of  candidates  actually running for an office or party position on such
    38  voting machine, and no blank spaces shall separate any two such  offices
    39  or  positions  which appear on such voting machine in the same column or
    40  row.] (a) In cases where a name is added to or removed from  the  ballot
    41  by  court order too late to make a complete adjustment to these require-
    42  ments feasible, the name may be added at the end of the list  of  candi-
    43  dates  in  all  election  districts,  or  removed from the ballot in all
    44  election districts without changing the  previously  arranged  order  of
    45  other names and without invalidating the election. Any inadvertent error
    46  in  the  order  of names discovered too late to correct the order of the
    47  names on the ballots concerned shall not invalidate an election.
    48    (b) Except where a contest or candidate is removed from the ballot  by
    49  court  order  too  late  to make complete compliance with this paragraph
    50  feasible, the title of each public office  or  party  position  and  the
    51  names  of  the  candidates  for such office or position appearing on any
    52  ballot used for  primary  elections  over  which  the  county  board  of
    53  elections has jurisdiction shall appear on such ballot immediately adja-
    54  cent  to  one  another,  either horizontally or vertically; and no blank
    55  spaces shall separate the names of candidates actually  running  for  an
    56  office or party position on such ballot, and no blank spaces shall sepa-

        S. 2300--A                         12
     1  rate  any  two  such offices or positions which appear on such ballot in
     2  the same column or row.
     3    §  9.  Section 7-118 of the election law, as amended by chapter 157 of
     4  the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
     5    § 7-118. Ballots; facsimile and sample.   1. The  board  of  elections
     6  shall  provide  facsimile  and sample ballots which shall be arranged in
     7  the form of a diagram showing such  part  of  the  face  of  the  voting
     8  machine  or ballots as shall be in use at that election.  Such facsimile
     9  and sample ballots shall be [either in full  or  reduced  size]  distin-
    10  guishable  from  the  official ballot by size, color, or other means and
    11  shall contain suitable illustrated directions for voting on  the  voting
    12  machine or ballot.
    13    2.  Such  facsimile  ballots shall be mounted and displayed for public
    14  inspection at each polling place during election day.
    15    3. Sample ballots may be mailed by the  board  of  elections  to  each
    16  eligible voter at least three days before the election, or in lieu ther-
    17  eof,  a copy of such sample ballot may be published at least once within
    18  one week preceding the election in newspapers  [representing  the  major
    19  political parties] or on a website maintained by the board of elections.
    20    4.  One  copy  of  such  facsimile shall be sent to each school in the
    21  county, providing the ninth through  the  twelfth  years  of  compulsory
    22  education,  and  in the city of New York to each such school in the city
    23  of New York, at least one week before each general election for  posting
    24  at  a convenient place in such school. The board of elections shall also
    25  send a facsimile ballot to any other school requesting  such  a  ballot.
    26  In  the  alternative,  the requirements of this subdivision may be fully
    27  satisfied by publishing such facsimile on a website  maintained  by  the
    28  board of elections and notifying each such school of such publication.
    29    §  10.  Subdivisions  1  and  3  of section 7-120 of the election law,
    30  subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 234 of the laws of 1976, are amended
    31  to read as follows:
    32    1. If any voting machine or voting system  for  use  in  any  election
    33  shall  become  out of order during an election it shall, if possible, be
    34  repaired or another machine or voting system substituted as promptly  as
    35  possible.  In case such repair or substitution cannot be made, emergency
    36  ballots, printed or written, and of any suitable form, shall be provided
    37  by  the  board  of elections and may be used for the [taking] casting of
    38  votes.
    39    3. It shall be the duty of each board of elections to cause  a  suffi-
    40  cient  number of emergency ballots to be placed at each polling place in
    41  which voting machines or voting systems are used, to be employed in  the
    42  event  the  voting  machines  or voting systems break down.  At any time
    43  during the hour succeeding a breakdown, the inspectors of  election  may
    44  use  such  emergency  ballots, and if such breakdown lasts more than one
    45  hour, such emergency ballots must be used. The  sample  ballots  may  be
    46  used for this purpose in full or reduced size.
    47    §  11.  Section 7-122 of the election law, subdivision 1 as amended by
    48  chapter 234 of the laws of 1976, the schedule in paragraph (b) of subdi-
    49  vision 1 as added by chapter 381 of the laws of 1979, paragraphs (c) and
    50  (d) of subdivision 1 and subdivisions 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 as amended by
    51  chapter 165 of the laws of 2010, subdivision 7 as amended by  chapter  9
    52  of  the  laws of 1978, and subdivisions 6 and 7 as renumbered by chapter
    53  352 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
    54    § 7-122. Ballots; absentee voters.  1. (a) Ballots for absentee voters
    55  shall be, as nearly as practicable, in the same  form  as  those  to  be
    56  voted in the district on election day, [if any,] except that ballots for

        S. 2300--A                         13
     1  primary  elections  shall omit the party position of ward, town, city or
     2  county committee and except further that such ballots need  not  have  a
     3  stub, and shall have the words "Absentee Ballot", endorsed thereon.
     4    (b)  [The  names  of  candidates  upon  the ballot shall be printed in
     5  appropriate sections, with titles of offices, section numbers,  emblems,
     6  voting  squares,  names of parties and political organizations and blank
     7  spaces for writing in names of persons not printed on the ballot. Except
     8  as to the spacing, such ballot  shall  be  printed  wherever  applicable
     9  substantially as follows:
    10    (Form in chap. 381/79)
    11    (c) The indorsement shall be printed and properly filled in:

    12  Official  Absentee  Ballot for (General, Primary or Special, as applica-
    13  ble)
    14  Election
    15  County of......................
    16  (Assembly or Legislative, as applicable) District................
    17  (Ward and City or town, as applicable)...........................
    18  (Insert date of election)
    19  (Insert names of election commissioners providing the ballot)
    20    (d) On the front of the ballot prepared for counting by hand, shall be
    21  printed in heavy black type the following instructions]  All  provisions
    22  of this chapter not inconsistent with this subdivision shall be applica-
    23  ble  to absentee ballots prepared for counting by a ballot scanner or by
    24  hand. The instructions for marking an absentee ballot shall be  provided
    25  and  shall  be substantially as follows, so that they accurately reflect
    26  the ballot layout:
    27                                INSTRUCTIONS
    28    [1. Mark in pen or pencil.
    29    2. To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on this ballot,  make
    30  a  single  cross  X  mark or a single check, V mark in the voting square
    31  above the name of the candidate.
    32    3. To vote for a person whose name is not printed on this ballot write
    33  or stamp his or her name in the space that appears at the bottom of  the
    34  column  or the end of the row (indicate where on the ballot the write-in
    35  space appears) containing the title of the office.
    36    4. To vote on a proposal make a cross X mark or a check V mark in  one
    37  of the squares contained in the box setting forth such proposal.
    38    5.  Any  other  mark  or  writing,  or any erasure made on this ballot
    39  outside the voting squares or blank spaces provided for voting will void
    40  this entire ballot.
    41    6.  Do not overvote. If you select a greater number of candidates than
    42  there are vacancies to be filled, your ballot  will  be  void  for  that
    43  public office, party position or proposal.
    44    7. If you tear, or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, call the board
    45  of  elections  at  (insert phone number here) for instructions on how to
    46  obtain a new ballot. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot by
    47  making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may invalidate all
    48  or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you  make  a
    49  mistake  in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choices,
    50  you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You have a right to a replace-
    51  ment ballot upon return of the original ballot.] Mark the (insert "oval"
    52  or "square") to the left of the name of  your  choice.  (Provide  illus-
    53  tration  of correctly-marked voting position here.) To vote for a candi-
    54  date whose name is not printed on the ballot, (insert "mark the oval (or
    55  square) to the left of 'write-in' and print the name clearly" or  "print

        S. 2300--A                         14
     1  the  name  clearly  in  the box labeled 'write-in'"), staying within the
     2  box. Any mark or writing outside the spaces provided for voting may void
     3  the entire ballot. You have a right to a replacement ballot. If you make
     4  a  mistake  or  want to change your vote, call the board of elections at
     5  (insert phone number here) for instructions  on  how  to  obtain  a  new
     6  ballot.  The  number  of choices is listed for each contest. Do not mark
     7  the ballot for more candidates than allowed. If you  do,  your  vote  in
     8  that contest will not count.
     9    (c)   When   a  question  or  proposal  is  included  on  the  ballot,
    10  instructions substantially similar  to  those  provided  in  subdivision
    11  fifteen of section 7-104 of this article shall be included.
    12    2.  [The  following  provisions  shall  apply  to all absentee ballots
    13  prepared for counting by a ballot scanner and all  other  provisions  of
    14  this  chapter not inconsistent with this subdivision shall be applicable
    15  to such ballots:
    16    (a) The party emblem need not be printed next  to  the  name  of  each
    17  candidate.
    18    (b)  The  ballot  proposals  may be on the back of the ballot, or on a
    19  separate ballot.
    20    (c) The printed instructions to the voter shall read as follows:
    21                                INSTRUCTIONS
    22    1. Mark only with a pen or pencil.
    23    2. To vote for a candidate whose name is printed on this ballot,  fill
    24  in  the (insert oval or square, as applicable) above or next to the name
    25  of the candidate.
    26    3. To vote for a person whose name is  not  printed  on  this  ballot,
    27  write  or  stamp  his  or  her name in the space labeled "write-in" that
    28  appears (insert at the bottom of the column or the end of  the  row,  as
    29  applicable)  containing  the title of the office and, if required by the
    30  voting system in use at  such  election,  the  instructions  shall  also
    31  include  "and  fill in the (insert oval or square, as applicable) corre-
    32  sponding with the write-in space in which the voter has written a name."
    33    4. To vote yes or no on a proposal, if any, that appears on the (indi-
    34  cate where on the ballot the proposal may appear) fill  in  the  (insert
    35  oval or square, as applicable) that corresponds to your vote.
    36    5.  Any  other  mark  or  writing,  or any erasure made on this ballot
    37  outside the voting squares or blank spaces provided for voting will void
    38  this entire ballot.
    39    6.  Do not overvote. If you select a greater number of candidates than
    40  there are vacancies to be filled, your ballot  will  be  void  for  that
    41  public office, party position or proposal.
    42    7.    If  you  tear,  or deface, or wrongly mark this ballot, call the
    43  board of elections at (insert phone number here) for instructions on how
    44  to obtain a new ballot. Do not attempt to correct mistakes on the ballot
    45  by making erasures or cross outs. Erasures or cross outs may  invalidate
    46  all or part of your ballot. Prior to submitting your ballot, if you make
    47  a  mistake in completing the ballot or wish to change your ballot choic-
    48  es, you may obtain and complete a new ballot. You  have  a  right  to  a
    49  replacement ballot upon return of the original ballot.
    50    (d)  Such  instructions  may  be  printed  on the front or back of the
    51  ballot or on a separate sheet or card.  If  such  instructions  are  not
    52  printed  on  the  front  of  the  ballot,  there shall be printed on the
    53  ballot, in the largest size type for which there is room, the  following
    54  legend: "See instructions on other side" or "See enclosed instructions",
    55  whichever is appropriate.

        S. 2300--A                         15

     1    (e)  Such  ballots  which  are  to  be counted by a ballot scanner may
     2  consist of two  or  more  sheets,  which  are  divided  into  perforated
     3  sections which can be separated at the time of canvassing.
     4    3.]  The determination of the appropriate county board of elections as
     5  to the candidates duly designated or  nominated  for  public  office  or
     6  party  position whose name shall appear on the absentee ballot and as to
     7  ballot proposals to be voted on shall be made  no  later  than  the  day
     8  after  the  state  board  of elections issues its certification of those
     9  candidates to be voted for at the general, special or primary  election.
    10  The  determinations  of  the state board of elections and the respective
    11  county boards of elections shall be final and conclusive with respect to
    12  such offices for which petitions or  certificates  are  required  to  be
    13  filed  with such boards, as the case may be but nothing herein contained
    14  shall prevent a board of elections, or a court of competent jurisdiction
    15  from determining at a later date that  any  such  certification,  desig-
    16  nation or nomination is invalid and, in the event of such later determi-
    17  nation,  no vote cast for any such nominee by any voter shall be counted
    18  at the election.
    19    [5.] 3. There shall be three envelopes for each absentee ballot issued
    20  by mail: the inner affirmation envelope into which a voter places his or
    21  her voted ballot, the outer envelope which shall  be  addressed  to  the
    22  absentee voter, and the mailing envelope which is addressed to the coun-
    23  ty  board  of  elections. The board of elections shall furnish with each
    24  absentee ballot an inner affirmation envelope. On one side of the envel-
    25  ope shall be printed:
    26                          OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT
    27                                     for
    28                  GENERAL (OR PRIMARY OR SPECIAL) ELECTION,
    29   ........., 20.....
    30  Name of voter.........................................
    31  Residence (street and number if any)..................
    32  City/or town of.......(village, if any)...............
    33  County of.............................................
    34  Assembly district ....................................
    35  Legislative District (as applicable) .................
    36  Ward (as applicable) .................................
    37  Election District.....................................
    38  Party Enrollment (in case of primary election)........
    39    [6] 4. The date of the election, name of the county,  and  name  of  a
    40  city,  if  there be a separate ballot for city voters, shall be printed,
    41  and the name of the voter, residence, number of the  assembly  district,
    42  if  any,  name  of  town,  number of ward, if any, election district and
    43  party enrollment, if required, shall be either  printed  or  written  or
    44  stamped in by the board.
    45    [7.]  5.  There shall also be a place for two board of elections staff
    46  members or inspectors of opposite  political  parties  to  indicate,  by
    47  placing  their  initials  thereon, that they have checked and marked the
    48  voter's poll record.
    49    [8.] 6. On the reverse side of such inner affirmation  envelope  shall
    50  be printed the following statement:
    51                                  AFFIRMATION
    52    I  do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, that I am duly
    53  registered in the election district shown on the reverse  side  of  this

        S. 2300--A                         16
     1  envelope  and  I  am  qualified to vote in such district; that I will be
     2  unable to appear personally on the day of the election  for  which  this
     3  ballot is voted at the polling place of the election district in which I
     4  am a qualified voter because of the reason given on my application here-
     5  tofore  submitted;  that  I  have  not qualified nor do I intend to vote
     6  elsewhere, that I have not committed any act nor am I under  any  imped-
     7  iment which denies me the right to vote.
     8    I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
     9  my  knowledge  and  belief, and I understand that if I make any material
    10  false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be
    11  guilty of a misdemeanor.
    12  Date.................20.....       .....................................
    13                                     Signature or mark of voter
    14                                     .....................................
    15                                     Signature of Witness (required only
    16                                     if voter does not sign his or her own
    17                                     name)
    18                                     .....................................
    19                                     Address of Witness
    20    [9.] 7. The inner affirmation envelope  shall  be  gummed,  ready  for
    21  sealing, and shall have printed thereon, on the side opposite the state-
    22  ment,  instructions  as  to the duties of the voter after the marking of
    23  the ballot, which instructions shall include a specific direction  stat-
    24  ing  when such ballot must be postmarked and when such ballot must reach
    25  the office of the board of elections in order to be canvassed.
    26    [10.] 8. Each inner affirmation ballot envelope shall be  enclosed  in
    27  an  outer  envelope  addressed to the appropriate board of elections and
    28  bearing on it a specific direction that if an original  application  for
    29  an absentee ballot is received with the ballot, such application must be
    30  completed  by the voter and returned in the outer envelope together with
    31  the sealed inner affirmation envelope  containing  the  absentee  ballot
    32  within  the  time limits for receipt of the absentee ballot itself. Such
    33  inner affirmation envelope and outer envelope shall be enclosed  in  [a]
    34  the  third envelope addressed to the absentee voter. The outer and third
    35  envelopes shall have printed on the face  thereof  the  words  "Election
    36  Material--Please Expedite".
    37    §  12.  The opening paragraph of subdivision 3 of section 7-123 of the
    38  election law, as amended by chapter 104 of the laws of 2010, is  amended
    39  to read as follows:
    40    There  shall  be  three  envelopes  for  each military absentee ballot
    41  issued when the military voter's preferred method of transmission is  by
    42  mail:  the  inner  affirmation envelope into which a voter places his or
    43  her voted ballot, the outer envelope which shall  be  addressed  to  the
    44  absentee voter, and the mailing envelope which is addressed to the coun-
    45  ty  board  of  elections.  The board of elections shall furnish an inner
    46  affirmation envelope with each military ballot upon which envelope shall
    47  be printed:
    48    § 13. The opening and closing paragraphs of subdivision 2  of  section
    49  7-124  of  the  election  law,  as amended by chapter 104 of the laws of
    50  2010, are amended to read as follows:
    51    There shall be three  envelopes  for  each  special  federal  absentee
    52  ballot issued by mail: the inner affirmation envelope into which a voter

        S. 2300--A                         17
     1  places  his  or  her  voted  ballot,  the  outer envelope which shall be
     2  addressed to the absentee voter,  and  the  mailing  envelope  which  is
     3  addressed to the county board of elections. The board of elections shall
     4  furnish  an  inner affirmation envelope with each special federal ballot
     5  upon which envelope shall be printed:
     6    I understand that a material misstatement of fact in the completion of
     7  this document may constitute grounds for conviction of a crime.
     8  Date.................20.....       .....................................
     9                                     Signature or mark of voter
    10                                     .....................................
    11                                     Signature of Witness (required only
    12                                     if voter does not sign his or her own
    13                                     name)
    14                                     .....................................
    15                                     Address of Witness
    16    § 14. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of  section  7-125  of  the  election  law,
    17  subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 235 of the laws of 2000, are amended
    18  to read as follows:
    19    2. There shall be three envelopes for each special presidential absen-
    20  tee  ballot issued by mail:  the inner affirmation envelope into which a
    21  voter places his or her voted ballot, the outer envelope which shall  be
    22  addressed  to  the  absentee  voter,  and  the mailing envelope which is
    23  addressed to the county board of elections. The board of elections shall
    24  furnish with each special presidential ballot an envelope. On  one  side
    25  of the envelope shall be printed:
    26                OFFICIAL BALLOT, SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTERS,
    27                            FOR GENERAL ELECTION,
    28                        NOVEMBER......., [19] 20....
    29  Name of voter ..........................................................
    30  Residence from which vote is being cast:
    31  Street and number ......................................................
    32  City or town ...........................................................
    33  County .................................................................
    34  Assembly District or Ward ..............................................
    35  Election District ......................................................
    36    The  date of the election and name of the county shall be printed, and
    37  the name of the voter, residence, name of the city or  town,  number  of
    38  ward or assembly district, if any, and election district shall be print-
    39  ed, written or stamped in by the board.
    40    3.   On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the follow-
    41  ing statement:
    42                   STATEMENT OF SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL VOTER
    43    I do declare I am a  qualified  special  presidential  voter  of  said
    44  district;  that  I  am  not qualified and am not able to qualify to vote
    45  elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I
    46  am a citizen of the United States; that on the date of the election  for

        S. 2300--A                         18
     1  which  this  ballot  is voted, I will be at least eighteen years of age;
     2  and that I have not committed any act, nor am I  under  any  impediment,
     3  which denies me the right to vote.
     4    I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of
     5  my  knowledge  and  belief, and I understand that if I make any material
     6  false statement in the foregoing statement,  I  shall  be  guilty  of  a
     7  misdemeanor.
     8  Date.................20.....       .....................................
     9                                     Signature or mark of voter
    10                                     .....................................
    11                                     Signature of Witness (required only
    12                                     if voter does not sign his or her own
    13                                     name)
    14                                     .....................................
    15                                     Address of Witness
    16    § 15. Section 7-128 of the election law is amended to read as follows:
    17    § 7-128. Ballots; inspection of. 1. Each officer or board charged with
    18  the duty of providing official ballots for an election shall have sample
    19  ballots  open to public inspection [five] fifty days, except in the case
    20  of extraordinary circumstances in which case on the earliest day practi-
    21  cable, before the election for which [they were] the ballots  have  been
    22  prepared  and  the official ballots open to such inspection [four] fifty
    23  days, except in the case of extraordinary circumstances in which case on
    24  the earliest day practicable,  before  such  election  except  that  the
    25  sample  and  official ballots for a village election held at a different
    26  time from a general election shall be open to public inspection at least
    27  two days before such election. During the times within which the ballots
    28  are open for inspection, such officer or board  shall  deliver  to  each
    29  voter  applying therefor a sample of the ballot which he or she is enti-
    30  tled to vote.
    31    2. a. Each officer or board charged with the duty of preparing ballots
    32  to be used [on voting machines]  in  any  election  shall  give  written
    33  notice,  by  first  class mail, to all candidates, except candidates for
    34  member of the county committee, who are lawfully entitled to have  their
    35  names  appear  thereon,  of the time when, and the place where, they may
    36  inspect the [voting machines] ballots to be used for such election.  The
    37  candidates  or  their  designated representatives may appear at the time
    38  and place specified in such notice to inspect such  [machines]  ballots,
    39  provided,  however,  that  the time so specified shall be [not less than
    40  two] no later than forty-six days [prior to  the  date  of]  before  the
    41  election at which the ballots will be used.
    42    b.  A  candidate,  whose  name  appears on the ballot [for an election
    43  district] or his or her designated representative, may, in the  presence
    44  of  the  election officer attending the [voting machine] ballot, inspect
    45  the [face of the machine] ballot to see that his or her  ballot  [label]
    46  position  is  in its proper place[, but at no time during the inspection
    47  shall the booth be closed] or places.
    48    3.  Each officer or board charged with the duty of  preparing  ballots
    49  to  be  used  with voting machines or systems in any election shall give
    50  written notice, by first class mail, to all  candidates,  except  candi-
    51  dates  for  member of the county committee, who are lawfully entitled to
    52  have their names appear thereon, of the time when, and the place  where,

        S. 2300--A                         19
     1  they  may  inspect  the  voting  machines or systems to be used for such
     2  election. The candidates or their designated representatives may  appear
     3  at  the  time  and place specified in such notice to view the conduct of
     4  the  logic  and accuracy testing required to be performed on such voting
     5  machines or systems, provided however, that the time so specified  shall
     6  be not less than twenty days prior to the date of the election.
     7    § 16. Section 7-130 of the election law is amended to read as follows:
     8    §  7-130.  Ballots;  examination  by  voters and instruction in use of
     9  voting machines. One or more voting machines  which  shall  contain  the
    10  ballot  labels,  showing the [party emblems and] title of officers to be
    11  voted for, and which shall so far as practicable contain  the  names  of
    12  the  candidates to be voted for, shall be placed on public exhibition in
    13  some suitable place by the board of elections, in  charge  of  competent
    14  instructors, for at least three days during the thirty days next preced-
    15  ing an election. No voting machine which is to be assigned for use in an
    16  election  shall  be used for such purpose after having been prepared and
    17  sealed for the election. During such  public  exhibition,  the  counting
    18  mechanism  of the machine shall be concealed from view and the doors may
    19  be temporarily opened only when authorized  by  the  board  or  official
    20  having charge and control of the election. Any voter shall be allowed to
    21  examine such machine, and upon request shall be instructed in its use.
    22    §  17.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately and shall apply to
    23  ballots to be used for elections occurring on or after the first day  of
    24  July next succeeding the year in which it shall have become a law.
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