S3366-2013 Actions

• Feb 1, 2013: REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

S3366-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S3366

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the election law, in relation to absen-
tee voting in nursing homes and senior citizen residences

PURPOSE:  To increase voting by senior citizens and other residents of
nursing homes and senior citizen residences who are unable to go to the
polls by assisting them in applying for absentee ballots, delivering
such ballots to them, and assisting them in completing and casting the
ballot.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends election law section 8-407(5) to provide that when a
board of inspectors is provided by the board of elections with absentee
ballots for delivery to residents of nursing homes, residential health
care and similar facilities, the board of elections shall also provide
them with a supply of absentee ballot applications, as well as appropri-
ate absentee ballots and envelopes.  It also adds a new subdivision 10-a
to provide that the board of inspectors shall deliver an absentee ballot
application to any resident of such a facility for whom it does not have
an absentee ballot, who requests such an application. It further
provides that the board of inspectors shall assist any resident request-
ing help in completing the application, and, upon receiving the
completed application, the board is required to deliver an absentee
ballot and envelope to the resident.

Section 2: The bill is effective on the thirtieth day after it becomes a
law.

JUSTIFICATION:  Election law section 8-407 already establishes a process
for the board of elections to send out bipartisan teams of inspectors to
nursing homes and residential care facilities to conduct absentee
balloting for people there who are unable to get to their poll sites on
election day. By providing that when a board of inspectors goes to such
a facility to deliver requested absentee ballots it shall carry applica-
tions and additional ballots, and that it shall help those who want to
vote, this provision makes it possible for more of those residents who
want to vote to do so.

This legislation has been requested by the New York City Board of
Elections in its 2009 and 2010 legislative proposals.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2011-2012: S.2347 Referred to Elections Committee

FISCAL IMPLICATION: None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after
it becomes a law.

S3366-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         3366
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 February 1, 2013
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- 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  absentee  voting  in
 nursing homes and senior citizen residences
 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 8-407  of  the  election  law,  as
 added  by chapter 296 of the laws of 1988, is amended and a new subdivi
 sion 10-a is added to read as follows:

 5. The board of elections shall deliver to each  board  of  inspectors
 all the absentee ballots in the custody of such board of elections which
 are addressed to residents of the facilities which such board of inspec
 tors  is  assigned  to attend, together with AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF THE
 APPROPRIATE ABSENTEE BALLOT, ABSENTEE BALLOT ENVELOPES, APPLICATIONS FOR
 ABSENTEE BALLOTS, one or more portable voting booths of a type  approved
 by the state board of elections and such other supplies as such board of
 inspectors will require to discharge its duties properly.
 10-A.  THE  BOARD  OF  INSPECTORS  SHALL DELIVER AN APPLICATION FOR AN
 ABSENTEE BALLOT TO ANY RESIDENT OF SUCH FACILITY FOR WHOM  IT  DOES  NOT
 HAVE  AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AND WHO REQUESTS SUCH AN APPLICATION. THE BOARD
 OF INSPECTORS SHALL ASSIST ANY SUCH RESIDENT WHO REQUESTS ASSISTANCE  TO
 COMPLETE  SUCH  APPLICATION. UPON RECEIVING A COMPLETED APPLICATION FROM
 ANY RESIDENT, THE BOARD OF INSPECTORS SHALL FORTHWITH DELIVER AN  ABSEN
 TEE BALLOT AND BALLOT ENVELOPE TO SUCH VOTER IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY
 THIS SECTION.
 

S  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08292-01-3

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