Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it.
Summary
This bill would enact the “Voting Integrity and Verification Act of New York” (VIVA NY) and revise the Election Law to require that each voter be given an individual, voter-verifiable paper ballot and the opportunity to mark it privately and independently. The bill defines a “nontabulating ballot marking device” as a machine that can mark or print a ballot but cannot count or transmit votes and does not retain an official record of voter selections. It also defines a “human readable paper ballot” as one that can be read without assistance other than eyeglasses or similar vision aids.
The bill changes existing Election Law provisions to specify that paper ballots for the same election district must be identical, and it clarifies that voters may mark their ballots either by hand or using a nontabulating ballot marking device. It further requires that both options be available in every polling place. The bill also allows voting machines and systems purchased before the effective date to continue being used if they are designed to work with individual, voter-verifiable paper ballots. The act would take effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would amend the New York Election Law, particularly provisions governing paper ballots and voting systems, to strengthen the role of voter-verifiable paper ballots in polling places. It would affect election administrators, local boards of elections, voting machine vendors, and voters by requiring polling places to provide both hand-marked ballots and ballot-marking devices that do not tabulate votes. Existing equipment could remain in use only if it is compatible with individual, voter-verifiable paper ballots, which may limit the need for immediate replacement but still influence future procurement and system design.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or recorded vote is provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as an election-integrity and ballot-verification proposal, suggesting a policy emphasis on transparency and voter confidence. The absence of voting history or discussion means the overall sentiment cannot be measured from the record provided.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be the bill’s requirement that every polling place offer both hand-marked paper ballots and nontabulating ballot-marking devices, which could raise operational, cost, and implementation concerns for election officials. Another possible issue is the bill’s emphasis on voter-verifiable paper ballots and its restriction on machines that count or transmit votes, which may be viewed by supporters as improving security but by critics as limiting flexibility in election technology. No specific opposing or supporting stakeholders are identified in the provided record.
Same As
Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it.
Enacts the "voting integrity and verification act of New York (VIVA NY)"; provides that each voter is entitled to the use of an individual, voter verifiable paper ballot of the voter's vote and the opportunity to mark it.
Authorizes electronic absentee ballot applications for military voters and special federal voters; removes requirements that the federal post card application form be included with certain ballot application and ballots; requires institutions of higher education to provide students studying abroad with information on how to vote from abroad.
Voting, absentee voting, disabled, blind, or voters unable to read may designate individual to deliver voter's absentee ballot application and absentee ballot to absentee election manager
Authorizes electronic absentee ballot applications for military voters and special federal voters; removes requirements that the federal post card application form be included with certain ballot application and ballots; requires institutions of higher education to provide students studying abroad with information on how to vote from abroad.
Allows voters to take photographs of themselves and their ballot, or absentee ballot, while in a privacy booth, and to share and disseminate such photographs on social media.
Requires that each appointment to an office by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate shall be voted on individually by the senate; provides that nominations may not be considered, confirmed or rejected as a slate or group; requires that all votes be conducted with a roll call vote with each senator's vote noted on the record.