Accessible Ballot

 

Voters with a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application Portal.

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Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities.

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Voters using the accessible ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote using the accessible ballot system.

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See documents below related to accessible ballots.

Electronic Accessible Ballot Delivery System Doc

Hernandez Settlement Agreement Summary

Hernandez Settlement Agreement and Order

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Mail-Time Considerations

When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election.

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Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day.

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Ballot Errors / Ballot Cures

There are certain errors or problems that can occur when a voter completes a ballot envelope. Many of these errors or problems are curable by means of filing a cure statement with your board of elections. If your ballot envelope has a curable defect, you will receive a notice from the board of elections.

 

The cure process is described here. 

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New Ballot Procedure

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued a ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voter’s early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot has been received. If the voter’s ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter’s ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.

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If a voter requests a second early mail, accessible, or absentee ballot, any previously issued ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside unopened to provide the voter a chance to return the second ballot, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely ballot and cast an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee return deadline, will be canvassed.