New York Election Law Section 11-219 - Special federal voters; prohibiting refusal to accept voter registration and special federal ballot applications, marked special federal ballots, and

11-219. Special federal voters; prohibiting refusal to accept voter registration and special federal ballot applications, marked special federal ballots, and federal write-in absentee ballots for failure to meet certain requirements. 1. A board of elections shall not refuse to accept and process any otherwise valid voter registration application or special federal ballot application (including the official post card form prescribed under section 101 of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (42 USC 1973ff)) or marked special federal ballot submitted by mail or personally delivered, solely on the basis of the following:

(a) Notarization requirements;

(b) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size; or

(c) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size.

2. A board of elections shall not refuse to accept and process any otherwise valid federal write-in absentee ballot submitted in any manner by a special federal voter solely on the basis of the following:

(a) Notarization requirements;

(b) Restrictions on paper type, including weight and size; or

(c) Restrictions on envelope type, including weight and size.

3. The state board of elections, in coordination with county boards of elections, shall develop a free access system by which a special federal voter may determine whether the special federal ballot of the special federal voter has been received by the appropriate board of elections.


Last modified: February 3, 2019