BILL NUMBER: S7116
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "voting
integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To give voters the option, at every polling place, to mark a paper
ballot by hand or with a nontabulating ballot marking device. This bill
would guarantee that all voters can verify the selections on their
ballots.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This would enact the "Voting Integrity and Verification Act of New York"
(VIVA NY). The singular purpose of this bill is to enshrine the right of
every voter to verify their selections and not be confused or misled by
devices that self-tabulate, lack a paper review option or simply rely
upon barcodes.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Election experts agree that voters who are able to mark a ballot by hand
must retain that option. To provide our voters with confidence that
their cast ballot will unquestionably and accountably reflect their
preference and only their preference, New York has instituted many
common sense reforms, like insisting on individual, voter-verifiable
paper ballots that help ensure voters can cast their votes privately,
independently, and securely, even if counted by computerized vote tabu-
lation systems. We live in a time when many voters harbor suspicion
about the accuracy of vote counting. Requiring the use of the most
reliable ballots may ameliorate that problem.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Passed Senate, 2023.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STAT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S7116: 1-104 election law, 7-104 election law, 7-104(26) election law, 7-106 election law, 7-106(3) election law