NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A312
SPONSOR: Bichotte TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the election law, in relation to
providing voting materials and assistance in Haitian Creole
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to allow for any Haitian Creole speakers to
have an easier understanding of the election process.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 is to provide all information that is provided by a board of
elections in English about the electoral process, which includes regis-
tration or voting notices, forms, instructions, voting systems, ballot
marking devices and ballots in Haitian Creole to the extent that is
needed for the voters who speak Haitian Creole, and this information
shall be provided on its website. A city-wide booklet that includes a
voter registration form in English with instructions in Haitian Creole
will be provided, as well as instructions in regard to the criteria and
application process for obtaining an absentee ballot, and a section with
general voter information, both in Haitian Creole. One or more Haitian
Creole-speaking interpreters will be provided at each polling location
in an election district that has a population comprised of five percent
or more of people who identify as Haitian.
JUSTIFICATION:
Providing interpreters who speak the Haitian-Creole language will make
it possible for more Haitian-American residents to exercise their right
to vote.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the commis-
sioners of the New York State board of elections shall promulgate all
rules and regulations and take all actions necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on or before its effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
312
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to providing voting mate-
rials and assistance in Haitian Creole
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-507
2 to read as follows:
3 § 3-507. Board of elections; voting materials and assistance in
4 Haitian Creole. A board of elections in a city of over one million
5 shall:
6 (a) Provide all information that is provided by such a board of
7 elections in English about the electoral process, including registration
8 or voting notices, forms, instructions, voting systems, ballot marking
9 devices and ballots in Haitian Creole to the extent needed to allow
10 voters who speak Haitian Creole to participate effectively in the elec-
11 toral process and all voting-connected activities. Such board of
12 elections shall also provide the same information in Haitian Creole that
13 it provides in languages other than English on its website. Such board
14 of elections shall also produce and disseminate citywide a booklet that
15 includes: (1) a voter registration form in English with instructions in
16 Haitian Creole; (2) instructions in Haitian Creole regarding the crite-
17 ria and application process for obtaining an absentee ballot; and (3) a
18 section with general voter information in Haitian Creole including
19 frequently asked questions. Such board may include other languages on
20 its website and in such booklet.
21 (b) Provide one or more Haitian Creole-speaking interpreters at each
22 polling location in election districts in any county that has a popu-
23 lation comprised of five percent or more of people who identify as being
24 Haitian according to the most recent United States census, for the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01300-01-7
A. 312 2
1 purpose of assisting voters whose first language is Haitian Creole to
2 participate in all aspects of the voting process.
3 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
4 have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the
5 commissioners of the New York state board of elections shall promulgate
6 all rules and regulations and take all actions necessary to implement
7 the provisions of this act on or before its effective date.
