What's New
2010
New Absentee Form
With the recent adoption of two new laws amending the NYS Election Law, the State Board has created new forms related to:
(1) Absentee Ballot Application Form, to reflect changes pursuant to Chapter 63 of the Laws of 2010, in relation to simplifying the absentee ballot process; and
(2) Special Ballot Application Form and the Special Ballot Oath Envelope, to reflect changes pursuant to Chapter 38 of the Laws of 2010, in relation to the rights of a victim of domestic violence to cast special ballots.
2009
CAMPAIGN FINANCE NOTICE: ELIMINATION OF DUPLICATE FILINGS
Effective September 2, 2009, any local filer required to file with NYSBOE*,
and who actually does so, will not have to make a duplicate filing with
their county or
city board(s) of elections. Their NYSBOE filing will satisfy their local
filing obligation. more
2008
HAVA Compliant Voting Machines
The Board of Elections is required by federal and New York State Election law to purchase new handicapped accessible voting machines this year. The Dutchess County Elections Commissioners have selected and purchased ImageCast Ballot Markers.
More information on HAVA is here.
The Implementation Plan for 2008
New York State will be in compliance with HAVA regulations with the presence of the handicapped accessible machines at every polling site, starting in September, 2008. New York State has agreed to implement the handicapped accessible devices in a limited fashion. This allows the DC BOE to utilize the traditional lever machines during the upcoming Presidential election season.
Voters with special needs or disabilities will have the option of using the ImageCast Ballot markers this year. The function of the ImageCast will be to mark ballots only; the scan function on the ImageCast will not be functional in 2008. The ballots produced from this device will be hand-counted by Dutchess County Board of Election personnel at the time absentee ballots are processed.
The Implementation Plan for 2009
Courts have ordered that lever-style voting machines be disallowed
by the State Board of Elections. If the certification of new machines
is completed, HAVA-compliant voting machines will replace the lever-style
voting machines for every registered voter starting in 2009.
More information on HAVA is here.
Updates to Election Law 2008:
The Help America Vote Act
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 is a package of reforms that will ensure meaningful access to the democratic process for all New Yorkers. New York has developed a plan to implement the Act's provisions and access the federal funds needed to ensure compliance. The plans may be viewed in the PDF documents below and copies are available at county boards of elections and public libraries across the state and at the State Board of Elections.
The HAVA document is in PDF format. You will need the Adobe ™ Acrobat Reader to view and print the documents. You may download the program, free, from the Adobe ™ website.
