S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7394
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 22, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. GIANARIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
 
 AN ACT to amend the election law, the education law, the  town  law  and
   the  New  York  city  charter,  in relation to establishing early mail
   voting

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New York
 Early Mail Voter Act".
   § 2. Article 8 of the election law is amended by adding a new title  7
 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE VII
                             EARLY MAIL VOTING
 SECTION 8-700. EARLY VOTING BY MAIL; APPLICATION FOR BALLOT.
         8-702. EARLY  VOTING  BY MAIL; REVIEW OF APPLICATION BY BOARD OF
                  ELECTIONS.
         8-704. EARLY MAIL BALLOTS; DELIVERY OF.
         8-706. ELECTRONIC  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL
                  SYSTEM.
         8-708. EARLY VOTING BY MAIL; METHOD OF.
         8-710. EARLY MAIL BALLOTS; DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT, AND DELIVERY TO
                  POLLING PLACE.
         8-712. ONLINE EARLY MAIL BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM.
   § 8-700. EARLY VOTING BY MAIL; APPLICATION FOR BALLOT. 1. A REGISTERED
 VOTER  MAY APPLY TO THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH
 THEY ARE REGISTERED, OR TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW
 YORK, IF REGISTERED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL UNDER
 THIS  TITLE IN ANY ELECTION CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN WHICH
 THE VOTER IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
   2. A REGISTERED VOTER WHO DESIRES TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL AT AN ELECTION
 MUST MAKE AN APPLICATION TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL ON A FORM TO BE  OBTAINED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11608-02-3
              

 S. 7394                             2
 
 AND  FILED  AS  PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, BY LETTER AS PROVIDED IN PARA-
 GRAPH (D) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, OR  THROUGH  THE  ELECTRONIC  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT  APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-706 OF THIS
 TITLE.
   (A)  APPLICATION FORMS TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL SHALL BE FURNISHED BY AND
 MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ANY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT ANY TIME  UNTIL  THE  DAY
 BEFORE SUCH ELECTION, OR ON THE ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION
 TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM.  APPLICATION  FORMS  SHALL  ALSO BE SUPPLIED BY THE
 BOARD OF INSPECTORS OF THE ELECTION DISTRICT IN WHICH THE APPLICANT IS A
 REGISTERED VOTER ON ALL OF THE DAYS PROVIDED FOR LOCAL REGISTRATION.  IN
 ADDITION,  APPLICATION  FORMS  SHALL BE SUPPLIED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE
 PERSON AUTHORIZED TO VOTE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,  ANY  SUCH  PERSON'S
 SPOUSE,  PARENT  OR  CHILD,  A  PERSON  RESIDING WITH THE APPLICANT AS A
 MEMBER OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD, OR THE  APPLICANT'S  DULY  AUTHORIZED  AGENT.
 APPLICATION  FORMS  SENT OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES TO A COUNTRY OTHER
 THAN CANADA OR MEXICO, SHALL BE SENT BY AIRMAIL. ANY REFERENCE TO "BOARD
 OF ELECTIONS" IN THE REMAINING PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION,  EXCEPT  WITH
 RESPECT TO THE FURNISHING AND OBTAINING OF APPLICATIONS TO VOTE EARLY BY
 MAIL,  MEANS  ONLY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF THE COUNTY OR CITY IN WHICH
 THE APPLICANT IS A REGISTERED VOTER.
   (B) APPLICATIONS MAY BE FILED WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, THROUGH THE
 ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM OR IN PERSON
 WITH THE BOARD OF INSPECTORS OF  THE  ELECTION  DISTRICT  IN  WHICH  THE
 APPLICANT  IS  A  REGISTERED VOTER ON ONE OF THE DAYS PROVIDED FOR LOCAL
 REGISTRATION.
   (C) ALL APPLICATIONS REQUESTING TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL  TRANSMITTED  BY
 MAIL OR THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
 SYSTEM  MUST  BE  RECEIVED  BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN THE
 TENTH DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR WHICH A  BALLOT  IS  FIRST  REQUESTED.
 APPLICATIONS  TO  VOTE EARLY BY MAIL DELIVERED IN PERSON AT THE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY SUCH BOARD NOT LATER THAN THE  DAY  BEFORE
 SUCH ELECTION.
   (D)  THE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS SHALL MAIL AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO EVERY
 REGISTERED VOTER OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH A BALLOT, WHO REQUESTS SUCH
 AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT FROM SUCH  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  IN  WRITING  IN  A
 LETTER,  TELEFAX  INDICATING  THE  ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND THE TELEFAX
 NUMBER FROM WHICH THE WRITING IS SENT OR OTHER  WRITTEN  INSTRUMENT,  OR
 THROUGH  AN  ELECTRONIC  APPLICATION  SUBMITTED BY THE VOTER THROUGH THE
 ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM  ESTABLISHED
 BY  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  WHICH  IS SIGNED BY THE VOTER AND
 RECEIVED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN THE TENTH  DAY  BEFORE
 THE  ELECTION  FOR  WHICH THE BALLOT IS FIRST REQUESTED AND WHICH STATES
 THE ADDRESS WHERE THE VOTER IS REGISTERED AND THE ADDRESS TO  WHICH  THE
 BALLOT IS TO BE MAILED.
   (E) WHEN MAILING AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TO A VOTER THE BOARD
 OF ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE A DOMESTIC POSTAGE PAID RETURN ENVELOPE. WHEN
 PROVIDING  AN  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT APPLICATION TO A VOTER IN-PERSON, THE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL OFFER THE VOTER A DOMESTIC POSTAGE PAID  RETURN
 ENVELOPE AND PROVIDE ONE IF REQUESTED.
   3. THE APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT WHEN FILED MUST CONTAIN IN
 EACH INSTANCE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   (A)  APPLICANT'S  FULL  NAME,  DATE  OF  BIRTH, AND RESIDENCE ADDRESS,
 INCLUDING THE STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY, RURAL DELIVERY ROUTE,  IF  ANY,
 MAILING  ADDRESS  IF DIFFERENT FROM THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS AND THEIR TOWN
 OR CITY AND AN ADDRESS TO WHICH THE BALLOT SHALL BE MAILED.
 S. 7394                             3
 
   (B) A STATEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT IS A REGISTERED VOTER IN THE COUNTY
 OR CITY WHERE THEY ARE APPLYING TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL.
   4.  THE  APPLICATION  FOR  AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL ALSO PROVIDE THE
 APPLICANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER  AND  E-MAIL
 ADDRESS.
   5.  THE  APPLICATION  FOR  AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL ALSO PROVIDE THE
 APPLICANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST TO RECEIVE AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT FOR
 ALL REMAINING ELECTIONS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE  APPLICANT  IS
 ELIGIBLE  TO  VOTE.  IF AN APPLICANT INDICATES IN THE APPLICATION FOR AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT THAT THEY WISH TO RECEIVE AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT FOR ALL
 REMAINING ELECTIONS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR, UPON FILING OF  SUCH  APPLICA-
 TION,  THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL INDICATE SUCH REQUEST IN THE VOTER'S
 REGISTRATION RECORD. WHEN EARLY MAIL BALLOTS ARE MAILED  FOR  SUBSEQUENT
 ELECTIONS  IN  THE CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE VOTER IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE,
 THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL MAIL AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO THE  VOTER  AT
 THEIR  LAST  KNOWN  ADDRESS  BY  FIRST  CLASS MAIL WITH A REQUEST TO THE
 POSTAL AUTHORITIES NOT TO FORWARD SUCH BALLOT BUT TO RETURN IT  IN  FIVE
 DAYS  IN THE EVENT THAT IT CANNOT BE DELIVERED TO THE ADDRESSEE.  HOWEV-
 ER, THE BOARD SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO MAIL AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT  PURSU-
 ANT  TO THIS SECTION IF THE VOTER'S REGISTRATION HAS BEEN CANCELED SINCE
 THE FILING OF SUCH APPLICATION.
   6. THE APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL CONTAIN THE  FOLLOW-
 ING  LANGUAGE PRINTED IN BOLD FACE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE SIGNATURE LINE: "I
 CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS APPLICATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT AND
 UNDERSTAND THAT THIS APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR  ALL  PURPOSES  AS
 THE  EQUIVALENT  OF  AN  AFFIDAVIT  AND, IF IT CONTAINS A MATERIAL FALSE
 STATEMENT, SHALL SUBJECT ME TO THE SAME PENALTIES AS IF I HAD BEEN  DULY
 SWORN."  SUCH  APPLICATION  SHALL  BE  ACCEPTED  FOR ALL PURPOSES AS THE
 EQUIVALENT OF AN AFFIDAVIT AND IF IT CONTAINS A MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT
 SHALL SUBJECT THE PERSON SIGNING IT TO THE SAME PENALTIES AS  IF  HE  OR
 SHE HAD BEEN DULY SWORN.
   7.  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE  USE OF TITLES, INITIALS OR
 CUSTOMARY ABBREVIATIONS OF GIVEN NAMES BY THE SIGNERS OR WITNESSES OF AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION OR EARLY MAIL BALLOT ENVELOPE, OR THE  USE
 OF  CUSTOMARY  ABBREVIATIONS  OF ADDRESSES OF SUCH SIGNERS OR WITNESSES,
 SHALL NOT INVALIDATE SUCH VOTER'S SIGNATURE OR WITNESS'S SIGNATURE ON AN
 APPLICATION FOR EARLY MAIL BALLOT OR UPON CANVASS OR  RECANVASS  OF  THE
 BALLOT PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER.
   8.  (A) IF A PERSON ENTITLED TO AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT IS UNABLE TO SIGN
 THEIR APPLICATION BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, PHYSICAL DISABILITY  OR  INABILITY
 TO  READ, THEY SHALL BE EXCUSED FROM SIGNING UPON MAKING A STATEMENT, IN
 SUBSTANTIALLY THE FOLLOWING  FORM,  WHICH  SHALL  BE  WITNESSED  BY  ONE
 PERSON:
 "I  HEREBY  STATE  THAT  I AM UNABLE TO SIGN MY APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY
 MAIL BALLOT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO WRITE BY REASON OF
 ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO  READ.  I  HAVE
 MADE,  OR  HAVE  RECEIVED  ASSISTANCE  IN  MAKING, MY MARK IN LIEU OF MY
 SIGNATURE."

  .................
  (DATE)
                                                    .................
                                                    (MARK)
                                                    .................
                                                    (NAME OF VOTER)
 S. 7394                             4
 
 "I, THE UNDERSIGNED, HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE NAMED  VOTER  AFFIXED
 THEIR  MARK TO THIS APPLICATION IN MY PRESENCE AND I KNOW THEM TO BE THE
 PERSON WHO AFFIXED THEIR MARK TO SAID APPLICATION  AND  UNDERSTAND  THAT
 THIS STATEMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ALL PURPOSES AS THE EQUIVALENT OF AN
 AFFIDAVIT  AND  IF IT CONTAINS A MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT, SHALL SUBJECT
 ME TO THE SAME PENALTIES AS IF I HAD BEEN DULY SWORN."
 
                                                   ......................
                                                   (SIGNATURE OF WITNESS)
 
                                                   ......................
                                                   (ADDRESS OF WITNESS)
 
   (B) SUCH STATEMENT SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION FORM FURNISHED
 BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   9. PRINTED FORMS OF APPLICATIONS FOR EARLY MAIL BALLOTS IN  ACCORDANCE
 WITH  THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS. AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER SHALL  BE  RETAINED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF  FURNISHING AN APPLICATION FORM TO EACH
 REGISTERED VOTER WHO APPLIES THEREFOR BEFORE  THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,
 EITHER  IN  PERSON OR BY MAIL, AND AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER SHALL BE DELIV-
 ERED TO EACH BOARD OF INSPECTORS ON REGISTRATION DAYS WITH THE  ELECTION
 SUPPLIES,  AND  THE  BOARD  OF INSPECTORS SHALL RETAIN THE COMPLETED AND
 UNUSED APPLICATIONS AND RETURN THEM TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH THEIR
 ELECTION SUPPLIES AND AN  APPROPRIATE  NUMBER  SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  FOR
 DISTRIBUTION TO OFFICERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES, COUNTY CLERKS, CITY, TOWN
 AND  VILLAGE  CLERKS,  COLLEGES,  LIBRARIES,  AND  ANY  OTHER CONVENIENT
 DISTRIBUTION SOURCE WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE LOCAL  OR  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS AND WHICH REQUESTS SUCH FORMS.
   10.  THE  STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PRESCRIBE A STANDARD APPLICA-
 TION FORM FOR USE UNDER THIS SECTION. THE USE OF  ANY  APPLICATION  FORM
 WHICH  SUBSTANTIALLY  COMPLIES WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL
 BE ACCEPTABLE AND ANY APPLICATION FILED ON SUCH A FORM SHALL BE ACCEPTED
 FOR FILING.
   § 8-702. EARLY VOTING BY MAIL;  REVIEW  OF  APPLICATION  BY  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS.  1.  UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL THE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL DETERMINE WHETHER THE APPLICANT IS A REGISTERED
 VOTER OF THE COUNTY OR CITY AT THE ADDRESS LISTED IN THE APPLICATION AND
 IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION OR ELECTIONS FOR WHICH THE  APPLICA-
 TION  IS  FILED.  AN APPLICATION TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL FILED OR RECEIVED
 SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH OR ON THE SAME DAY AS A VALID REGISTRATION  APPLICA-
 TION FROM THE APPLICANT SHALL BE CONSIDERED VALID.
   2.  IF  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS DETERMINES THAT THE APPLICANT IS NOT A
 REGISTERED VOTER OF THE COUNTY OR CITY AT  THE  ADDRESS  LISTED  IN  THE
 APPLICATION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION OR THE APPLICANT
 IS  NOT  ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN ALL OF THE ELECTIONS FOR WHICH THE APPLICA-
 TION IS FILED, THE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL  IMMEDIATELY  NOTIFY  THE
 APPLICANT  OF THE REJECTION OF THE APPLICATION TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL AND
 PROVIDE THE REASON FOR SUCH REJECTION.
   3. IN THE CASE OF A PRIMARY ELECTION, THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL
 DELIVER  ONLY  THE BALLOT OF THE PARTY IN WHICH THE RECORDS OF THE BOARD
 OF ELECTIONS SHOW THE APPLICANT TO BE ENROLLED. IN THE EVENT  A  PRIMARY
 ELECTION  IS  UNCONTESTED  IN  THE APPLICANT'S ELECTION DISTRICT FOR ALL
 OFFICES OR POSITIONS EXCEPT THE PARTY POSITION OF MEMBER  OF  THE  WARD,
 TOWN,  CITY  OR  COUNTY  COMMITTEE, NO BALLOT SHALL BE DELIVERED TO SUCH
 S. 7394                             5
 
 APPLICANT FOR SUCH ELECTION; AND THE APPLICANT SHALL BE ADVISED WHY THEY
 ARE NOT BEING SENT A BALLOT.
   4. THE BOARD SHALL KEEP A RECORD OF APPLICATIONS TO VOTE EARLY BY MAIL
 AS  THEY  ARE  RECEIVED,  SHOWING THE NAMES AND RESIDENCES OF THE APPLI-
 CANTS, AND THEIR PARTY ENROLLMENT IN THE CASE OF PRIMARY ELECTIONS, AND,
 AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE SHALL, WHEN REQUESTED, GIVE TO  THE  CHAIRMAN  OF
 EACH  POLITICAL  PARTY OR INDEPENDENT BODY IN THE COUNTY, AND SHALL MAKE
 AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION TO ANY OTHER REGISTERED VOTER UPON  REQUEST,  A
 COMPLETE  LIST  OF  ALL  APPLICANTS TO WHOM EARLY MAIL BALLOTS HAVE BEEN
 DELIVERED OR MAILED, CONTAINING THEIR NAMES AND PLACES OF  RESIDENCE  AS
 THEY  APPEAR ON THE REGISTRATION RECORD, INCLUDING THE ELECTION DISTRICT
 AND WARD, IF ANY, AND IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND THE COUNTY OF  NASSAU,
 THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, AND THEIR PARTY ENROLLMENT IN THE CASE OF PRIMARY
 ELECTIONS.
   §  8-704.  EARLY MAIL BALLOTS; DELIVERY OF. 1. IF THE BOARD FINDS THAT
 THE APPLICANT IS A REGISTERED VOTER OF THE COUNTY OR CITY AT THE ADDRESS
 LISTED IN THE APPLICATION, THE APPLICANT IS  ELIGIBLE  TO  VOTE  IN  THE
 ELECTION  AT  ISSUE,  AND  THE  APPLICATION  IS OTHERWISE SUFFICIENT, IT
 SHALL, AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, MAIL  TO  THE  APPLICANT  AT  AN  ADDRESS
 DESIGNATED  BY THEM, OR DELIVER TO THEM, OR TO ANY PERSON DESIGNATED FOR
 SUCH PURPOSE IN WRITING BY THEM, AT THE OFFICE OF THE  BOARD,  AN  EARLY
 MAIL BALLOT OR SET OF BALLOTS AND AN ENVELOPE THEREFOR. IF THE BALLOT OR
 BALLOTS  ARE  TO BE SENT OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES TO A COUNTRY OTHER
 THAN CANADA OR MEXICO, SUCH BALLOT OR BALLOTS SHALL BE SENT BY AIR MAIL.
   2. WHEN MAILING AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO A VOTER THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 SHALL PROVIDE A DOMESTIC POSTAGE PAID RETURN ENVELOPE. WHEN PROVIDING AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO A VOTER IN-PERSON, THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL
 OFFER  THE VOTER A DOMESTIC POSTAGE PAID RETURN ENVELOPE AND PROVIDE ONE
 IF REQUESTED.
   § 8-706. ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM.
 1.  IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER MEANS OF APPLYING FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT,
 THE  STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN ELECTRONIC
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM  THROUGH  WHICH  VOTERS
 MAY  APPLY FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT ONLINE. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 SHALL ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMIT SUCH APPLICATIONS TO THE APPLICABLE  BOARD
 OF  ELECTIONS  OF  EACH  COUNTY  OR  THE CITY OF NEW YORK FOR PROCESSING
 CONSISTENT WITH THIS CHAPTER. IN ACCORDANCE  WITH  TECHNICAL  SPECIFICA-
 TIONS  PROVIDED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, EACH BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 SHALL MAINTAIN AN  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICATION  SYSTEM  CAPABLE  OF
 RECEIVING  AND  PROCESSING  ELECTRONIC  EARLY  MAIL BALLOT APPLICATIONS,
 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES, FROM THE ELECTRON-
 IC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED  BY  THE
 STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  PURSUANT  TO THIS SECTION. SUCH TRANSMITTAL
 SYSTEM SHALL BE FULLY INTEGRATED WITH EACH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND
 THE CITY OF NEW YORK BOARD OF ELECTIONS SO THAT A VOTER MAY APPLY ONLINE
 DIRECTLY EITHER THROUGH THE WEBSITE OF THEIR BOARD OF ELECTIONS  OR  THE
 STATE   BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  INCONSISTENT
 PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, APPLICATIONS FILED USING SUCH SYSTEM SHALL BE
 CONSIDERED FILED WITH THE APPLICABLE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ON THE  CALENDAR
 DATE  THE  APPLICATION IS INITIALLY TRANSMITTED BY THE VOTER THROUGH THE
 ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM.
   2. (A) A VOTER SHALL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT USING A
 PERSONAL ONLINE APPLICATION SUBMITTED THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM WHEN THE VOTER:
 S. 7394                             6
 
   (I)  COMPLETES AN ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION PROMULGATED
 BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ALL OF THE  INFORMA-
 TION REQUIRED BY SECTION 8-700 OF THIS TITLE; AND
   (II) AFFIRMS, SUBJECT TO PENALTY OF PERJURY, BY MEANS OF ELECTRONIC OR
 MANUAL  SIGNATURE,  THAT  THE  INFORMATION  CONTAINED  IN THE EARLY MAIL
 BALLOT APPLICATION IS TRUE; AND
   (III) CONSENTS TO THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC COPY  OF  THE  INDIVIDUAL'S
 MANUAL SIGNATURE THAT IS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHI-
 CLES,  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  OR  OTHER AGENCY DESIGNATED BY
 SECTION 5-211 OR 5-212 OF THIS CHAPTER, AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE, OR PROVIDES SUCH A SIGNATURE BY DIRECT UPLOAD
 IN  A  MANNER THAT COMPLIES WITH THE NEW YORK STATE ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE
 AND RECORDS ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED BY  THE  STATE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   (B)  THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE THE PERSONAL ONLINE EARLY
 MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION IN ANY LANGUAGE REQUIRED BY THE  FEDERAL  VOTING
 RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 (52 U.S.C. SEC. 10503) IN ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE.
   (C)  THE  ONLINE  EARLY  MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION PROCESS SHALL PROVIDE
 REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO  IMPROVE  ACCESSIBILITY  FOR  PERSONS  WITH
 DISABILITIES AND SHALL BE COMPATIBLE FOR USE WITH STANDARD ONLINE ACCES-
 SIBILITY  ASSISTANCE  TOOLS FOR PERSONS WITH VISUAL, PHYSICAL OR PERCEP-
 TIVE DISABILITIES.
   (D) THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS  SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES  AND  REGU-
 LATIONS  FOR  THE  CREATION  AND  ADMINISTRATION OF AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT
 APPLICATION SYSTEM PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   3. (A) IF AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE IS NOT  PROVIDED  BY
 AN  APPLICANT  WHO  SUBMITS AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION, THE LOCAL BOARD SHALL SEEK TO OBTAIN SUCH EXEMPLAR  SIGNA-
 TURE  FROM THE STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE, THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS, OR A STATE OR LOCAL AGENCY DESIGNATED  BY  SECTION  5-211  OR
 5-212 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   (B)  IF  SUCH  EXEMPLAR  SIGNATURE IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE STATEWIDE
 VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASE, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, OR A STATE OR
 LOCAL AGENCY DESIGNATED BY SECTION 5-211 OR 5-212 OF THIS  CHAPTER,  THE
 LOCAL  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL,  ABSENT ANOTHER REASON TO REJECT THE
 APPLICATION, REQUIRE THE VOTER TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE  BY  ANY
 ONE OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS: IN PERSON, BY ELECTRONIC MAIL, OR BY ELEC-
 TRONIC  UPLOAD  TO  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC EARLY
 MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM.
   (C) IF SUCH VOTER DOES NOT PROVIDE THE  REQUIRED  EXEMPLAR  SIGNATURE,
 THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS SHALL PROCEED TO ISSUE AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO
 THE VOTER ALONG WITH AN EARLY MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICATION  FORM  REQUIRING
 SUCH  VOTER  TO SUBMIT A SIGNATURE UPON SUCH APPLICATION FORM AND RETURN
 IT TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH THE VOTER'S BALLOT.
   4. THE ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICATION  TRANSMITTAL  SYSTEM
 SHALL  BE  COMBINED  ON  A  SINGLE  WEBSITE WITH THE ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE
 BALLOT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL SYSTEM CREATED PURSUANT TO SECTION  8-408
 OF  THIS ARTICLE. A PERSON USING THE WEBSITE MUST FIRST BE PROVIDED WITH
 AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION BEFORE BEING OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
 APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT. IF A PERSON SUBMITS AN EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT
 APPLICATION,  THE  PERSON  SHALL NOT BE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY
 FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.
   § 8-708. EARLY VOTING BY MAIL; METHOD OF. THE EARLY MAIL  VOTER  SHALL
 MARK  AN  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  AS  PROVIDED FOR PAPER BALLOTS OR BALLOTS
 PREPARED FOR COUNTING BY BALLOT COUNTING MACHINES. THEY  SHALL  MAKE  NO
 MARK  OR WRITING WHATSOEVER UPON THE BALLOT, EXCEPT AS ABOVE PRESCRIBED,
 S. 7394                             7
 
 AND SHALL SEE THAT IT BEARS NO SUCH MARK OR WRITING. THEY SHALL MAKE  NO
 MARK  OR WRITING WHATSOEVER ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BALLOT. IN CASES WHERE
 THE EXPRESS INTENT OF THE VOTER IS UNAMBIGUOUS, ANY STRAY MARKS OR WRIT-
 ING  SHALL NOT BE A BASIS FOR VOIDING A BALLOT. AFTER MARKING THE BALLOT
 OR BALLOTS THEY SHALL FOLD EACH SUCH BALLOT  AND  ENCLOSE  THEM  IN  THE
 ENVELOPE  AND  SEAL THE ENVELOPE. THEY SHALL THEN TAKE AND SUBSCRIBE THE
 OATH ON THE ENVELOPE, WITH BLANKS  PROPERLY  FILLED  IN.  THE  ENVELOPE,
 CONTAINING  THE  BALLOT OR BALLOTS, SHALL THEN BE MAILED OR DELIVERED TO
 THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF THE COUNTY OR CITY OF THEIR RESIDENCE.
   § 8-710. EARLY MAIL BALLOTS; DEADLINE FOR  RECEIPT,  AND  DELIVERY  TO
 POLLING  PLACE.  1.  THE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS SHALL CAUSE ALL EARLY MAIL
 BALLOTS RECEIVED BY IT BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY AND
 ALL BALLOTS CONTAINED IN ENVELOPES SHOWING A CANCELLATION  MARK  OF  THE
 UNITED  STATES  POSTAL SERVICE OR A FOREIGN COUNTRY'S POSTAL SERVICE, OR
 SHOWING A DATED ENDORSEMENT OF RECEIPT BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF  THE  UNITED
 STATES GOVERNMENT, WITH A DATE WHICH IS ASCERTAINED TO BE NOT LATER THAN
 THE  DAY  OF  THE  ELECTION  AND RECEIVED BY SUCH BOARD OF ELECTIONS NOT
 LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS FOLLOWING THE DAY  OF  ELECTION  TO  BE  CAST  AND
 COUNTED.    FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, ANY EARLY MAIL BALLOT RECEIVED
 BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BY MAIL THAT DOES NOT BEAR OR DISPLAY A  DATED
 POSTMARK  SHALL  BE  PRESUMED TO HAVE BEEN TIMELY MAILED OR DELIVERED IF
 SUCH BALLOT BEARS A TIME STAMP OF THE RECEIVING BOARD OF ELECTIONS INDI-
 CATING RECEIPT BY SUCH BOARD ON THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION.
   2. EARLY MAIL BALLOTS RECEIVED BY THE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL  BE
 RETAINED  AT  THE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND CAST AND CANVASSED PURSUANT TO
 THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9-209 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 8-712. ONLINE EARLY MAIL BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM. 1. THE STATE  BOARD
 OF  ELECTIONS  SHALL  ESTABLISH  AND  MAINTAIN  AN ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL
 BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM.  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  TECHNICAL  SPECIFICATIONS
 PROVIDED  BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, EACH LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS
 SHALL MAINTAIN AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH  THE
 STATE BOARD'S SYSTEM, AND WHICH MAY BE INTEGRATED WITH THE UNITED STATES
 POSTAL  SERVICE  TRACKING  SYSTEM, TO ALLOW A VOTER WHO HAS SUBMITTED AN
 APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO TRACK THE  STATUS  OF  AN  EARLY
 MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICATION AND AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT ON THE STATE BOARD OR
 LOCAL BOARD WEBSITE.
   2. SUCH WEBSITE SHALL NOT REQUIRE USERS TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT BUT SHALL
 REQUIRE VERIFICATION THAT THE USER IS ACCESSING THEIR OWN RECORD THROUGH
 THE INCLUSION OF DATA IDENTIFYING THE VOTER AND THE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS
 AT  WHICH THE VOTER IS REGISTERED, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
   3. THE BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM SHALL  INDICATE  TO  THE  VOTER  IF  THE
 BOARD:
   (A) RECEIVED SUCH VOTER'S APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT;
   (B)  APPROVED  OR REJECTED SUCH APPLICATION AND, IF REJECTED, AN INDI-
 CATION OF THE REASON FOR SUCH REJECTION;
   (C) MAILED OR DELIVERED AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO SUCH VOTER,  THE  DATE
 OF SUCH MAILING OR DELIVERY, AND THE EXPECTED DATE OF RECEIPT;
   (D) RECEIVED THE BALLOT BACK AS UNDELIVERABLE;
   (E) RECEIVED SUCH VOTER'S COMPLETED EARLY MAIL BALLOT;
   (F) DETERMINED THE BALLOT ENVELOPE WAS SUBJECT TO A CURE; AND
   (G)  COUNTED OR REJECTED SUCH VOTER'S COMPLETED EARLY MAIL BALLOT AND,
 IF REJECTED, A BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE REASON FOR REJECTION.
   4. THE ELECTRONIC EARLY MAIL BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM SHALL BE  COMBINED
 ON  A SINGLE WEBSITE WITH THE ELECTRONIC ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING SYSTEM
 CREATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-414 OF THIS ARTICLE.
 S. 7394                             8
 
   § 3. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subdivision 2 of section 8-400  of  the
 election  law, as separately amended by chapters 273 and 746 of the laws
 of 2021, are amended to read as follows:
   (c)  All applications requesting an absentee ballot by mail or through
 the electronic absentee ballot application transmittal  system  must  be
 received  by the board of elections not later than the [fifteenth] TENTH
 day before the election for which a ballot is first requested.  Applica-
 tions  for  an  absentee  ballot that will be delivered in person at the
 board of elections to the voter or to an agent  of  the  voter  must  be
 received by such board not later than the day before such election.
   (d)  The  board  of  elections  shall mail an absentee ballot to every
 qualified voter otherwise eligible for such a ballot, who requests  such
 an  absentee ballot from such board of elections in writing in a letter,
 telefax indicating the address, phone number and the telefax number from
 which the writing is sent or other written instrument, or an  electronic
 application  submitted  by  the  voter  through  the electronic absentee
 ballot application transmittal system established by the state board  of
 elections,  which  is  signed  by the voter and received by the board of
 elections not later than the [fifteenth] TENTH day before  the  election
 for  which  the  ballot  is first requested and which states the address
 where the voter is registered and the address to which the ballot is  to
 be  mailed;  provided,  however, a military voter may request a military
 ballot or voter registration application or an absentee ballot  applica-
 tion  in  a letter as provided in subdivision three of section 10-106 of
 this chapter; and provided further, a special federal voter may  request
 a  special federal ballot or voter registration application or an absen-
 tee ballot application in a letter as provided in paragraph d of  subdi-
 vision  one  of  section  11-202 of this chapter. The board of elections
 shall enclose with such ballot a form of application for absentee ballot
 if the applicant is registered with such board of elections.
   § 4. Subdivision 3 of section 8-400 of the election law is amended  by
 adding a new paragraph (c-1) to read as follows:
   (C-1)  PROVIDED  THAT, IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT
 THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH
 (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLI-
 CATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-702 OF THIS  ARTI-
 CLE.
   §  5.  Subdivision 10 of section 8-400 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 373 of the laws of 1986 and as renumbered by  chapter  40  of
 the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   10.  The  state board of elections shall prescribe a standard applica-
 tion form for use under this  section.  THE  STANDARD  APPLICATION  FORM
 SHALL  INDICATE THAT IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT THE
 APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT,  THE  APPLICATION  WILL  BE
 PROCESSED  AS  AN APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO PARA-
 GRAPH (C-1) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION, AND THE APPLICANT WILL
 BE SENT AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT IF  OTHERWISE  ELIGIBLE.  The  use  of  any
 application  form  which  substantially  complies with the provisions of
 this section shall be acceptable and any application  filed  on  such  a
 form shall be accepted for filing.
   § 6. Subdivisions 1 and 5 of section 8-402 of the election law, subdi-
 vision  1  as amended by chapter 666 of the laws of 1980, are amended to
 read as follows:
   1. Upon receipt of an application for an absentee ballot the board  of
 elections shall forthwith determine upon such inquiry as it deems proper
 whether  the  applicant  is qualified to vote and to receive an absentee
 S. 7394                             9
 
 ballot, and if it finds the applicant  is  not  so  qualified  it  shall
 reject  the  application  after  investigation  as hereinafter provided.
 PROVIDED THAT, AN APPLICATION FOR  AN  ABSENTEE  BALLOT  THAT  DOES  NOT
 PROVIDE  A  REASON THAT THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO SUCH A BALLOT SHALL
 BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLICATION FOR AN  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  PURSUANT  TO
 PARAGRAPH  (C-1)  OF   SUBDIVISION 3 OF SECTION 8-400 OF THIS TITLE  AND
 SECTION 8-702 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   5. If the board shall determine that the applicant is not entitled  to
 an  absentee  ballot  it  shall immediately notify the applicant, giving
 [him] THE PERSON the reason for such rejection. PROVIDED THAT NO NOTIFI-
 CATION OF REJECTION IS NECESSARY IF THE APPLICATION IS PROCESSED  AS  AN
 APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
 SECTION.
   § 7. The election law is amended by adding a new section 7-119 to read
 as follows:
   §  7-119.  BALLOTS;  EARLY  MAIL VOTERS. 1. (A) BALLOTS FOR EARLY MAIL
 VOTERS SHALL BE, AS NEARLY AS PRACTICABLE, IN THE SAME FORM AS THOSE  TO
 BE  VOTED IN THE DISTRICT ON ELECTION DAY, EXCEPT THAT SUCH BALLOTS NEED
 NOT HAVE A STUB, AND SHALL HAVE THE WORDS "EARLY MAIL BALLOT",  ENDORSED
 THEREON.
   (B) ALL PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION  SHALL BE APPLICABLE TO EARLY MAIL BALLOTS PREPARED FOR COUNTING BY
 A BALLOT SCANNER OR BY HAND. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MARKING AN EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT  SHALL BE PROVIDED AND SHALL BE SUBSTANTIALLY AS FOLLOWS, SO THAT
 THEY ACCURATELY REFLECT THE BALLOT LAYOUT:
 INSTRUCTIONS
 MARK THE (INSERT "OVAL" OR "SQUARE") TO THE LEFT OF  THE  NAME  OF  YOUR
 CHOICE. (PROVIDE ILLUSTRATION OF CORRECTLY-MARKED VOTING POSITION HERE.)
 TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHOSE NAME IS NOT PRINTED ON THE BALLOT, (INSERT
 "MARK  THE OVAL (OR SQUARE) TO THE LEFT OF 'WRITE-IN' AND PRINT THE NAME
 CLEARLY" OR "PRINT THE NAME CLEARLY IN  THE  BOX  LABELED  'WRITE-IN'"),
 STAYING  WITHIN THE BOX. ANY MARK OR WRITING OUTSIDE THE SPACES PROVIDED
 FOR VOTING MAY VOID THE ENTIRE BALLOT. YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO A REPLACEMENT
 BALLOT. IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE OR WANT TO  CHANGE  YOUR  VOTE,  CALL  THE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT (INSERT PHONE NUMBER HERE) FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW
 TO  OBTAIN  A  NEW  BALLOT.  THE  NUMBER  OF  CHOICES IS LISTED FOR EACH
 CONTEST. DO NOT MARK THE BALLOT FOR MORE CANDIDATES THAN ALLOWED. IF YOU
 DO, YOUR VOTE IN THAT CONTEST WILL NOT COUNT.
   (C)  WHEN  A  QUESTION  OR  PROPOSAL  IS  INCLUDED  ON   THE   BALLOT,
 INSTRUCTIONS  SUBSTANTIALLY  SIMILAR  TO  THOSE  PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION
 FIFTEEN OF SECTION 7-104 OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE INCLUDED.
   2. THE DETERMINATION OF THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY BOARD OF  ELECTIONS  AS
 TO  THE  CANDIDATES  DULY  DESIGNATED  OR NOMINATED FOR PUBLIC OFFICE OR
 PARTY POSITION WHOSE NAME SHALL APPEAR ON THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT  AND  AS
 TO  BALLOT  PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON SHALL BE MADE NO LATER THAN THE DAY
 AFTER THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ISSUES  ITS  CERTIFICATION  OF  THOSE
 CANDIDATES  TO BE VOTED FOR AT THE GENERAL, SPECIAL OR PRIMARY ELECTION.
 THE DETERMINATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS  AND  THE  RESPECTIVE
 COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS SHALL BE FINAL AND CONCLUSIVE WITH RESPECT TO
 SUCH  OFFICES  FOR  WHICH  PETITIONS  OR CERTIFICATES ARE REQUIRED TO BE
 FILED WITH SUCH BOARDS, AS THE CASE MAY BE BUT NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS
 SECTION SHALL PREVENT A BOARD OF ELECTIONS,  OR  A  COURT  OF  COMPETENT
 JURISDICTION  FROM  DETERMINING  AT  A  LATER DATE THAT ANY SUCH CERTIF-
 ICATION, DESIGNATION OR NOMINATION IS INVALID AND, IN THE EVENT OF  SUCH
 LATER  DETERMINATION,  NO  VOTE  CAST  FOR ANY SUCH NOMINEE BY ANY VOTER
 SHALL BE COUNTED AT THE ELECTION.
 S. 7394                            10

   3. THERE SHALL BE THREE ENVELOPES FOR EACH EARLY MAIL BALLOT ISSUED BY
 MAIL: THE INNER AFFIRMATION ENVELOPE INTO WHICH  A  VOTER  PLACES  THEIR
 VOTED  BALLOT,  THE OUTER ENVELOPE WHICH SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE EARLY
 MAIL VOTER, AND THE MAILING ENVELOPE WHICH IS ADDRESSED  TO  THE  COUNTY
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS. THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL FURNISH WITH EACH EARLY
 MAIL  BALLOT  AN INNER AFFIRMATION ENVELOPE. ON ONE SIDE OF THE ENVELOPE
 SHALL BE PRINTED:
                        OFFICIAL EARLY MAIL BALLOT
                                    FOR
                 GENERAL (OR PRIMARY OR SPECIAL) ELECTION,
 
  ..........., 20.......
 
 NAME OF VOTER ..................
 RESIDENCE (STREET AND NUMBER IF ANY) ..............
 CITY/OR TOWN OF (VILLAGE, IF ANY) .................
 COUNTY OF ...............................
 
 ASSEMBLY DISTRICT ......................
 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT (AS APPLICABLE) ..........
 WARD (AS APPLICABLE) .....................
 ELECTION DISTRICT ....................
 PARTY ENROLLMENT (IN CASE OF PRIMARY ELECTION) ....................
 
   4. THE DATE OF THE ELECTION, NAME OF THE COUNTY, AND NAME OF  A  CITY,
 IF THERE BE A SEPARATE BALLOT FOR CITY VOTERS, SHALL BE PRINTED, AND THE
 NAME  OF  THE VOTER, RESIDENCE, NUMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY DISTRICT, IF ANY,
 NAME OF TOWN, NUMBER OF  WARD,  IF  ANY,  ELECTION  DISTRICT  AND  PARTY
 ENROLLMENT,  IF  REQUIRED, SHALL BE EITHER PRINTED OR WRITTEN OR STAMPED
 IN BY THE BOARD.
   5. THERE SHALL ALSO BE A  PLACE  FOR  TWO  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  STAFF
 MEMBERS  OR  INSPECTORS  OF  OPPOSITE  POLITICAL PARTIES TO INDICATE, BY
 PLACING THEIR INITIALS THEREON, THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED  AND  MARKED  THE
 VOTER'S  POLL  RECORD  AND  A  BOX  LABELED "BOE USE ONLY" FOR NOTATIONS
 REQUIRED WHEN THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS REVIEWS AFFIRMATION  BALLOT  ENVEL-
 OPES PURSUANT TO SECTION 9-209 OF THIS CHAPTER.
   6.  ON  THE  REVERSE  SIDE OF SUCH INNER AFFIRMATION ENVELOPE SHALL BE
 PRINTED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:
 
                                AFFIRMATION
 
   I DO DECLARE THAT I AM A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I AM  DULY
 REGISTERED  IN  THE  ELECTION DISTRICT SHOWN ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS
 ENVELOPE AND I AM QUALIFIED TO VOTE IN SUCH DISTRICT; THAT  I  HAVE  NOT
 QUALIFIED  NOR  DO I INTEND TO VOTE ELSEWHERE, THAT I HAVE NOT COMMITTED
 ANY ACT NOR AM I UNDER ANY IMPEDIMENT WHICH DENIES ME THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I  MAKE  ANY  MATERIAL
 FALSE  STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER, I SHALL
 BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
 
 DATE ............... 20 ................
 
                                              ..........................
                                              SIGNATURE OR MARK OF VOTER
 S. 7394                            11
 
                                              ..........................
                                              SIGNATURE OF WITNESS
                                              (REQUIRED ONLY IF VOTER
                                              DOES NOT SIGN THEIR OWN
                                              NAME)
 
                                              ..........................
                                              ADDRESS OF WITNESS
 
   7.  THE INNER AFFIRMATION ENVELOPE SHALL BE GUMMED, READY FOR SEALING,
 AND SHALL HAVE PRINTED THEREON, ON  THE  SIDE  OPPOSITE  THE  STATEMENT,
 INSTRUCTIONS  AS  TO  THE  DUTIES  OF THE VOTER AFTER THE MARKING OF THE
 BALLOT, WHICH INSTRUCTIONS SHALL INCLUDE A  SPECIFIC  DIRECTION  STATING
 WHEN  SUCH BALLOT MUST BE POSTMARKED AND WHEN SUCH BALLOT MUST REACH THE
 OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN ORDER TO BE CANVASSED.
   8. EACH INNER AFFIRMATION BALLOT ENVELOPE  SHALL  BE  ENCLOSED  IN  AN
 OUTER ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND BEAR-
 ING  ON  IT  A SPECIFIC DIRECTION THAT IF AN ORIGINAL APPLICATION FOR AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT IS RECEIVED WITH THE BALLOT, SUCH APPLICATION MUST  BE
 COMPLETED  BY THE VOTER AND RETURNED IN THE OUTER ENVELOPE TOGETHER WITH
 THE SEALED INNER AFFIRMATION ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT
 WITHIN THE TIME LIMITS FOR RECEIPT OF THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT ITSELF. SUCH
 INNER  AFFIRMATION  ENVELOPE AND OUTER ENVELOPE SHALL BE ENCLOSED IN THE
 THIRD ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO THE EARLY MAIL VOTER. THE  OUTER  AND  THIRD
 ENVELOPES  SHALL  HAVE  PRINTED  ON THE FACE THEREOF THE WORDS "ELECTION
 MATERIAL--PLEASE EXPEDITE".
   § 8. The election law is amended by adding a  new  section  15-119  to
 read as follows:
   §  15-119.  EARLY  MAIL  VOTING  AT VILLAGE ELECTIONS. 1. A REGISTERED
 VOTER OF A VILLAGE MAY VOTE BY EARLY MAIL BALLOT UNDER THIS SECTION  FOR
 A  GENERAL OR SPECIAL VILLAGE ELECTION IN WHICH THE VOTER IS ELIGIBLE TO
 VOTE.
   2. A REGISTERED VOTER DESIROUS OF OBTAINING AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL
 MAKE WRITTEN APPLICATION THEREFOR  TO  THE  VILLAGE  CLERK.  APPLICATION
 FORMS  FOR USE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN A FORM PRESCRIBED BY
 THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. THE USE OF ANY APPLICATION WHICH IS  ON  A
 FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL BE ACCEPTABLE.
   3.  AN  APPLICATION  FOR  AN  EARLY  MAIL BALLOT MUST BE SIGNED BY THE
 APPLICANT. IF A PERSON ENTITLED TO AN EARLY MAIL  BALLOT  IS  UNABLE  TO
 SIGN  THEIR  APPLICATION  BECAUSE  OF  ILLNESS,  PHYSICAL  DISABILITY OR
 INABILITY TO READ, THEY SHALL BE EXCUSED  FROM  SIGNING  UPON  MAKING  A
 STATEMENT, IN SUBSTANTIALLY THE FOLLOWING FORM, WHICH SHALL BE WITNESSED
 BY  ONE PERSON:  "I HEREBY STATE THAT I AM UNABLE TO SIGN MY APPLICATION
 FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT WITHOUT ASSISTANCE BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO WRITE
 BY REASON OF ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR BECAUSE I  AM  UNABLE  TO
 READ.  I  HAVE  MADE,  OR HAVE RECEIVED ASSISTANCE IN MAKING, MY MARK IN
 LIEU OF MY SIGNATURE."
                                                   ......................
                                                   (DATE)
                                                   ......................
                                                   (MARK)
                                                   ......................
                                                   (NAME OF VOTER)
 "I, THE UNDERSIGNED, HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE NAMED  VOTER  AFFIXED
 THEIR  MARK TO THIS APPLICATION IN MY PRESENCE AND I KNOW THEM TO BE THE
 PERSON WHO AFFIXED THEIR MARK TO SAID APPLICATION  AND  UNDERSTAND  THAT
 S. 7394                            12
 
 THIS STATEMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ALL PURPOSES AS THE EQUIVALENT OF AN
 AFFIDAVIT  AND  IF IT CONTAINS A MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT, SHALL SUBJECT
 ME TO THE SAME PENALTIES AS IF I HAD BEEN DULY SWORN."
 
                                                  .......................
                                                   (SIGNATURE OF WITNESS)
 
                                                  .......................
                                                   (ADDRESS OF WITNESS)
 
 SUCH STATEMENT SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION BLANK FORM FURNISHED
 BY THE VILLAGE CLERK.
   4. THE APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT WHEN FILED MUST CONTAIN IN
 EACH INSTANCE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   (A)  APPLICANT'S  FULL  NAME,  DATE  OF  BIRTH, AND RESIDENCE ADDRESS,
 INCLUDING THE STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY, RURAL DELIVERY ROUTE,  IF  ANY,
 MAILING  ADDRESS  IF  DIFFERENT  FROM  THE  RESIDENCE  ADDRESS AND THEIR
 VILLAGE AND AN ADDRESS TO WHICH THE BALLOT SHALL BE MAILED.
   (B) A STATEMENT THAT THE APPLICANT IS A REGISTERED VOTER.
   (C) SUCH APPLICATION SHALL PERMIT THE APPLICANT TO APPLY FOR AN  EARLY
 MAIL  BALLOT FOR A SINGLE ELECTION OR FOR ALL REMAINING ELECTIONS IN THE
 CALENDAR YEAR FOR WHICH THE VOTER IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE.
   5. THE APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT  SHALL  ALSO  PROVIDE  THE
 APPLICANT  THE  OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND E-MAIL
 ADDRESS.
   6. PRINTED FORMS CONTAINING THE APPLICATION FOR THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT,
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION,  SHALL  BE  IN  THE
 FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND SHALL BE PROVIDED BY
 THE  VILLAGE  CLERK  AND  SHALL BE AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK.
 APPLICATION FORMS FOR EARLY  MAIL  BALLOTS  FOR  USE  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL  BE  FURNISHED  BY  THE VILLAGE CLERK UPON REQUEST OF THE
 PERSON AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UNDER THIS SECTION OR  BY  ANY  SUCH  PERSON'S
 SPOUSE,  PARENT,  CHILD,  AUTHORIZED AGENT OR ANY NURSE CHARGED WITH THE
 CARE OF SUCH PERSON.
   7. AN APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE  VILLAGE  CLERK  NO  EARLIER
 THAN  FOUR  MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR WHICH AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT IS
 SOUGHT, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF  THIS
 SECTION.    IF  THE  APPLICATION  REQUESTS THAT THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT BE
 MAILED, SUCH APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED  NOT  LATER  THAN  SEVEN  DAYS
 BEFORE THE ELECTION. IF THE APPLICANT OR THEIR AGENT DELIVERS THE APPLI-
 CATION TO THE VILLAGE CLERK IN PERSON, SUCH APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED
 NOT  LATER  THAN  THE  DAY  BEFORE THE ELECTION. THE VILLAGE CLERK SHALL
 EXAMINE EACH APPLICATION. IF THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE, THE  APPLICANT
 IS A REGISTERED VOTER OF THE VILLAGE AT THE ADDRESS LISTED IN THE APPLI-
 CATION,  AND  THE  APPLICANT  IS  ELIGIBLE  TO VOTE IN THE ELECTION, THE
 APPLICATION SHALL BE DEEMED ACCEPTED.
   8. NO LATER THAN SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR WHICH AN APPLICATION
 HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED BY THE VILLAGE CLERK, THE  VILLAGE  CLERK
 SHALL  MAIL, BY REGULAR MAIL, AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO EACH APPLICANT WHO
 HAS APPLIED BEFORE SUCH DAY AND WHO HAS REQUESTED THAT SUCH  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT  BE MAILED TO THEM AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN THEIR APPLICATION.
 IF THE APPLICANT OR THEIR AGENT DELIVERS THE APPLICATION TO THE  VILLAGE
 CLERK  IN  PERSON  AFTER THE SEVENTH DAY BEFORE THE VILLAGE ELECTION AND
 NOT LATER THAN THE DAY BEFORE THE  ELECTION,  THE  VILLAGE  CLERK  SHALL
 FORTHWITH DELIVER SUCH EARLY MAIL BALLOTS FOR THOSE APPLICANTS WHOM THEY
 DETERMINE  ARE  QUALIFIED  TO MAKE SUCH APPLICATIONS AND TO RECEIVE SUCH
 S. 7394                            13
 
 BALLOTS TO SUCH APPLICANTS OR THE AGENTS NAMED IN THE APPLICATIONS  WHEN
 SUCH APPLICANTS OR AGENTS APPEAR IN THE VILLAGE CLERK'S OFFICE.
   9. THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL BE CAUSED TO BE PREPARED AND PRINTED BY
 THE  VILLAGE  CLERK  AS  PROVIDED  BY  LAW  FOR PAPER BALLOTS OR MACHINE
 BALLOTS, WHICHEVER ARE TO BE  USED  IN  SAID  ELECTION  AND  APPROPRIATE
 MODIFICATIONS  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE VILLAGE CLERK SHALL
 ALSO CAUSE TO BE PREPARED AND  PRINTED  RETURN  ENVELOPES  ADDRESSED  TO
 THEMSELF,  CONFORMING  SO FAR AS MAY BE PRACTICABLE TO THE PROVISIONS OF
 THIS CHAPTER STATING THEREON THAT IN  ORDER  FOR  THE  BALLOT  CONTAINED
 THEREIN TO BE COUNTED IT MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE VILLAGE CLERK NOT LATER
 THAN THE CLOSE OF THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY. ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF EACH
 RETURN  ENVELOPE  THERE  SHALL  BE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE VOTER TO
 INSERT AT DESIGNATED PLACES THEIR SIGNATURE, THEIR NAME  PRINTED,  THEIR
 RESIDENCE ADDRESS WITHIN THE VILLAGE AND THEIR VILLAGE ELECTION DISTRICT
 IF THERE BE MORE THAN ONE DISTRICT WITHIN THE VILLAGE.
   10.  THE  METHOD  OF  MARKING,  PREPARING  AND MAILING SUCH BALLOT FOR
 VOTING SHALL CONFORM, WHEREVER PRACTICABLE,  TO  THE  METHODS  USED  FOR
 EARLY  MAIL  BALLOTS FOR A GENERAL ELECTION, EXCEPT THAT THE ENVELOPE IN
 WHICH IT IS CONTAINED SHALL BE RETURNED TO THE VILLAGE CLERK. ON THE DAY
 OF THE ELECTION, THE VILLAGE CLERK SHALL DELIVER ALL SUCH BALLOTS, WHICH
 HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO THEM, IN THE SEALED  ENVELOPES  TO  THE  BOARD  OF
 INSPECTORS  OF  ELECTION OF THE PROPER ELECTION DISTRICT. NO SUCH BALLOT
 SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN VOTED UNLESS OR UNTIL IT  SHALL  HAVE  BEEN
 DELIVERED  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  INSPECTORS  OF  ELECTION  OF THE ELECTION
 DISTRICT IN WHICH THE ELECTOR CASTING THE BALLOT RESIDES AND SHALL  HAVE
 BEEN  DEPOSITED  BY  THE  CHAIRMAN OF SUCH BOARD IN THE BOX PROVIDED FOR
 RECEIVING SUCH BALLOT.
   11. WHEN SUCH BALLOTS SHALL  HAVE  BEEN  DELIVERED  TO  THE  BOARD  OF
 INSPECTORS  OF  ELECTION  OF THE PROPER ELECTION DISTRICT AND SHALL HAVE
 BEEN DULY DETERMINED BY SUCH BOARD TO HAVE BEEN LAWFULLY CAST BY A QUAL-
 IFIED ELECTOR OF SUCH DISTRICT, THE CHAIRMAN OF SUCH BOARD SHALL,  AFTER
 THE  CLOSE OF THE POLLS, OPEN THE ENVELOPES CONTAINING SUCH BALLOTS AND,
 WITHOUT UNFOLDING SUCH BALLOTS OR PERMITTING  THE  FACE  THEREOF  TO  BE
 EXPOSED  TO  THE VIEW OF ANYONE, SHALL DEPOSIT EACH SUCH BALLOT IN A BOX
 SPECIFICALLY FURNISHED FOR SUCH PURPOSE BY THE  VILLAGE  CLERK.  IF  THE
 BOARD  OF  INSPECTORS SHALL DETERMINE THAT ANY SUCH BALLOT HAS BEEN CAST
 BY AN ELECTOR WHO WOULD NOT BE QUALIFIED UNDER THE  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
 SECTION, THEN SUCH BALLOT SHALL NOT BE COUNTED.
   12.  AFTER ALL THE BALLOTS SHALL HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED, THE BOX SHALL BE
 OPENED AND SUCH BALLOTS CANVASSED IN THE SAME MANNER  AS  OTHER  BALLOTS
 CAST  AT SUCH ELECTION AND SHALL BE COUNTED AND INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL OF
 ALL BALLOTS CAST AT SUCH ELECTION.
   § 9. Subdivision 4 of section 15-120 of the election law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph (c-1) to read as follows:
   (C-1) PROVIDED THAT, IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT PROVIDE A  REASON  THAT
 THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH
 (C) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLI-
 CATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15-119 OF THIS ARTI-
 CLE.
   §  10. Subdivision 5 of section 15-120 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 289 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
   5. An application must be received by the  village  clerk  no  earlier
 than  four  months  before  the election for which an absentee ballot is
 sought.  If the application requests that the absentee ballot be mailed,
 such application must be received not later than seven days  before  the
 election.  If the applicant or his or her agent delivers the application
 S. 7394                            14
 
 to the village clerk in person, such application must  be  received  not
 later  than the day before the election. The village clerk shall examine
 each application and shall  determine  from  the  information  contained
 therein whether the applicant is qualified under this section to receive
 an absentee ballot. PROVIDED THAT, AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
 THAT  DOES NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO SUCH A
 BALLOT SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLICATION FOR  AN  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT
 PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH  (C-1)  OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF THIS SECTION AND
 SECTION 15-119 OF THIS ARTICLE. The clerk in making such decision  shall
 not  determine whether the applicant is a qualified elector, said deter-
 mination being reserved to the inspectors of election as is  hereinafter
 provided in subdivision nine of this section.
   §  11. Subdivision 6 of section 15-122 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 84 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as follows:
   6. Printed forms containing the application for the  absentee  ballot,
 in  accordance  with  the  requirements of this section, shall be in the
 form prescribed by the state board of elections and shall be provided by
 the village clerk and shall be available at the  office  of  the  clerk.
 Application  forms for absentee ballots for use pursuant to this section
 shall be furnished by the village  clerk  upon  request  of  the  person
 authorized  to  vote  under this section or by any such person's spouse,
 parent, child, authorized agent or any nurse charged with  the  care  of
 such person.  THE PRINTED FORM SHALL INDICATE THAT IF THE APPLICANT DOES
 NOT  INDICATE THAT THEY WILL BE UNABLE TO APPEAR PERSONALLY AT THE POLL-
 ING PLACE WITHIN THE VILLAGE BECAUSE OF THE REASONS SET FORTH IN  SUBDI-
 VISION  ONE  ON THE APPLICATION, THE APPLICATION WILL BE PROCESSED AS AN
 APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT, AND THE APPLICANT WILL BE SENT  AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT IF OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE.
   § 11-a. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 15-124 of the election
 law is amended to read as follows:
   b.  the  investigation of any registrant or any applicant for an EARLY
 MAIL OR absentee ballot to determine his OR  HER  qualifications  to  be
 registered or vote, and
   § 12. Subdivision 4 of section 3-108 of the election law is amended to
 read as follows:
   4.  Only  those persons duly registered to vote upon the original date
 of the general election who did not vote on such date shall be  entitled
 to  vote  on the additional day for voting. Voting on the additional day
 provided for in this section shall be accomplished solely by  physically
 appearing  at  the  polling  place and nothing contained in this section
 shall be construed to extend the time set by law for casting or canvass-
 ing a military, EARLY MAIL, absentee  or  special  presidential  ballot;
 provided,  however,  that  nothing  contained  herein shall be deemed to
 invalidate any EARLY MAIL, absentee, military  or  special  presidential
 ballot duly received on the original date of the general election.
   §  13.  Subdivision 3 of section 3-222 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 282 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   3. Except as hereinafter provided, packages  of  protested,  void  and
 wholly  blank  ballots,  open  packages  of unused ballots and all EARLY
 MAIL, absentee and military, special federal, special  presidential  and
 emergency  ballots  and  ballot  envelopes,  if any, opened or unopened,
 shall be preserved for two years after the election. Sealed packages  of
 unused  ballots  shall  be  retained  for  four  months, and may then be
 destroyed, provided a certificate  articulating  the  election  district
 identifying  data  and numbers of such ballots is filed with the balance
 of ballots described in this section, for the balance of  the  two  year
 S. 7394                            15
 
 retention period. Except as hereinafter provided, boxes containing voted
 paper ballots, if any shall be preserved inviolate for four months after
 the  election,  or  until  one  month before the next election occurring
 within  five  months after a preceding election if such boxes are needed
 for use at such next election and if the officer or board in  charge  of
 such  voted  paper  ballots  is  required by law to furnish ballot boxes
 therefor.  Provided, however, that such ballot boxes and  such  packages
 may be opened, and their contents and the EARLY MAIL, absentee and mili-
 tary,  special  federal,  special presidential and emergency ballots and
 ballot envelopes may be examined, upon the order of any court or justice
 of competent jurisdiction. Boxes and envelopes  containing  EARLY  MAIL,
 absentee,  military  and emergency ballots voted at a general or special
 election, for the office of member of the senate or  assembly,  packages
 of void, protested and wholly blank ballots, unopened EARLY MAIL, absen-
 tee and military ballot envelopes and the packages of unused ballots, in
 connection  with  such  election, also may be opened, and their contents
 and such envelopes also may be examined, by direction of a committee  of
 the  senate or assembly to investigate and report on contested elections
 of members of the legislature. Unless otherwise ordered or  directed  by
 such a court, justice or committee, such boxes shall be opened and their
 contents  and  such  packages and the envelopes containing voted ballots
 and ballot envelopes shall be destroyed, at the expiration of the period
 during which they are required by the provisions of this section  to  be
 preserved,  except that instead of being destroyed, they may be sold and
 the proceeds paid over in the manner provided with respect to  the  sale
 of books, records and papers pertaining to an election.
   §  14.  Section  3-506 of the election law, as added by chapter 244 of
 the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
   § 3-506. Boards of elections; voting materials in Russian. A board  of
 elections  in a city of over one million shall provide the same informa-
 tion in Russian that it provides in languages other than English on  its
 website.  It  shall also produce and disseminate citywide a booklet that
 includes: (a) a voter registration form in English with instructions  in
 Russian; (b) instructions in Russian regarding the criteria and applica-
 tion  process  for obtaining an EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot; and (c) a
 section with general voter information in Russian  including  frequently
 asked  questions.  Such board may include other languages on its website
 and in such booklet.
   § 15. Subdivision 1 of section 4-117 of the election law,  as  amended
 by chapter 175 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The board of elections, between the third Tuesday in April and the
 second Friday in May in each year,  shall  send  by  mail  on  which  is
 endorsed  such  language  designated  by the state board of elections to
 ensure postal authorities do not forward such mail but return it to  the
 board of elections with forwarding information, when it cannot be deliv-
 ered  as  addressed  and  which  contains  a  request that any such mail
 received for persons not residing at the address be dropped back in  the
 mail,  a  communication,  in  a  form  approved  by  the  state board of
 elections, to every registered voter who has been registered  without  a
 change  of  address  since  the  beginning of such year, except that the
 board of elections shall not be required to send such communications  to
 voters  in  inactive status. The communication shall notify the voter in
 bold print contained in such notice of the days and hours of the ensuing
 primary and general elections, the place where he or she appears by  his
 or  her  registration  records to be entitled to vote, and also in other
 than bold type of the fact that voters who have moved or will have moved
 S. 7394                            16
 
 from the address where they were last registered must either notify  the
 board  of elections of his or her new address or vote by paper ballot at
 the polling place for his or her new address even if such voter has  not
 re-registered,  or  otherwise  notified  the  board  of elections of the
 change of address. If the primary will not be held on the first  Tuesday
 after  the second Monday in September, the communication shall contain a
 conspicuous notice in all capital letters and bold  font  notifying  the
 voter  of the primary date. If the location of the polling place for the
 voter's election  district  has  been  moved,  the  communication  shall
 contain  the following legend in bold type: "YOUR POLLING PLACE HAS BEEN
 CHANGED. YOU NOW VOTE AT..........". THE  COMMUNICATION  SHALL  INDICATE
 THAT  ANY  REGISTERED  VOTER  MAY  VOTE EARLY BY MAIL BY APPLYING FOR AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT, AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY FOR AN  EARLY
 MAIL  BALLOT.  The communication shall also indicate whether the polling
 place is accessible to physically disabled voters, that a voter who will
 be out of the city or county on  the  day  of  the  primary  or  general
 election  or  a  voter  who  is ill or physically disabled may obtain an
 absentee ballot, that a physically disabled voter whose polling place is
 not accessible may request that his registration record be moved  to  an
 election  district  which  has  a polling place which is accessible, the
 phone number to call for applications to move a registration  record  or
 for EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot applications, the phone number to call
 for the location of registration and polling places, the phone number to
 call  to  indicate that the voter is willing to serve on election day as
 an election inspector, poll clerk, interpreter or in  other  capacities,
 the  phone  number  to call to obtain an application for registration by
 mail, and such other information concerning the elections  or  registra-
 tion  as the board may include. In lieu of sending such communication to
 every registered voter, the board of elections may send a single  commu-
 nication  to  a  household  containing  more  than one registered voter,
 provided that the names of all such voters appear as part of the address
 on such communication.
   § 16. Subdivision 1 of section 4-119 of the election law,  as  amended
 by chapter 992 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The  board or body authorized to designate places for registration
 in any city, other than the city of New York, shall publish on each  day
 of  registration a list of the places for registration designated within
 such city in two newspapers published in  such  city.  The  lists  shall
 refer  to  the election districts by their numbers and wards or assembly
 districts. Such lists shall identify those polling places which  do  not
 provide access to handicapped voters. The board of elections of the city
 of  New  York  shall  publish in at least two newspapers in such city, a
 notice, at least one-half page  in  size,  in  English  and  such  other
 languages  as  such  board  deems  appropriate which shall set forth the
 dates and hours of registration and the phone number to call for  infor-
 mation  about  location  of  polling  places, their accessibility to the
 handicapped, applications for EARLY MAIL AND absentee  ballots  and  any
 other subjects which such board deems appropriate. So far as is consist-
 ent  with the provisions of this section, one of such newspapers in each
 such city or, in each county of the city of New  York,  shall  represent
 each  of  the major political parties and shall have a large circulation
 affording wide publicity. If the newspaper is an evening  newspaper  the
 notice shall be published on the last day, other than a Sunday, prior to
 any such day of registration.
   §  17.  Subdivision 3 of section 4-120 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 359 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
 S. 7394                            17
 
   3. The board of elections of the city of New York shall publish on the
 eighth day before and the day before each general election, in at  least
 two  newspapers  in such city, a notice, at least one-half page in size,
 in English and such other languages as  such  board  deems  appropriate,
 which  sets  forth  the  dates  and  hours of the election and the phone
 number to call for information about the  location  of  polling  places,
 their  accessibility to the handicapped, applications for EARLY MAIL AND
 absentee ballots and any other subjects which such board deems appropri-
 ate.
   § 18. Subdivision 9 of section 5-210 of the election law,  as  amended
 by chapter 113 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
   9.  The county board of elections shall, as soon as practicable and in
 any event, not later than seven days after receipt by it of the applica-
 tion, verify the identity of the applicant. In order to do so, the coun-
 ty board of elections shall utilize  the  information  provided  in  the
 application and shall attempt to verify such information with the infor-
 mation  provided  by  the  department of motor vehicles, social security
 administration and any other lawful available information source. If the
 county board of elections is unable to verify the identity of the appli-
 cant within seven days of the receipt of the application, it shall imme-
 diately take steps to confirm  that  the  information  provided  by  the
 applicant was accurately utilized by such county board of elections, was
 accurately  verified  with  other  information  sources and that no data
 entry error,  or  other  similar  type  of  error,  occurred.  Following
 completion  of  the preceding steps, the county board of elections shall
 mail (a) a notice of its approval, (b) a notice of  its  approval  which
 includes  an  indication that such board has not yet been able to verify
 the identity of the applicant and a request for more information so that
 such verification may be completed, or (c) a notice of its rejection  of
 the  application  to the applicant in a form approved by the state board
 of elections. Notices of approval, notices of approval with requests for
 more information or notices of rejection shall be sent by nonforwardable
 first class or return postage guaranteed mail on which is endorsed  such
 language  designated  by  the  state board of elections to ensure postal
 authorities do not forward such mail but  return  it  to  the  board  of
 elections  with  forwarding  information, when it cannot be delivered as
 addressed and which contains a request that any such mail  received  for
 persons  not  residing  at  the address be dropped back in the mail. The
 voter's registration and enrollment shall be complete  upon  receipt  of
 the  application by the appropriate county board of elections. The fail-
 ure of a county board of elections to  verify  an  applicant's  identity
 shall  not  be  the  basis  for  the rejection of a voter's application,
 provided, however, that such verification failure shall be the basis for
 requiring county board of elections to take the additional  verification
 steps  provided by this chapter. The notice shall also advise the regis-
 trant of the date when their registration and enrollment  is  effective,
 of  the  date  and  the hours of the next regularly scheduled primary or
 general election in which such registrant will be eligible to  vote,  of
 the location of the polling place of the election district in which such
 registrant  is  or will be a qualified voter, whether such polling place
 is accessible to physically handicapped voters, an indication  that  ANY
 REGISTERED VOTER MAY VOTE EARLY BY MAIL AND INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN
 AN  EARLY  MAIL BALLOT, THAT physically handicapped voters or voters who
 are ill or voters who will be out of the city or county on  the  day  of
 the  primary  or general election, may obtain an absentee ballot and the
 phone number to call for absentee ballot applications, the phone numbers
 S. 7394                            18
 
 to call for location of polling places, to obtain registration forms and
 the phone number to call to indicate that the voter is willing to  serve
 on  election  day as an inspector, poll clerk or interpreter. The notice
 of  approval,  notice  of  approval with request for more information or
 notice of rejection shall also advise the applicant to notify the  board
 of elections if there is any inaccuracy. The form of such mail notifica-
 tion  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  state board of elections and shall
 contain such other information and instructions  as  it  may  reasonably
 require  to carry out the purposes of this section. The request for more
 information shall inform the voter that  "THE  FAILURE  TO  CONTACT  THE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  AND CORRECT ANY INACCURACIES IN THE APPLICATION OR
 PROVIDE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY RESULT  IN  A  REQUEST  FOR
 IDENTIFICATION  AT  THE  POLLS  IN  ORDER  TO  CAST  A  VOTE ON A VOTING
 MACHINE." If such notice is returned undelivered without a new  address,
 the  board  shall  forthwith  send  such applicant a confirmation notice
 pursuant to the provisions of section 5-712 of this  article  and  place
 such  applicant  in  inactive status. The state board of elections shall
 prepare uniform notices by this section as provided for  in  subdivision
 eight of section 3-102 of this chapter.
   §  19. Subdivision 18 of section 5-211 of the election law, as amended
 by section 1 of subpart M of part XX of chapter 55 of the laws of  2020,
 is amended to read as follows:
   18.  (a)  (i)  On  or  before  January first, two thousand twenty, all
 institutions of the state university of New York and the city university
 of New York shall create and make available to all  students  a  webpage
 for  voter  education  on  each such institution's website, containing a
 link to an application for voter registration, a link to an  application
 for  an [absentee] EARLY MAIL ballot, contact information for the county
 board of elections, and the name and contact information for the  admin-
 istrator responsible for voter registration assistance on each campus.
   (ii) Each such institution shall, at the beginning of the school year,
 and  again  in  January  of  a year in which the president of the United
 States is to be elected, provide an application for  voter  registration
 and  an  application for an [absentee] EARLY MAIL ballot to each student
 in each such  institution.  Each  institution  shall  be  considered  in
 compliance  with  the requirements of this subparagraph for each student
 to whom the institution electronically transmits  a  message  containing
 the  link to the webpage for voter education, the link to an application
 for voter registration and the link to an application for an  [absentee]
 EARLY  MAIL  ballot,  if  such  information  is in an electronic message
 devoted exclusively to voter registration.
   (iii) Each such institution shall provide the same degree  of  assist-
 ance as required of participating agencies.
   (b)  The  state  university of New York and the city university of New
 York, on behalf of each institution  within  its  system,  shall  on  or
 before June first, two thousand twenty, and each subsequent year, submit
 a  report disaggregated according to each institution to the state board
 of elections that includes:
   (i) the efforts of the institution to register voters in the preceding
 calendar year;
   (ii) a date-stamped screen shot of the  webpage  for  voter  education
 that  contains  the  required  information  under  paragraph (a) of this
 subdivision;
   (iii) the number of students who were registered for  course  work  in
 the preceding twelve months at such institution and the number of clicks
 S. 7394                            19
 
 on  the  links  to  online  voter registration and [absentee] EARLY MAIL
 ballot applications; and
   (iv)  any  other  efforts  or recommendations the institution plans to
 implement to improve access to voter registration and  [absentee]  EARLY
 MAIL ballot voting for students at the institution.
   (c)  The  state  board  of  elections  shall make the reports provided
 pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision publicly available on  its
 website.
   §  20.  Subdivision 5 of section 5-215 of the election law, as amended
 by chapter 375 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   5. If a veterans health administration hospital in which  any  veteran
 entitled  to  vote  in  this  state is a resident or patient, is located
 outside the State of New York, an  application  for  an  EARLY  MAIL  OR
 absentee  ballot  signed by such veteran or his or her spouse, parent or
 child accompanying or being with him or her, if a qualified voter and  a
 resident  of  the  same  election  district,  shall constitute permanent
 personal registration.
   § 21. Subdivision 1 of section 5-502 of the election law,  as  amended
 by chapter 510 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The board of elections shall furnish in time for use by the boards
 of inspectors of election, the registration records, an American flag, a
 map or certified description of the election district, and the adjoining
 election districts, challenge affidavits,  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  APPLICA-
 TIONS,  absentee voting applications, a list of voters who are currently
 registered in the election district, a list of  those  voters  who  have
 been  cancelled in the last year with the reason for such cancellations,
 forms for statements of temporary absence, a sufficient number of copies
 of the ballot proposals to be submitted to the  voters  at  the  ensuing
 election,  at  least  one copy of the instruction booklet for inspectors
 and all other forms and supplies required for the administration of  the
 registration system as provided by this article.
   §  22.  Paragraph  i of subdivision 3 of section 5-614 of the election
 law, as added by chapter 24 of the laws of 2005, is amended to  read  as
 follows:
   i.  allow  local  boards  of  elections,  using  their own systems, to
 perform essential election functions including but not limited to  proc-
 essing  of  EARLY  MAIL  VOTERS, absentee voters, administration of poll
 workers and polling places, assignment of election  jurisdictions  based
 on  residence  and address and other functions necessary for the conduct
 of elections using voter  registration  information  from  the  official
 statewide voter registration list.
   § 23. Subdivision 2-a and subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (e) of subdi-
 vision  3 of section 8-302 of the election law, subdivision 2-a as added
 by chapter 763 of the laws of 2021, and subparagraph (ii)  of  paragraph
 (e)  of subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 113 of the laws of 2023, are
 amended to read as follows:
   2-a. If a voter's name appears in the  ledger  or  computer  generated
 registration list with a notation indicating that the board of elections
 has  issued  the  voter  an  EARLY  MAIL,  absentee, military or special
 ballot, such voter shall not be permitted to vote on a voting machine at
 an early voting site or on  election  day  but  may  vote  by  affidavit
 ballot.
   (ii)  They  may  swear to and subscribe an affidavit stating that they
 have duly registered to vote, the address in such election district from
 which they registered, that they remain a duly qualified voter  in  such
 election  district,  that  their  registration poll record appears to be
 S. 7394                            20
 
 lost or misplaced or that their name and/or their signature was  omitted
 from  the  computer generated registration list or such record indicates
 the voter already voted when they did not do so or that they have  moved
 within New York state since they last registered, the address from which
 they  were previously registered and the address at which they currently
 reside, and at a primary election, the party in which they are enrolled.
 The inspectors of election shall offer such an affidavit  to  each  such
 voter  whose  residence  address is in such election district. Each such
 affidavit shall be in a form prescribed by the state board of elections,
 shall be printed on an envelope of the size  and  quality  used  for  an
 [absentee]  EARLY MAIL ballot envelope, and shall contain an acknowledg-
 ment that the affiant understands that any false statement made  therein
 is  perjury  punishable  according  to  law. Such form prescribed by the
 state board of elections shall request information required to  register
 such  voter should the county board determine that such voter is not yet
 registered and shall constitute an application to register to vote.  The
 voter's  name  and  the  entries  required shall then be entered without
 delay and without further inquiry in the fourth section of the challenge
 report or in the place provided in the computer  generated  registration
 list,  with  the  notation  that  the  voter  has executed the affidavit
 hereinabove prescribed, or, if such person's name appears in such regis-
 tration list, the board of elections may provide a place  to  make  such
 entry  next  to  their  name in such list. The voter shall then, without
 further inquiry, be permitted to vote an affidavit ballot  provided  for
 by  this chapter.  Such ballot shall thereupon be placed in the envelope
 containing their affidavit, and the envelope sealed and returned to  the
 board  of elections in the manner provided by this chapter for protested
 official ballots, including a statement of the number of such ballots.
   § 24. Section 8-502 of the election law, as amended by chapter 373  of
 the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
   § 8-502. Challenges; generally. Before his vote is cast at an election
 any  person  may  be challenged as to his right to vote, or his right to
 vote by EARLY MAIL, absentee, military, special federal or special pres-
 idential ballot. Such challenge may be made by an inspector or clerk, by
 any duly appointed watcher, or by any registered voter properly  in  the
 polling  place.  An  inspector  shall challenge every person offering to
 vote, whom he shall know or suspect is  not  entitled  to  vote  in  the
 district,  and every person whose name appears on the list of persons to
 be challenged on election  day  which  is  furnished  by  the  board  of
 elections.
   §  25.  The  section heading and subdivision 1 of section 8-506 of the
 election law, the section heading as amended by chapter 8 of the laws of
 1978 and subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 40 of the laws of 2009, are
 amended to read as follows:
   Challenges;  EARLY  MAIL,  absentee,  military,  special  federal  and
 special  presidential ballots.  1. During the examination of EARLY MAIL,
 absentee, military, special federal  and  special  presidential  voters'
 ballot  envelopes,  any  inspector  shall, and any watcher or registered
 voter properly in the polling place may, challenge the  casting  of  any
 ballot  upon  the ground or grounds allowed for challenges generally, or
 (a) that the voter was not entitled to cast  an  EARLY  MAIL,  absentee,
 military,  special  federal  or special presidential ballot, or (b) that
 notwithstanding the permissive use  of  titles,  initials  or  customary
 abbreviations  of given names, the signature on the ballot envelope does
 not correspond to the signature on the registration poll record, or  (c)
 that  the  voter  died before the day of the election. A CHALLENGE TO AN
 S. 7394                            21
 
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT MAY NOT BE MADE ON THE BASIS  THAT  THE  VOTER  SHOULD
 HAVE  APPLIED  FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT. A CHALLENGE TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
 MAY NOT BE MADE ON THE BASIS THAT THE VOTER SHOULD HAVE APPLIED  FOR  AN
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT.
   §  26.  Subdivisions  1 and 3 of section 9-124 of the election law, as
 amended by chapter 437 of the laws of  2019,  are  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   1.  After  the  returns  of  the  canvass are made out and signed, the
 inspectors shall enclose the ballot stubs, protested  and  void  ballots
 and the ballots cast in affidavit envelopes in separate sealed envelopes
 or  containers  and endorse thereon a certificate signed by each of them
 stating the number of the district and the number of  ballots  contained
 in  such  envelopes  or  containers.  The  inspectors  shall enclose the
 unscanned voted ballots canvassed in accordance with  section  9-110  of
 this title in a separate sealed envelope or container and endorse there-
 on  a  certificate  signed  by  each  of  them stating the number of the
 district, ballot scanner identification information and  the  number  of
 ballots  contained  in  such envelope or container. The inspectors shall
 then package and seal the other voted ballots and place them in  one  or
 more  boxes  or  containers, and include within such boxes or containers
 one portable memory device from each ballot scanner  pursuant  to  para-
 graph  (d)  of  subdivision  two of section 9-102 of this title, and any
 EARLY MAIL, absentee, military, special federal, or special presidential
 ballots which may have been delivered to the poll site  during  election
 day,  and securely lock and seal such boxes or containers. Notwithstand-
 ing the preceding sentence, such portable memory device from each ballot
 scanner with the corresponding results tape may be enclosed in a  sealed
 container  and  transported prior to and separately from other materials
 referenced in this section for the  purpose  of  using  such  device  to
 provide  an  unofficial tally of results as required by section 9-126 of
 this title.
   3. (a) Except in the city of New York, the registration  poll  records
 or  computer  generated  registration lists, the returns of canvass with
 results tapes and tally sheets, if  any,  annexed,  the  voted  ballots,
 stubs, opened packages of unused ballots and ballot envelopes, any EARLY
 MAIL,  absentee,  military,  special  federal,  or  special presidential
 ballots which may have been delivered to the poll site  during  election
 day, the challenge report records, keys and the package of protested and
 void ballots shall be filed with the board of elections.
   (b)  Records  and  supplies  to  be filed with a city, town or village
 clerk shall be so filed or delivered immediately after the completion of
 the returns of the canvass, by an inspector designated by the  board  of
 inspectors.  Returns,  papers  and registration poll records or computer
 generated registration lists to be filed with  the  board  of  elections
 shall  be  so  filed  by  the chairman of the board of inspectors within
 twenty-four hours after the  completion  of  such  returns.  The  person
 receiving  such  returns  in  the  board  of elections shall give to the
 person delivering the returns a receipt stating  therein  the  date  and
 hour  of  delivery,  the  name of the person making the delivery, and to
 whom said returns were delivered and shall  keep  a  duplicate  of  said
 receipt on file in the office of the board of elections.
   (c)  In the city of New York, the board of inspectors shall deliver to
 police or peace officers designated by the police commissioner  of  such
 city,  at  the  polling  place the registration poll records or computer
 generated registration lists, challenge  report,  records,  keys,  other
 election  supplies,  including  two copies of the returns of the canvass
 S. 7394                            22
 
 and any EARLY MAIL, absentee,  military,  special  federal,  or  special
 presidential  ballots  which  may  have  been delivered to the poll site
 during election day, voted  ballots,  stubs,  open  packages  of  unused
 ballots  and  ballot envelopes. Such police or peace officers shall file
 the returns, the package of void and protested ballots, if any, and  the
 EARLY MAIL, absentee, military, special federal, OR special presidential
 ballots  which  may have been delivered to the poll site during election
 day; and emergency ballots, stubs and ballot envelopes, if  any,  within
 twenty-four  hours  after  the  close of the polls, in the office of the
 board of elections or its branch office within the borough, as the  case
 may be.
   §  27.  The  section heading and opening paragraph, subdivision 1, the
 subdivision heading and opening paragraph of subdivision  2,  paragraphs
 (a)  and (b) of subdivision 4, the subdivision heading and paragraph (f)
 of subdivision 6, paragraphs (a) and (k) of subdivision 7, the  subdivi-
 sion  heading  and  paragraph  (a) of subdivision 8 and subdivision 9 of
 section 9-209 of the election law, as added by chapter 763 of  the  laws
 of 2021, are amended to read as follows:
   Canvass  of  EARLY  MAIL,  absentee, military and special ballots, and
 ballots cast in affidavit envelopes. Before completing  the  canvass  of
 votes  cast in any primary, general, special, or other election at which
 voters are required to  sign  their  registration  poll  records  before
 voting,  the  board of elections shall proceed in the manner hereinafter
 prescribed to review, cast and canvass EARLY MAIL, any  absentee,  mili-
 tary, special presidential, special federal or other special ballots and
 any  ballots  cast  in  affidavit  envelopes.  Each such ballot shall be
 retained in the original envelope containing the voter's  affidavit  and
 signature, in which it is delivered to the board of elections until such
 time as it is to be reviewed, in order to be cast and canvassed.
   1.  Central board of canvassers. Within four days of the receipt of an
 EARLY MAIL, absentee, military or special ballot, the board of elections
 shall designate itself or such of its employees as it shall deem  appro-
 priate  as  a  set  of  poll clerks to review such ballot envelopes. The
 board may designate additional sets of poll clerks and if it  designates
 more  than one such set shall apportion among all such sets the election
 districts from which such ballots have been received, provided that when
 reviewing ballots, all ballots from a single election district shall  be
 assigned  to  a  single  set  of clerks, and that each such set shall be
 divided equally between  representatives  of  the  two  major  political
 parties.  Each  such  set  of  clerks shall be deemed a central board of
 canvassers for purposes of this section.
   Review of EARLY MAIL, absentee, military and special ballot envelopes.
 Within four days of the receipt of an EARLY MAIL, absentee, military  or
 special  ballot before the election, and within one day of receipt on or
 after the election, each central board of canvassers shall  examine  the
 ballot  affirmation  envelopes as nearly as practicable in the following
 manner:
   (a) Such central board of canvassers shall review any federal write-in
 absentee ballots validly cast by an EARLY MAIL VOTER, AN absentee voter,
 a military voter or a special federal voter for the offices of president
 and  vice-president,  United  States  senator  and   representative   in
 congress. Such central board of canvassers shall also review any federal
 write-in absentee ballots validly cast by a military voter for all ques-
 tions  or proposals, public offices or party positions for which a mili-
 tary voter is otherwise eligible to vote as provided in  section  10-104
 of this chapter.
 S. 7394                            23
 
   (b)  Federal  write-in absentee ballots shall be deemed valid only if:
 (i) an application for an EARLY  MAIL,  absentee,  military  or  special
 federal  ballot  was received from the EARLY MAIL, absentee, military or
 special federal voter; (ii) the federal  write-in  absentee  ballot  was
 submitted  from  inside or outside the United States by a military voter
 or was submitted from outside the United States  by  a  special  federal
 voter; (iii) such ballot is received by the board of elections not later
 than  thirteen  days following the day of election or seven days after a
 primary election; and (iv) the EARLY MAIL, absentee, military or special
 federal ballot which was sent to the voter is not received by the  board
 of  elections  by  the  thirteenth day following the day of a general or
 special election or the seventh day after a primary election.
   Casting and canvassing of EARLY MAIL, absentee, military  and  special
 ballots.
   (f)  Upon completing the casting and canvassing of any remaining valid
 ballots as hereinabove provided for any election district,  the  central
 board  of  canvassers  shall  thereupon, as nearly as practicable in the
 manner provided in this article for EARLY MAIL, absentee,  military  and
 special  ballots,  verify the number of ballots so cast, tally the votes
 so cast, add such tally to the previous tally of all votes cast in  such
 election district, and record the result.
   (a)  Within four business days of the election, the board of elections
 shall review all affidavit ballots cast in the election. If the  central
 board  of  canvassers  determines  that a person was entitled to vote at
 such election it shall cast and canvass such affidavit ballot; provided,
 however, if the board of elections receives one  or  more  timely  EARLY
 MAIL  OR absentee ballots from a voter who also cast an affidavit ballot
 at a poll site, the last such  timely  EARLY  MAIL  OR  absentee  ballot
 received  shall be canvassed and the affidavit ballot shall be set aside
 unopened; and provided further, if a voter was issued an EARLY  MAIL  OR
 absentee  ballot  and  votes  in  person via an affidavit ballot and the
 board does not receive such EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot, the affidavit
 ballot shall be canvassed if the voter is otherwise qualified to vote in
 such election.
   (k) The board of elections shall enter  information  into  the  ballot
 tracking  system,  as  defined  in [section] SECTIONS 8-414 AND 8-712 of
 this chapter, to allow a voter who cast a ballot in an EARLY  VOTING  OR
 affidavit envelope to determine if the vote was counted.
   Post-election  review  of  invalid  EARLY MAIL, absentee, military and
 special ballots. (a) Within four business  days  of  the  election,  the
 board  of  elections  shall designate itself or such of its employees to
 act as a central board of canvassers as provided in subdivision  one  of
 this  section  and  meet  to  review  EARLY MAIL, absentee, military and
 special ballots determined to be invalid pursuant to  paragraph  (a)  of
 subdivision  two of this section, ballot envelopes that were returned to
 the board as undeliverable, and ballot envelopes containing one or  more
 curable defects that have not been timely cured.
   9. State board of elections; powers and duties for canvassing of EARLY
 MAIL, absentee, military, special and affidavit ballots. The state board
 of  elections  shall  promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
 implementation of the provisions of this section. Such rules  and  regu-
 lations  shall  include, but not be limited to, provisions to (a) ensure
 an efficient and fair review process that respects the  privacy  of  the
 voter, (b) ensure the security of the central count scanners used before
 election  day,  and  (c)  ensure  that  ballots cast as provided in this
 section are canvassed and counted as if cast on election day.
 S. 7394                            24
 
   § 28. Section 10-122 of the  election  law,  the  section  heading  as
 amended  by  chapter  373  of  the  laws  of 1978, is amended to read as
 follows:
   § 10-122. Military voter; EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot, right to. Any
 military  voter  may vote by EARLY MAIL BALLOT OR absentee ballot rather
 than military ballot provided that he complies with  the  provisions  of
 this chapter relating thereto.
   § 29. Subdivision 2 of section 10-124 of the election law, as added by
 chapter 262 of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  The  state  board  of elections shall be responsible for providing
 information  regarding  voter  registration  procedures  and  [absentee]
 ballot  procedures  applicable  to  military  and special federal voters
 wishing to register or vote in any jurisdiction of the state.
   § 30. Section 11-300 of the election law, as amended by chapter 163 of
 the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
   § 11-300. Special ballots on account of religious  scruples.  A  voter
 may  deliver  to  the inspectors of election of the election district in
 which he is registered, or to the board of elections, at any time during
 the period in which an application for EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot may
 be so delivered pursuant to the provisions of this  chapter,  a  written
 statement  of  religious  scruples  against  voting  at  a polling place
 located in a premises used for religious  purposes.  In  the  event  the
 polling place for any such voter's election district shall be located in
 a  premises  used  for  religious purposes, the board of elections shall
 permit such voter to cast a special ballot, at an office of  such  board
 of  elections,  not  earlier  than  one week before the election and not
 later than the close of the polls on election day. Such ballots shall be
 retained at the board of elections and cast and  canvassed  pursuant  to
 the provisions of section 9-209 of this chapter.
   §  30-a.  Subdivision  1  of  section  11-306  of the election law, as
 amended by chapter 150 of the laws  of  2019,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   1.  A  voter  may  deliver  to the board of elections, in person or by
 mail, at any time during the period in  which  EARLY  MAIL  OR  absentee
 ballot  applications may be delivered, a signed written statement swear-
 ing or affirming:
   (a) that he or she is the victim of domestic violence;
   (b) that he or she has left his  or  her  residence  because  of  such
 violence; and
   (c)  that  because  of  the  threat  of  physical or emotional harm to
 himself or herself or to family or household members, he or  she  wishes
 to  cast  a  special  ballot  in  the  next election. The statement must
 include the voter's address of  registration.  The  board  of  elections
 shall  permit such a voter to cast a special ballot at an office of such
 board of elections not later than the close of  the  polls  on  election
 day,  or  by  mail  within the same time and in the same manner in which
 EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballots may be cast, provided  however  that  the
 distribution  of  such  ballots  to such voters shall be timed to afford
 such voters sufficient time to cast such ballots prior to the  close  of
 the  polls  on election day. Such ballots shall be retained at the board
 of elections and cast  and  canvassed  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of
 section 9-209 of this chapter.
   § 30-b. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 11-308 of the election law, as
 added  by  chapter  485  of  the  laws  of  2016, are amended to read as
 follows:
 S. 7394                            25
 
   1. A registered voter who serves as an emergency responder in times of
 emergency, as declared by the governor or a court of competent jurisdic-
 tion, may apply to the board of elections by letter or special  applica-
 tion  via mail, facsimile or e-mail, for a special ballot. Such applica-
 tion  or  letter  may be delivered to the board of elections at any time
 prior to any election, without regard to deadlines for  the  receipt  of
 EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot applications.
   2.  Emergency  responders may utilize an EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot
 application to request a special ballot, or may file a written statement
 that he or she will be unable to appear at the polling place on the  day
 of  an  election  because  his  or  her duties as an emergency responder
 require such voter to be elsewhere. The emergency responder shall desig-
 nate a preference for the receipt of a  special  ballot.  The  board  of
 elections  shall  provide  such  voter a special ballot immediately upon
 such request, and shall utilize overnight express delivery for such mail
 ballot delivery.  If the designated preference is for facsimile or elec-
 tronic transmission, the ballot shall be furnished in  the  same  manner
 applicable to military voters who request ballots in such format.
   § 31. Section 15-100 of the election law, as amended by chapter 359 of
 the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:
   §  15-100. Application of article. This article applies to all general
 and special village elections for officers and  all  the  provisions  of
 this  chapter,  not  inconsistent  with this article, shall apply to all
 village elections, except that if a village  has  adopted  a  resolution
 pursuant  to  paragraph  c  of subdivision one of section 15-104 of this
 article, the other provisions of this chapter governing the  conduct  of
 elections  and  proceedings  relating  thereto, including the manner and
 times for making nominations and proceedings relating to EARLY MAIL  AND
 absentee  voting,  and  the  provisions of this article not inconsistent
 with other provisions of this chapter shall apply to such elections.
   § 32. Subdivision 8 of section 15-118 of the election law, as  amended
 by chapter 217 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
   8.  The  village  clerk  shall  furnish the inspectors of election, at
 village expense, with all necessary registration books,  papers,  equip-
 ment  and  supplies. The village clerk shall also deliver to the inspec-
 tors a list of all persons who have applied for EARLY MAIL  OR  absentee
 ballots  for  the  election  for which the registration meeting is being
 held.
   § 33. Subdivisions 1 and 5 of section 16-106 of the election  law,  as
 amended  by  chapter  763  of  the  laws of 2021, are amended to read as
 follows:
   1. The post-election refusal to cast: (a)  challenged  ballots,  blank
 ballots,  or  void ballots; (b) EARLY MAIL, absentee, military, special,
 or federal write-in ballots; (c)  emergency  ballots;  and  (d)  ballots
 voted in affidavit envelopes may be contested in a proceeding instituted
 in  the supreme or county court, by any candidate or the chairman of any
 party committee, and by any voter with respect to the  refusal  to  cast
 such voter's ballot, against the board of canvassers of the returns from
 such  district, if any, and otherwise against the board of inspectors of
 election of such district. If the court determines that the  person  who
 cast  such  ballot was entitled to vote at such election, it shall order
 such ballot to be cast and canvassed, including if the court finds  that
 ministerial  error  by  the  board  of elections or any of its employees
 caused such ballot envelope not to be valid on its face.
   5. In the event  procedural  irregularities  or  other  facts  arising
 during  the  election suggest a change or altering of the canvass sched-
 S. 7394                            26
 
 ule, as provided for in section 9-209 of this chapter, may be warranted,
 a candidate may seek an order for temporary  or  preliminary  injunctive
 relief  or  an impound order halting or altering the canvassing schedule
 of  EARLY  MAIL,  absentee, military, special or affidavit ballots. Upon
 any such application, the board or boards of elections have a  right  to
 be  heard.  To obtain such relief, the petitioner must meet the criteria
 in article sixty-three of the civil practice law and rules and  show  by
 clear  and  convincing evidence, that, because of procedural irregulari-
 ties or other facts arising during the election, the petitioner will  be
 irreparably harmed absent such relief. For the purposes of this section,
 allegations  that opinion polls show that an election is close is insuf-
 ficient to show irreparable harm to a petitioner by clear and convincing
 evidence.
   § 34. Subdivision 4 of section 16-108 of the election law  is  amended
 to read as follows:
   4.  Such  court,  justice  or judge, in a proceeding instituted by any
 voter unlawfully denied an EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot or the applica-
 tion therefor, shall compel, by order, the delivery to such voter  of  a
 ballot or application.
   §  35.  Subdivision 8 of section 17-132 of the election law is amended
 and a new closing paragraph is added to read as follows:
   8. Fraudulently signs the name of another upon an EARLY MAIL OR absen-
 tee voter's envelope or aids in doing or attempting to do  a  fraudulent
 act  in connection with an EARLY MAIL OR absentee vote cast or attempted
 to be cast; or,
   PROVIDED FURTHER THAT, A PERSON WHOSE ABSENTEE BALLOT  APPLICATION  IS
 PROCESSED  AS AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT APPLICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 8-402
 OR SECTION 15-120 OF THIS CHAPTER,  IS  NOT  SUBJECT  TO  PENALTY  UNDER
 SUBDIVISION  SEVEN OF THIS SECTION FOR ATTEMPTING TO VOTE AS AN ABSENTEE
 VOTER.
   § 36. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 17-212 of the election
 law, as added by chapter 226 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read  as
 follows:
   (b)  A  violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be estab-
 lished if:
   (i) a person uses or threatens to use any force, violence,  restraint,
 abduction  or  duress,  or  inflicts or threatens to inflict any injury,
 damage, harm or loss, or in any other manner practices intimidation that
 causes or will reasonably have the effect of causing any person to  vote
 or  refrain  from  voting  in  general  or for or against any particular
 person or for or against any proposition submitted  to  voters  at  such
 election; to place or refrain from placing their name upon a registry of
 voters; or to request or refrain from requesting an EARLY MAIL OR absen-
 tee ballot; or
   (ii)  a  person  knowingly  uses  any  deceptive or fraudulent device,
 contrivance or communication, that impedes, prevents or otherwise inter-
 feres with the free exercise of the elective franchise by any person, or
 that causes or will reasonably have the effect of causing any person  to
 vote  or refrain from voting in general or for or against any particular
 person or for or against any proposition submitted  to  voters  at  such
 election; to place or refrain from placing their name upon a registry of
 voters; or to request or refrain from requesting an EARLY MAIL OR absen-
 tee ballot; or
   (iii) a person obstructs, impedes, or otherwise interferes with access
 to  any  polling  place  or  elections office, or obstructs, impedes, or
 otherwise interferes with any voter in any manner that  causes  or  will
 S. 7394                            27
 
 reasonably  have the effect of causing any delay in voting or the voting
 process, including the canvassing and tabulation of ballots.
   §  37.  Subdivision 1 of section 1512 of the education law, as amended
 by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   1. Such meeting shall be organized  as  provided  in  section  fifteen
 hundred twenty-three. Such meeting may adopt a resolution to consolidate
 such  districts if two-thirds of the qualified electors of each district
 having less than fifteen of such electors are present,  or  in  case  of
 districts  having  fifteen or more qualified electors if ten or more are
 present. The vote upon such resolution shall be by ballot or  by  taking
 and  recording  the  ayes and noes.   If the vote shall be by taking and
 recording the ayes and noes, the clerk and such  assistants  as  may  be
 provided  for him by the meeting shall keep a poll-list upon which shall
 be recorded the names of all qualified electors voting upon  the  resol-
 ution, the districts in which such electors reside, and how each elector
 voted.    If  the  vote  shall  be  by ballot, one or more inspectors of
 election shall be appointed in such manner as the meeting  shall  deter-
 mine,  who  shall  receive the votes cast, canvass the same and announce
 the result of the ballot to the chairman.   If  the  vote  shall  be  by
 ballot  then  voting  machines  may  be used in the manner prescribed by
 section two thousand thirty-five of this [chapter] TITLE  and  provision
 shall  be  made for absentee ballots as provided in section two thousand
 eighteen-a or two thousand eighteen-b of this [chapter] TITLE, WHICHEVER
 SHALL APPLY, AND EARLY MAIL BALLOTS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION TWO  THOUSAND
 EIGHTEEN-E  OR  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN-F OF THIS TITLE, WHICHEVER SHALL
 APPLY.  If it shall appear that a majority  of  the  qualified  electors
 present  and  voting from each district are in favor of such resolution,
 it shall be declared adopted and where at least  one  of  the  districts
 consolidated is a union free school district it shall be lawful for such
 meeting thereafter to proceed to the election of a board of education as
 provided in sections seventeen hundred two and seventeen hundred four of
 this  [chapter] TITLE.   If a majority of the qualified electors present
 and voting from each district are not in favor of such  resolution,  all
 further  proceedings  at  such meeting, except a motion to reconsider or
 adjourn, shall be dispensed with and no  such  meeting  shall  be  again
 called within one year thereafter.
   §  38.  Subdivision 5 of section 1522 of the education law, as amended
 by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   5. Whenever fifteen persons, entitled as aforesaid, from each  of  two
 or  more  adjoining districts, shall unite in a request for a meeting of
 the inhabitants of such districts, to determine whether  such  districts
 shall  be  consolidated  by  the  establishment  of  a union free school
 district therein,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  trustees  of  such
 districts,  or a majority of them, to submit such proposed consolidation
 to the commissioner of  education  for  approval.  If  the  commissioner
 approve  such proposed consolidation, it shall be the duty of such trus-
 tees, or a majority of them, to give public notice of such  meeting,  at
 some  convenient  place within such districts, and as central as may be,
 within the time and to be published and served in the manner  set  forth
 in this section, in each of such districts and to provide for the use of
 absentee  ballots  as  provided under section two thousand eighteen-a or
 two thousand eighteen-b of this [chapter] TITLE, whichever shall  apply,
 AND EARLY MAIL BALLOTS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN-E OR
 TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN-F OF THIS TITLE, WHICHEVER SHALL APPLY.
   §  39.  Subdivision 1 of section 1524 of the education law, as amended
 by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
 S. 7394                            28
 
   1. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or any other  gener-
 al, special, or local law to the contrary, whenever the qualified voters
 of  a school district which is contiguous to the city school district of
 a city with less than  one  hundred  twenty-five  thousand  inhabitants,
 according  to  the latest federal census, by a majority vote taken at an
 annual or special meeting of such district shall adopt a proposition  to
 consolidate such school district with such city school district, and the
 board of education of such city school district shall by resolution duly
 adopted  consent  thereto,  the  commissioner  of education may by order
 consolidate  such  school  district  with  such  city  school  district;
 provided, however, that where several school districts are contiguous to
 each  other  and  at least one of such school districts is contiguous to
 such city school district, such vote may be taken in each of such school
 districts at the same time, and if the  proposition  to  consolidate  is
 adopted  by  a  majority vote in each such district, including any votes
 cast by absentee ballot as provided under  section  two  thousand  eigh-
 teen-a  or  two  thousand  eighteen-b of this [chapter] TITLE, whichever
 shall apply, AND ANY VOTES CAST BY EARLY MAIL  BALLOTS  AS  PROVIDED  IN
 SECTION  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN-E  OR  TWO  THOUSAND EIGHTEEN-F OF THIS
 TITLE, WHICHEVER SHALL APPLY, and upon the consent of  the  city  school
 district  board  of education, the commissioner of education may include
 each such district in one order  of  consolidation;  provided,  further,
 however,  that  if  the  proposition  to consolidate is not adopted by a
 majority vote in each such district, but is so adopted in one or more of
 such districts, upon the consent of the city school  district  board  of
 education,  the  commissioner  may include in one order of consolidation
 only such district or districts as, either singly or  as  a  group,  are
 contiguous to such city school district. Such order shall specify a date
 on  which  the same shall take effect, and shall have the same effect as
 an order made by a district superintendent dissolving two or more common
 school districts and forming a new district therefrom, or dissolving one
 or more common school districts and uniting the territory thereof  to  a
 union free school district under the provisions of article thirty-one of
 this  [chapter]  TITLE.    A  copy of such order shall be filed with the
 clerk of each school district affected thereby.
   § 40. Subdivision 5 of section 1803 of the education law,  as  amended
 by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  Votes  upon the adoption of a resolution shall be cast in the same
 manner as votes for  the  election  of  school  district  trustees.  The
 commissioner  of education may order such modifications in the manner of
 voting as are customary for school district elections in  the  community
 affected  by such vote. Such modifications may include the use of voting
 machines and shall include the use of absentee ballots as provided under
 section two thousand eighteen-a  or  two  thousand  eighteen-b  of  this
 [chapter]  TITLE,  whichever  shall  apply,  AND  EARLY  MAIL BALLOTS AS
 PROVIDED IN SECTION TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN-E OR TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN-F
 OF THIS TITLE, WHICHEVER SHALL APPLY.
   §  41. Paragraph f of subdivision 2 of section 1803-a of the education
 law, as added by chapter 461 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read  as
 follows:
   f. Provision shall be made for the use of absentee ballots as provided
 under section two thousand eighteen-a or two thousand eighteen-b of this
 [chapter]  TITLE,  whichever  shall  apply,  AND  EARLY  MAIL BALLOTS AS
 PROVIDED UNDER SECTION TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN-E  OR  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGH-
 TEEN-F OF THIS TITLE, WHICHEVER SHALL APPLY.
 S. 7394                            29
 
   § 42. Subdivision 2 of section 1951 of the education law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph t to read as follows:
   T.  THE  BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE EARLY
 MAIL BALLOTS TO QUALIFIED VOTERS. THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ADOPT  REGU-
 LATIONS  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF IMPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARA-
 GRAPH WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, CREATING THE PROCEDURE
 FOR WHICH SUCH EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL  BE  SUBMITTED;  PROVIDING  THAT
 SUCH  EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL BE, AS NEARLY AS PRACTICABLE, IN THE SAME
 FORM AS THOSE VOTED AT THE DISTRICT ELECTION; REQUIRING THAT  ANY  EARLY
 MAIL BALLOT APPLICANT IS OR WILL BE, ON THE DAY OF THE VOTE, A QUALIFIED
 VOTER  OF  THE  BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES AND THAT HE OR
 SHE WILL BE ON SUCH DATE OVER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, A  CITIZEN  OF  THE
 UNITED  STATES  AND HAS OR WILL HAVE RESIDED IN SAID DISTRICT FOR THIRTY
 DAYS NEXT PRECEDING SUCH DATE; AND  PROVIDING  INSTRUCTIONS  AS  TO  THE
 PROPER MARKING THEREOF.
   §  43. Subdivision 7 of section 2004 of the education law, as added by
 chapter 219 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
   7. Such notice shall also state that applications for EARLY  MAIL  AND
 absentee ballots for election of board members may be applied for at the
 office  of  the  clerk of the district. Such notice, in such case, shall
 further state that a list of all persons to whom EARLY MAIL AND absentee
 ballots shall have been issued, will be available in the said office  of
 the  clerk  on  each  of  the five days prior to the day of the election
 except Sundays, and that such list will also be posted  at  the  polling
 place or places at the election of members of the board of education.
   §  44. Paragraph b of subdivision 2 of section 2018-a of the education
 law, as added by chapter 616 of the laws of 2019, is amended and  a  new
 paragraph c-1 is added to read as follows:
   b.  Each person entitled to vote as an absentee voter pursuant to this
 section and desirous of obtaining an absentee ballot shall make  written
 application  therefor  to  the district clerk. Application forms for use
 pursuant to this section shall be in a  form  prescribed  by  the  state
 board  of elections.   THE STANDARD APPLICATION FORM SHALL INDICATE THAT
 IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT THE APPLICANT  IS  ENTI-
 TLED  TO  AN  ABSENTEE  BALLOT,  THE APPLICATION WILL BE PROCESSED AS AN
 APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH C-1  OF  THIS
 SUBDIVISION,  AND  THE  APPLICANT  WILL  BE SENT AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT IF
 OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE. The use of  any  application  which  is  on  a  form
 prescribed by the state board of elections shall be acceptable.
   C-1.  PROVIDED  THAT,  IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT
 THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH
 C OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLICA-
 TION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO SECTION 2018-E OF THIS PART.
   § 45. Subdivisions 3 and 6 of section 2018-a  of  the  education  law,
 subdivision  3  as added by chapter 219 of the laws of 1978 and subdivi-
 sion 6 as amended by chapter 29 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read
 as follows:
   3. If, upon examining the application required under the provisions of
 subdivision two of this section, and upon such inquiry as it deems prop-
 er, the board of registration shall be satisfied that the applicant is a
 qualified voter of the  district,  and  entitled  to  vote  by  absentee
 ballot, such board shall place his name upon the register, thereupon the
 applicant  shall  be issued or mailed an absentee voter's ballot and the
 board of registration shall make an appropriate entry  on  the  register
 indicating  that  an absentee ballot has been applied for by, and issued
 to, the applicant.  PROVIDED THAT, AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
 S. 7394                            30

 THAT DOES NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO SUCH  A
 BALLOT  AS  REQUIRED  IN PARAGRAPH C OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION,
 THE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLICATION FOR AN  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT PURSUANT TO SECTION 2018-E OF THIS PART.
   6.  The board of registration shall make a list of all persons to whom
 absentee voter's ballots shall have been issued and file  such  list  in
 the  office  of  the  clerk  where  it  shall  be  available  for public
 inspection during regular office hours until the day  of  the  election.
 Any  qualified  voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written
 challenge of the qualifications as a voter  of  any  person  whose  name
 appears  on  such list, stating the reasons for such challenge.  A CHAL-
 LENGE TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT MAY NOT BE MADE ON THE BASIS THAT THE  VOTER
 SHOULD  HAVE  APPLIED  FOR  AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT. Such written challenge
 shall be transmitted by the clerk  to  the  inspectors  of  election  on
 election day.
   § 46. Paragraph a of subdivision 2 and subdivisions 3 and 7 of section
 2018-b  of  the education law, paragraph a of subdivision 2 and subdivi-
 sion 3 as amended by chapter 46 of the laws of 1992 and subdivision 7 as
 amended by chapter 29 of the laws  of  2000,  are  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   a.  An  applicant for such an absentee ballot shall submit an applica-
 tion setting forth (1) his name and  residence  address,  including  the
 street and number, if any, or town and rural delivery route, if any; (2)
 that  he  is  or  will be, on the day of the school district election, a
 qualified voter of the school district in which he resides in that he is
 or will be, on such date, over eighteen years of age, a citizen  of  the
 United  States  and  has or will have resided in the district for thirty
 days next preceding such date; (3) that he will be unable to  appear  to
 vote  in person on the day of the school district election for which the
 absentee ballot is requested because he is, or will be on such day (a) a
 patient in a hospital, or unable to appear  personally  at  the  polling
 place  on  such  day  because  of  illness or physical disability or (b)
 because his duties, occupation, business, or studies will require him to
 be outside of the county or city of  his  residence  on  such  day,  (c)
 because  he  will be on vacation outside the county or city of his resi-
 dence on such day; or, (d) absent from his voting residence  because  he
 is detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial or
 is confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felo-
 ny.  Such application must be received by the district clerk or designee
 of the trustees or school board at least seven days before the  election
 if  the  ballot  is  to  be  mailed  to the voter, or the day before the
 election, if the ballot is to be  delivered  personally  to  the  voter.
 PROVIDED  THAT,  IF  THE  APPLICANT  DOES  NOT PROVIDE A REASON THAT THE
 APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVI-
 SION, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLICATION FOR AN  EARLY
 MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO SECTION 2018-F OF THIS PART.
   3. If, upon examining the application required under the provisions of
 subdivision two of this section, and upon such inquiry as it deems prop-
 er,  the  clerk  of  the  school district or designee of the trustees or
 school board shall be satisfied that the applicant is a qualified  voter
 of  the district, and entitled to vote by absentee ballot, such clerk of
 the school district or designee of the trustees or  school  board  shall
 cause to be issued or mailed to the applicant an absentee voter's ballot
 and  the  clerk  of  the  school district or designee of the trustees or
 school board shall make an appropriate entry on the poll  list  pursuant
 to  section  two  thousand twenty-nine of this [article] PART.  PROVIDED
 S. 7394                            31
 
 THAT, AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT  THAT  DOES  NOT  PROVIDE  A
 REASON  THAT  THE  APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO SUCH A BALLOT SHALL BE PROC-
 ESSED AS AN APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH A
 OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION AND SECTION 2018-F OF THIS PART.
   7.  The  clerk  of  the school district or designee of the trustees or
 school board shall make a list of all persons to whom  absentee  voter's
 ballots  shall have been issued and maintain such list where it shall be
 available for public inspection during regular office  hours  until  the
 day  of  the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such
 list, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter  of  any
 person  whose  name  appears  on such list, stating the reasons for such
 challenge.  A CHALLENGE TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT MAY NOT  BE  MADE  ON  THE
 BASIS  THAT THE VOTER SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT. Such
 written challenge shall be transmitted by the clerk or the  designee  of
 the  trustees  or school board to the inspectors of election on election
 day.
   § 47. The education law is amended by adding a new section  2018-e  to
 read as follows:
   §  2018-E.  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS. 1. THE
 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF ANY UNION FREE, CENTRAL  OR  CENTRAL  HIGH  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT  WHICH  ELECTS  SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BY BALLOT AND PROVIDES FOR
 PERSONAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS, SHALL PROVIDE FOR  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOTS
 FOR  THE  ELECTION  OF  MEMBERS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL
 DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES, THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET  AND
 SCHOOL  DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET AND REFERENDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   1-A. IN COUNTIES WITH A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE,  THE  BOARD
 OF  EDUCATION OF ANY UNION FREE, CENTRAL OR CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
 WHICH ELECTS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BY BALLOT AND  PROVIDES  FOR  PERSONAL
 REGISTRATION  OF  VOTERS  SHALL  PROVIDE  FOR EARLY MAIL BALLOTS FOR THE
 ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC
 LIBRARY TRUSTEES, THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND SCHOOL  DISTRICT
 PUBLIC  LIBRARY  BUDGET AND REFERENDA, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SECTION.
   2. A. A QUALIFIED VOTER MAY VOTE AS AN EARLY  MAIL  VOTER  UNDER  THIS
 SECTION.
   B.  EACH  PERSON  ENTITLED  TO VOTE AS AN EARLY MAIL VOTER PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION AND DESIROUS OF OBTAINING AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT  SHALL  MAKE
 WRITTEN  APPLICATION  THEREFOR  TO THE DISTRICT CLERK. APPLICATION FORMS
 FOR USE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN A FORM  PRESCRIBED  BY  THE
 STATE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS. THE USE OF ANY APPLICATION WHICH IS ON A FORM
 PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL BE ACCEPTABLE.
   C. THE APPLICATION FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT WHEN FILED MUST CONTAIN IN
 EACH INSTANCE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
   (1) APPLICANT'S FULL NAME,  DATE  OF  BIRTH,  AND  RESIDENCE  ADDRESS,
 INCLUDING  THE  STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY, RURAL DELIVERY ROUTE, IF ANY,
 MAILING ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS AND  AN  ADDRESS
 TO WHICH THE BALLOT SHALL BE MAILED.
   (2)  A  STATEMENT  THAT  THE  APPLICANT  IS A QUALIFIED AND REGISTERED
 VOTER.
   D. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED
 BY THE VOTER:
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I  MAKE  ANY  MATERIAL
 FALSE STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF APPLICATION FOR EARLY MAIL
 BALLOT, I SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
 S. 7394                            32
 
 DATE.....................SIGNATURE OF VOTER ............................
   E.  AN  APPLICATION  MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT CLERK NO EARLIER
 THAN THE THIRTIETH DAY BEFORE THE  ELECTION  FOR  WHICH  AN  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT IS SOUGHT. IF THE APPLICATION REQUESTS THAT THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT
 BE  MAILED,  SUCH APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED NOT LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS
 BEFORE THE ELECTION. IF THE APPLICANT OR THEIR AGENT DELIVERS THE APPLI-
 CATION TO THE  DISTRICT  CLERK  IN  PERSON,  SUCH  APPLICATION  MUST  BE
 RECEIVED  NOT LATER THAN THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION. THE DISTRICT CLERK
 SHALL EXAMINE EACH APPLICATION AND SHALL DETERMINE FROM THE  INFORMATION
 CONTAINED  THEREIN WHETHER THE APPLICANT IS QUALIFIED UNDER THIS SECTION
 TO RECEIVE AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT.
   F. NO LATER THAN SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR WHICH AN APPLICATION
 HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND FOR WHICH THE DISTRICT CLERK  HAS  DETERMINED  THE
 APPLICANT  TO  BE  QUALIFIED  TO  VOTE BY EARLY MAIL BALLOT THE DISTRICT
 CLERK SHALL MAIL, BY REGULAR MAIL, AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO  EACH  QUALI-
 FIED  APPLICANT  WHO  HAS  APPLIED BEFORE SUCH DAY AND WHO HAS REQUESTED
 THAT SUCH EARLY MAIL BALLOT BE MAILED TO HIM OR HER AT THE  ADDRESS  SET
 FORTH IN THEIR APPLICATION. IF THE APPLICANT OR THEIR AGENT DELIVERS THE
 APPLICATION TO THE DISTRICT CLERK IN PERSON AFTER THE SEVENTH DAY BEFORE
 THE  ELECTION  AND  NOT  LATER  THAN  THE  DAY  BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE
 DISTRICT CLERK SHALL FORTHWITH DELIVER SUCH EARLY MAIL BALLOTS FOR THOSE
 APPLICANTS WHOM HE OR SHE DETERMINES ARE QUALIFIED TO MAKE SUCH APPLICA-
 TIONS AND TO RECEIVE SUCH BALLOTS TO SUCH APPLICANTS OR THE AGENTS NAMED
 IN THE APPLICATIONS  WHEN  SUCH  APPLICANTS  OR  AGENTS  APPEAR  IN  THE
 DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE.
   3. IF, UPON EXAMINING THE APPLICATION REQUIRED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
 SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AND UPON SUCH INQUIRY AS IT DEEMS PROP-
 ER, THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION SHALL BE SATISFIED THAT THE APPLICANT IS A
 QUALIFIED  VOTER  OF THE DISTRICT ENTITLED TO VOTE BY EARLY MAIL BALLOT,
 SUCH BOARD SHALL PLACE THEIR  NAME  UPON  THE  REGISTER,  THEREUPON  THE
 APPLICANT SHALL BE ISSUED OR MAILED AN EARLY MAIL VOTER'S BALLOT AND THE
 BOARD  OF  REGISTRATION  SHALL MAKE AN APPROPRIATE ENTRY ON THE REGISTER
 INDICATING THAT AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY, AND ISSUED
 TO, THE APPLICANT.
   4. BALLOTS FOR EARLY MAIL VOTERS SHALL BE, AS NEARLY  AS  PRACTICABLE,
 IN  THE  SAME FORM AS THOSE TO BE VOTED AT THE DISTRICT ELECTION; IF THE
 VOTE AT SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE BY BALLOT, THE EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  SHALL
 CONFORM  TO THE REGULAR BALLOT; IF THE VOTE OF SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE BY
 VOTING MACHINE, THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL CONFORM AS CLOSELY AS POSSI-
 BLE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE NAMES OF THE  CANDIDATES,  THE  QUESTIONS
 AND  THE  PROPOSITIONS  APPEAR  ON  THE VOTING MACHINES, EXCEPT THAT THE
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL ALSO CONTAIN A SPACE FOR A  WRITE-IN  OR  WRITE-
 INS.  SUCH  EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL ALSO CONTAIN INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE
 PROPER MARKING THEREOF, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE  PROVISIONS  OF  SECTIONS
 TWO  THOUSAND  THIRTY-TWO  AND TWO THOUSAND THIRTY-FOUR OF THIS PART. ON
 THE BACK OF SUCH EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL BE PRINTED THE WORDS "OFFICIAL
 BALLOT, EARLY MAIL VOTER".
   5. A. THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION SHALL ENCLOSE EACH EARLY MAIL  VOTER'S
 BALLOT IN AN ENVELOPE WHICH SHALL BE LABELLED:
                             ELECTION MATERIAL
                               PLEASE EXPEDITE
   ON ONE SIDE OF SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL BE PRINTED:
                     OFFICIAL BALLOT, EARLY MAIL VOTER
                                     FOR
                          SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION
 S. 7394                            33
 
 NAME OF VOTER ..............
 RESIDENCE (STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY) ......
 CITY (OR TOWN) OF .............
 COUNTY OF .................
 SCHOOL DISTRICT ..............
 SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT (IF APPLICABLE) ......
   THE  DATE  OF  THE  ELECTION  AND NAME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE
 PRINTED, AND THE NAME OF  THE  VOTER,  RESIDENCE,  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  AND
 SCHOOL  ELECTION  DISTRICT  (IF  APPLICABLE)  SHALL BE WRITTEN IN BY THE
 BOARD OF REGISTRATION.
   B. ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL BE PRINTED THE FOLLOWING
 STATEMENT:
                       STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER
   I DO DECLARE THAT I AM A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL BE  AT
 LEAST  EIGHTEEN  YEARS  OF  AGE,  ON  THE  DATE  OF  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
 ELECTION; THAT I WILL HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF  THIS  STATE  AND  OF  THE
 SCHOOL  DISTRICT  AND  SCHOOL  ELECTION  DISTRICT,  IF ANY, SHOWN ON THE
 REVERSE SIDE OF THIS ENVELOPE FOR THIRTY DAYS NEXT  PRECEDING  THE  SAID
 ELECTION  AND DULY REGISTERED IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL ELECTION
 DISTRICT, IF ANY, SHOWN ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS ENVELOPE AND THAT  I
 AM  OR  ON SUCH DATE WILL BE, A QUALIFIED VOTER OF SAID SCHOOL DISTRICT;
 THAT I HAVE NOT QUALIFIED, OR DO I INTEND TO VOTE, ELSEWHERE THAN AS SET
 FORTH ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS ENVELOPE; THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED  OR
 OFFERED, DO NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE, HAVE NOT PAID, OFFERED OR PROMISED TO
 PAY,  CONTRIBUTED,  OFFERED  OR  PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER TO BE
 PAID OR USED, ANY MONEY OR OTHER VALUABLE THING, AS  A  COMPENSATION  OR
 REWARD  FOR  THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT
 ELECTION, AND HAVE NOT MADE ANY PROMISE TO INFLUENCE THE GIVING OR WITH-
 HOLDING OF ANY SUCH VOTES; THAT I HAVE NOT MADE OR  BECOME  DIRECTLY  OR
 INDIRECTLY  INTERESTED  IN ANY BET OR WAGER DEPENDING UPON THE RESULT OF
 THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION; AND THAT I HAVE  NOT  BEEN  CONVICTED  OF
 BRIBERY  OR  ANY  INFAMOUS  CRIME, OR, IF SO CONVICTED, THAT I HAVE BEEN
 PARDONED OR RESTORED TO ALL THE RIGHTS OF A CITIZEN, WITHOUT RESTRICTION
 AS TO THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE, OR RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE  OF  RELIEF  FROM
 DISABILITIES  OR A CERTIFICATE OF GOOD CONDUCT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWEN-
 TY-THREE OF THE CORRECTION LAW REMOVING MY DISABILITY  TO  REGISTER  AND
 VOTE.
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY  KNOWLEDGE  AND  BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I MAKE ANY MATERIAL
 FALSE STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER, I  SHALL
 BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
 DATE ................... SIGNATURE OF VOTER ............................
   C.  THE  ENVELOPE  SHALL  BE GUMMED, READY FOR SEALING, AND SHALL HAVE
 PRINTED THEREON, ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE THE STATEMENT, INSTRUCTIONS AS  TO
 THE  DUTIES  OF  THE  VOTER  AFTER  THE  MARKING  OF  THE  BALLOT, WHICH
 INSTRUCTIONS SHALL INCLUDE A SPECIFIC DIRECTION STATING THAT THE  ENVEL-
 OPE  MUST REACH THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT LATER
 THAN FIVE P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION IN ORDER THAT THEIR  VOTE  MAY
 BE CANVASSED.
   D.  A PERSON WHO SHALL MAKE ANY MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT IN THE STATE-
 MENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER APPEARING ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF  THE  ENVELOPE
 AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   6.  THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION SHALL MAKE A LIST OF ALL PERSONS TO WHOM
 EARLY MAIL VOTER'S BALLOTS SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND FILE SUCH LIST  IN
 THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  CLERK  WHERE  IT  SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  FOR PUBLIC
 INSPECTION DURING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS UNTIL THE DAY  OF  THE  ELECTION.
 S. 7394                            34
 
 ANY  QUALIFIED  VOTER MAY, UPON EXAMINATION OF SUCH LIST, FILE A WRITTEN
 CHALLENGE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AS A VOTER  OF  ANY  PERSON  WHOSE  NAME
 APPEARS  ON  SUCH  LIST, STATING THE REASONS FOR SUCH CHALLENGE. A CHAL-
 LENGE TO AN EARLY MAIL VOTER MAY NOT BE MADE ON THE BASIS THAT THE VOTER
 SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT. SUCH WRITTEN CHALLENGE SHALL
 BE  TRANSMITTED  BY  THE CLERK TO THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION ON ELECTION
 DAY.
   7. A. THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CALL  UPON  THE
 COMMISSIONER  OF POLICE AND THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE
 FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION
 AS SUCH BOARD SHALL REQUIRE, AND  SUCH  COMMISSIONER  AND  OFFICERS  AND
 MEMBERS  OF  THE POLICE FORCE SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO RENDER SUCH ASSIST-
 ANCE.
   B. THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION MAY REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO  ATTEND  BEFORE
 IT  AT THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BE EXAMINED BY
 THE BOARD AS TO ANY MATTER IN RELATION TO WHICH SUCH  BOARD  IS  CHARGED
 WITH  A DUTY UNDER THIS SECTION, AND MAY ISSUE A SUBPOENA THEREFOR. EACH
 MEMBER OF SUCH BOARD SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER ANY OATH THAT MAY
 BE REQUIRED OR AUTHORIZED BY LAW IN THIS CONNECTION.
   8. NO EARLY MAIL VOTER'S BALLOT SHALL BE CANVASSED,  UNLESS  IT  SHALL
 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT
 LATER THAN FIVE P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION.
   9. THE CLERK OF THE DISTRICT SHALL, ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, TRANS-
 MIT  ALL  EARLY  MAIL  VOTERS' ENVELOPES, RECEIVED BY THEM IN ACCORDANCE
 WITH SUBDIVISION EIGHT OF THIS SECTION, TO THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.
   10. IF, AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, ANY EARLY MAIL VOTERS' ENVEL-
 OPES SHALL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED AT THE POLLING PLACE,  THE  INSPECTORS  OF
 ELECTION  IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE POLLS SHALL EXAMINE THEM,
 AND SHALL COMPARE THE SIGNATURE, IF  ANY,  ON  EACH  ENVELOPE  WITH  THE
 SIGNATURE,  IF  ANY, ON THE REGISTER, OF THE PERSON OF THE SAME NAME WHO
 REGISTERED FROM THE SAME ADDRESS. IF THE SIGNATURES ARE FOUND TO  CORRE-
 SPOND,  THE  INSPECTORS  SHALL CERTIFY THERETO BY SIGNING THEIR INITIALS
 OPPOSITE THE NAME OF THE VOTER AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE REGISTER.
 IF A PERSON WHOSE NAME IS ON AN ENVELOPE AS A VOTER, SHALL HAVE  ALREADY
 VOTED  IN  PERSON  AT  SUCH  SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, OR IF THEIR NAME,
 RESIDENCE AND SIGNATURE, AS STATED ON  THE  ENVELOPE,  ARE  NOT  ON  THE
 REGISTER,  OR  IF  THERE  IS NO SIGNATURE ON THE ENVELOPE, THIS ENVELOPE
 SHALL BE LAID ASIDE UNOPENED AND BE RETURNED UNOPENED TO  THE  CLERK  OF
 THE  DISTRICT.  IF  SUCH PERSON IS FOUND TO BE REGISTERED AND HAS NOT SO
 VOTED IN PERSON, AND IF NO OBJECTION IS MADE, OR IF AN OBJECTION MADE BE
 NOT SUSTAINED, THE ENVELOPE SHALL BE OPENED  AND  THE  BALLOT  WITHDRAWN
 WITHOUT  UNFOLDING AND DEPOSITED IN THE PROPER BOX OR BOXES. AT THE TIME
 OF THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH BALLOT, THE  INSPECTORS  SHALL  ENTER  THE  WORDS
 "EARLY MAIL VOTE" AT AN APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE REGISTER.
   11. DURING SUCH EXAMINATION ANY QUALIFIED VOTER PRESENT IN THE POLLING
 PLACE  MAY  OBJECT TO THE VOTING OF THE BALLOT CONTAINED IN ANY ENVELOPE
 UPON THE GROUND OR GROUNDS THAT THE PERSON NAMED THEREON IS NOT A QUALI-
 FIED VOTER OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR SCHOOL  ELECTION  DISTRICT  (WHERE
 APPLICABLE).  AN INSPECTOR SHALL MAKE SUCH AN OBJECTION IF HE SHALL KNOW
 OR SUSPECT THAT THE PERSON NAMED ON SUCH ENVELOPE IS NOT SUCH  A  QUALI-
 FIED VOTER. THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION SHALL FORTHWITH PROCEED TO DETER-
 MINE  EACH OBJECTION INCLUDING ANY WRITTEN CHALLENGE TRANSMITTED TO THEM
 BY THE DISTRICT CLERK AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION SIX  OF  THIS  SECTION.
 UNLESS  THE  INSPECTORS,  BY MAJORITY VOTE, SHALL SUSTAIN THE OBJECTION,
 THE CHAIRMAN, OR IF HE REFUSES, ANOTHER INSPECTOR SHALL ENDORSE UPON THE
 ENVELOPE THE OBJECTION AND THE WORDS "NOT SUSTAINED,"  SHALL  SIGN  SUCH
 S. 7394                            35
 
 ENDORSEMENT,  AND  SHALL  OPEN  THE  ENVELOPE  AND DEPOSIT THE BALLOT AS
 PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION.  SHOULD  THE  INSPECTORS,  BY  MAJORITY  VOTE,
 SUSTAIN  SUCH  OBJECTION,  THE  OBJECTION  AND WORD "SUSTAINED" SHALL BE
 SIMILARLY  ENDORSED  UPON THE ENVELOPE, THE ENVELOPE SHALL NOT BE OPENED
 NOR THE BALLOTS THEREIN CANVASSED, AND SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL  BE  RETURNED
 UNOPENED  TO  THE  CLERK  OF THE DISTRICT. IF THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
 SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE ENDORSED WITH THE NAME OF A  PERSON  WHO
 TO  THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF  THE  INSPECTORS  IS  DECEASED  ON THE DAY OF THE
 ELECTION, THE INSPECTORS SHALL RETURN  SUCH  ENVELOPE  UNOPENED  TO  THE
 CLERK  OF  THE  DISTRICT  WITH THE WORDS "DECEASED--OBJECTION SUSTAINED"
 ENDORSED ON THE ENVELOPE.
   12. IF THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE, AND
 UPON OPENING THE SAME NO BALLOT SHALL BE FOUND THEREIN,  THE  INSPECTORS
 SHALL  MAKE  A  MEMORANDUM  SHOWING THAT THE BALLOT IS MISSING. WHEN THE
 CASTING OF EARLY MAIL VOTERS' BALLOTS SHALL  HAVE  BEEN  COMPLETED,  THE
 INSPECTORS  SHALL  ASCERTAIN  THE NUMBER OF SUCH BALLOTS WHICH HAVE BEEN
 DEPOSITED IN THE BALLOT BOX BY DEDUCTING FROM THE  NUMBER  OF  ENVELOPES
 OPENED  THE  NUMBER OF MISSING BALLOTS, AND SHALL MAKE A SEPARATE RETURN
 THEREOF IN DUPLICATE. THE NUMBER OF EARLY MAIL VOTERS' BALLOTS DEPOSITED
 IN THE BALLOT BOX SHALL BE ADDED TO THE NUMBER OF OTHER BALLOTS DEPOSIT-
 ED IN THE BALLOT BOX IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF ALL BALLOTS  TO
 BE  ACCOUNTED  FOR IN THE BALLOT BOX. SUCH BALLOTS SHALL THEN BE COUNTED
 OR CANVASSED BY THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION ALONG WITH THE OTHER  BALLOTS
 CAST  AT  SUCH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT ELECTION, OR, WHERE VOTING MACHINES ARE
 USED, SHALL BE ADDED TO THE VOTES RECORDED ON SUCH MACHINES.
   13. WHERE THE DISTRICT SHALL HAVE BEEN DIVIDED  INTO  SCHOOL  ELECTION
 DISTRICTS  PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, THE PROVISIONS OF
 THIS SECTION SHALL BE APPLICABLE, PROVIDED THAT ANY  REFERENCE  IN  THIS
 SECTION  TO THE TERM "BOARD OF REGISTRATION" SHALL IN SUCH CASE REFER TO
 THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION APPOINTED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION  FOR  EACH
 SCHOOL  ELECTION  DISTRICT, EXCEPT THAT PARAGRAPH B OF SUBDIVISION SEVEN
 OF THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY ACCORDING TO ITS TERMS.
   § 48. The education law is amended by adding a new section  2018-f  to
 read as follows:
   §  2018-F.  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS BY POLL
 REGISTRATION. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS TWO THOUSAND
 FOURTEEN AND TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN-E OF THIS PART, THE TRUSTEES  OR  THE
 BOARD  OF  EDUCATION  OF ANY COMMON, UNION FREE, CENTRAL OR CENTRAL HIGH
 SCHOOL DISTRICT WHICH DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR THE PERSONAL REGISTRATION  OF
 VOTERS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS BUT WHICH ELECTS TRUS-
 TEES  OR  SCHOOL  BOARD  MEMBERS BY BALLOT, SHALL PROVIDE FOR EARLY MAIL
 BALLOTS FOR THE ELECTION OF THE TRUSTEES OR MEMBERS  OF  THE  BOARD  AND
 SCHOOL  DISTRICT  PUBLIC  LIBRARY  TRUSTEES,  THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL
 BUDGET AND SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET AND REFERENDA.
   1-A. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS TWO THOUSAND  FOURTEEN
 AND  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN-E  OF THIS PART, IN ANY COUNTY WITH A POPU-
 LATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE, THE TRUSTEES OR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
 ANY COMMON, UNION FREE, CENTRAL OR CENTRAL HIGH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  WHICH
 DOES  NOT  PROVIDE  FOR  THE  PERSONAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS FOR SCHOOL
 DISTRICT MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS BUT  WHICH  ELECTS  TRUSTEES  OR  SCHOOL
 BOARD  MEMBERS  BY  BALLOT  SHALL PROVIDE FOR EARLY MAIL BALLOTS FOR THE
 ELECTION OF THE TRUSTEES OR MEMBERS OF THE  BOARD  AND  SCHOOL  DISTRICT
 PUBLIC  LIBRARY  TRUSTEES,  THE ADOPTION OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET AND SCHOOL
 DISTRICT PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET AND REFERENDA.
   2. A. AN APPLICANT FOR SUCH AN  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  SHALL  SUBMIT  AN
 APPLICATION  SETTING FORTH (1) THEIR NAME AND RESIDENCE ADDRESS, INCLUD-
 S. 7394                            36
 
 ING THE STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY, OR TOWN AND RURAL DELIVERY ROUTE,  IF
 ANY;  (2)  THAT  THEY  ARE OR WILL BE, ON THE DAY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
 ELECTION, A QUALIFIED VOTER OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH  HE  RESIDES
 IN  THAT  HE  IS OR WILL BE, ON SUCH DATE, OVER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, A
 CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES  AND  HAS  OR  WILL  HAVE  RESIDED  IN  THE
 DISTRICT FOR THIRTY DAYS NEXT PRECEDING SUCH DATE. SUCH APPLICATION MUST
 BE  RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT CLERK OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL
 BOARD AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION IF THE  BALLOT  IS  TO  BE
 MAILED TO THE VOTER, OR THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION, IF THE BALLOT IS TO
 BE DELIVERED PERSONALLY TO THE VOTER.
   B. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED
 BY THE VOTER.
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY  KNOWLEDGE  AND  BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I MAKE ANY MATERIAL
 FALSE STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF APPLICATION FOR EARLY MAIL
 BALLOT, I SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
 DATE ................... SIGNATURE OF VOTER ............................
   3. IF, UPON EXAMINING THE APPLICATION REQUIRED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
 SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AND UPON SUCH INQUIRY AS IT DEEMS PROP-
 ER, THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR  DESIGNEE  OF  THE  TRUSTEES  OR
 SCHOOL  BOARD SHALL BE SATISFIED THAT THE APPLICANT IS A QUALIFIED VOTER
 OF THE DISTRICT, AND ENTITLED TO VOTE BY EARLY MAIL BALLOT,  SUCH  CLERK
 OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD SHALL
 CAUSE  TO  BE  ISSUED  OR  MAILED TO THE APPLICANT AN EARLY MAIL VOTER'S
 BALLOT AND THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE  TRUSTEES
 OR  SCHOOL BOARD SHALL MAKE AN APPROPRIATE ENTRY ON THE POLL LIST PURSU-
 ANT TO SECTION TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-NINE OF THIS PART.
   4. THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR A DESIGNEE OF THE  TRUSTEES  OR
 SCHOOL  BOARD  SHALL  ALSO  MAIL AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT TO EVERY QUALIFIED
 VOTER OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH BALLOT, WHO  REQUESTS  AN  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT  FROM SUCH CLERK OR TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD DESIGNEE IN A LETTER
 WHICH IS SIGNED BY THE VOTER AND RECEIVED BY THE CLERK  OR  TRUSTEES  OR
 SCHOOL  BOARD DESIGNEE NOT EARLIER THAN THE THIRTIETH DAY NOR LATER THAN
 THE SEVENTH DAY BEFORE THE  ELECTION  FOR  WHICH  THE  BALLOT  IS  FIRST
 REQUESTED  AND  WHICH  STATES THE ADDRESS WHERE THE VOTER RESIDES AND TO
 WHICH THE BALLOT IS TO BE MAILED. THE CLERK OR DESIGNEE OF THE  TRUSTEES
 OR SCHOOL BOARD SHALL ENCLOSE WITH SUCH BALLOT A FORM OF APPLICATION FOR
 EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT. THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT OF A VOTER WHO REQUESTED SUCH
 BALLOT BY LETTER, RATHER THAN APPLICATION, SHALL NOT BE COUNTED UNLESS A
 VALID APPLICATION FORM, SIGNED BY SUCH VOTER, IS RECEIVED BY  THE  CLERK
 OF  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD WITH
 SUCH BALLOT.
   5. BALLOTS FOR EARLY MAIL VOTERS SHALL BE, AS NEARLY  AS  PRACTICABLE,
 IN  THE  SAME FORM AS THOSE TO BE VOTED AT THE DISTRICT ELECTION; IF THE
 VOTE AT SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE BY BALLOT, THE EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  SHALL
 CONFORM  TO THE REGULAR BALLOT; IF THE VOTE OF SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE BY
 VOTING MACHINE, THE EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL CONFORM AS CLOSELY AS POSSI-
 BLE TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE NAMES OF THE  CANDIDATES,  THE  QUESTIONS
 AND  THE  PROPOSITIONS  APPEAR  ON  THE VOTING MACHINES, EXCEPT THAT THE
 EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL ALSO CONTAIN A SPACE FOR A  WRITE-IN  OR  WRITE-
 INS.  ON  THE  BACK  OF  SUCH  EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL BE PRINTED WORDS
 "OFFICIAL BALLOT, EARLY MAIL VOTER".
   6. A. THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES  OR
 SCHOOL BOARD SHALL ENCLOSE EACH EARLY MAIL VOTER'S BALLOT IN AN ENVELOPE
 WHICH SHALL BE LABELLED:
 S. 7394                            37
 
                              ELECTION MATERIAL
                              PLEASE EXPEDITE
   ON ONE SIDE OF SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL BE PRINTED:
                     OFFICIAL BALLOT, EARLY MAIL VOTER
                                    FOR
                         SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION
 NAME OF VOTER ............
 RESIDENCE (STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY) ...............
 CITY (OR TOWN) OF  .....................
 COUNTY OF ....................
 SCHOOL DISTRICT ...................
 SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT (IF APPLICABLE) ................
 
   THE  DATE  OF  THE  ELECTION  AND NAME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHALL BE
 PRINTED, AND THE NAME OF  THE  VOTER,  RESIDENCE,  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  AND
 SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT (IF APPLICABLE) SHALL BE INCLUDED.
   B. ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL BE PRINTED THE FOLLOWING
 STATEMENT:
                        STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER
   I  DO DECLARE THAT I AM A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WILL BE AT
 LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE ON THE DATE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION;
 THAT I WILL HAVE BEEN A  RESIDENT  OF  THIS  STATE  AND  OF  THE  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT AND SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT, IF ANY, SHOWN ON THE REVERSE SIDE
 OF  THIS  ENVELOPE  FOR THIRTY DAYS NEXT PRECEDING THE SAID ELECTION AND
 THAT I AM OR ON SUCH DATE WILL BE, A  QUALIFIED  VOTER  OF  SAID  SCHOOL
 DISTRICT;  THAT  I HAVE NOT QUALIFIED, OR DO I INTEND TO VOTE, ELSEWHERE
 THAN AS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS ENVELOPE; THAT I HAVE  NOT
 RECEIVED OR OFFERED, DO NOT EXPECT TO RECEIVE, HAVE NOT PAID, OFFERED OR
 PROMISED  TO  PAY,  CONTRIBUTED,  OFFERED  OR  PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE TO
 ANOTHER TO BE PAID OR USED, ANY MONEY OR  OTHER  VALUABLE  THING,  AS  A
 COMPENSATION  OR  REWARD FOR THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THIS
 SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, AND HAVE NOT MADE ANY PROMISE TO INFLUENCE THE
 GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF ANY SUCH VOTES; THAT I HAVE NOT MADE OR  BECOME
 DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INTERESTED IN ANY BET OR WAGER DEPENDING UPON THE
 RESULT  OF  THIS  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  ELECTION;  AND  THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN
 CONVICTED OF BRIBERY OR ANY INFAMOUS CRIME, OR, IF SO CONVICTED, THAT  I
 HAVE  BEEN  PARDONED OR RESTORED TO ALL THE RIGHTS OF A CITIZEN, WITHOUT
 RESTRICTION AS TO THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE, OR HAVE RECEIVED A  CERTIFICATE
 OF RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES OR A CERTIFICATE OF GOOD CONDUCT PURSUANT TO
 ARTICLE  TWENTY-THREE  OF  THE  CORRECTION LAW REMOVING MY DISABILITY TO
 VOTE.
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I  MAKE  ANY  MATERIAL
 FALSE  STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER, I SHALL
 BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
 
 DATE .................. SIGNATURE OF VOTER .............................
 
   C. THE ENVELOPE SHALL BE GUMMED, READY FOR  SEALING,  AND  SHALL  HAVE
 PRINTED  THEREON, ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE THE STATEMENT, INSTRUCTIONS AS TO
 THE DUTIES  OF  THE  VOTER  AFTER  THE  MARKING  OF  THE  BALLOT,  WHICH
 INSTRUCTIONS  SHALL INCLUDE A SPECIFIC DIRECTION STATING THAT THE ENVEL-
 OPE MUST REACH THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR  DESIG-
 NEE  OF THE TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD NOT LATER THAN FIVE P.M. ON THE DAY
 OF THE ELECTION IN ORDER THAT THEIR VOTE MAY BE CANVASSED.
 S. 7394                            38
 
   D. A PERSON WHO SHALL MAKE ANY MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT IN THE  STATE-
 MENT OF THE EARLY MAIL VOTER APPEARING ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE ENVEL-
 OPE AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   7.  THE  CLERK  OF  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR
 SCHOOL BOARD SHALL MAKE A LIST OF ALL PERSONS TO WHOM EARLY MAIL VOTER'S
 BALLOTS SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND MAINTAIN SUCH LIST WHERE IT SHALL  BE
 AVAILABLE  FOR  PUBLIC  INSPECTION DURING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS UNTIL THE
 DAY OF THE ELECTION. ANY QUALIFIED VOTER MAY, UPON EXAMINATION  OF  SUCH
 LIST,  FILE  A WRITTEN CHALLENGE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS AS A VOTER OF ANY
 PERSON WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON SUCH LIST, STATING  THE  REASONS  FOR  SUCH
 CHALLENGE.  A  CHALLENGE  TO AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT MAY NOT BE MADE ON THE
 BASIS THAT THE VOTER SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR AN  ABSENTEE  BALLOT.  SUCH
 WRITTEN  CHALLENGE  SHALL BE TRANSMITTED BY THE CLERK OR THE DESIGNEE OF
 THE TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD TO THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION  ON  ELECTION
 DAY.
   8.  A. THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR
 SCHOOL BOARD SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CALL UPON THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
 AND THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE  IN
 THE  ENFORCEMENT  OF  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AS SUCH TRUSTEES OR
 BOARD SHALL REQUIRE, AND SUCH COMMISSIONER AND OFFICERS AND  MEMBERS  OF
 THE POLICE FORCE SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO RENDER SUCH ASSISTANCE.
   B.  THE  CLERK  OF  THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR
 SCHOOL BOARD MAY REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO ATTEND BEFORE IT AT THE OFFICE OF
 THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE OFFICE OF THE  DESIGNEE  OF  THE
 TRUSTEES  OR SCHOOL BOARD AND BE EXAMINED BY THE TRUSTEES OR BOARD AS TO
 ANY MATTER IN RELATION TO WHICH SUCH TRUSTEES OR BOARD IS CHARGED WITH A
 DUTY UNDER THIS SECTION, AND MAY ISSUE A SUBPOENA THEREFOR. EACH  MEMBER
 OF  SUCH  TRUSTEES  OR  BOARD SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER ANY OATH
 THAT MAY BE REQUIRED OR AUTHORIZED BY LAW IN THIS CONNECTION.
   9. NO EARLY MAIL VOTER'S BALLOT SHALL BE CANVASSED,  UNLESS  IT  SHALL
 HAVE  BEEN RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR
 DESIGNEE OF THE TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD NOT LATER THAN FIVE P.M. ON THE
 DAY OF THE ELECTION.
   10. THE CLERK OF THE DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE  TRUSTEES  OR  SCHOOL
 BOARD SHALL, ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, TRANSMIT ALL EARLY MAIL VOTERS'
 ENVELOPES,  RECEIVED BY HIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUBDIVISION EIGHT OF THIS
 SECTION, TO THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.
   11. IF A PERSON WHOSE NAME IS ON AN ENVELOPE AS  A  VOTER  SHALL  HAVE
 ALREADY VOTED IN PERSON AT SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, OR IF THERE IS
 NO SIGNATURE ON THE ENVELOPE, THIS ENVELOPE SHALL BE LAID ASIDE UNOPENED
 AND BE RETURNED UNOPENED TO THE CLERK OF THE DISTRICT OR DESIGNEE OF THE
 TRUSTEES OR SCHOOL BOARD. IF SUCH PERSON HAS NOT SO VOTED IN PERSON, AND
 IF  NO  OBJECTION IS MADE, OR IF AN OBJECTION MADE BE NOT SUSTAINED, THE
 ENVELOPE SHALL BE OPENED AND THE BALLOT WITHDRAWN WITHOUT UNFOLDING  AND
 DEPOSITED IN THE PROPER BOX OR BOXES.
   12. IF THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE, AND
 UPON  OPENING  THE SAME NO BALLOT SHALL BE FOUND THEREIN, THE INSPECTORS
 SHALL MAKE A MEMORANDUM SHOWING THAT THE BALLOT  IS  MISSING.  WHEN  THE
 CASTING  OF  EARLY  MAIL  VOTERS' BALLOTS SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, THE
 INSPECTORS SHALL ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER OF SUCH BALLOTS  WHICH  HAVE  BEEN
 DEPOSITED  IN  THE  BALLOT BOX BY DEDUCTING FROM THE NUMBER OF ENVELOPES
 OPENED THE NUMBER OF MISSING BALLOTS, AND SHALL MAKE A  SEPARATE  RETURN
 THEREOF IN DUPLICATE. THE NUMBER OF EARLY MAIL VOTERS' BALLOTS DEPOSITED
 IN  THE  BALLOT  BOX SHALL BE ADDED TO THE NUMBER OF OTHER BALLOTS TO BE
 ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BALLOT BOX. SUCH BALLOTS SHALL THEN BE  COUNTED  OR
 CANVASSED  BY  THE  INSPECTORS  OF ELECTION ALONG WITH THE OTHER BALLOTS
 S. 7394                            39
 
 CAST AT SUCH SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION, OR,  WHERE  VOTING  MACHINES  ARE
 USED, SHALL BE ADDED TO THE VOTES RECORDED ON SUCH MACHINES.
   §  49. Section 2613 of the education law, as amended by chapter 489 of
 the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   § 2613. Absentee, EARLY MAIL,  and  military  ballots.  The  board  of
 education  of  each  city  school district to which this article applies
 shall provide for absentee ballots in accordance with the provisions  of
 section  two  thousand  eighteen-a  of this title, EARLY MAIL BALLOTS IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION  TWO  THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN-E  OF
 THIS TITLE, and military ballots in accordance with section two thousand
 eighteen-d of this title.
   § 50. Subdivision 5 of section 84 of the town law, as amended by chap-
 ter 281 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
   5.  In  order  to  assist boards of registration in the preparation of
 their registers, the town clerk, prior to  the  first  meeting  of  such
 boards  of registration, shall obtain from the board of elections of the
 county in which such town is located, the list of names and addresses of
 all voters registered with such board of  elections  on  or  before  the
 twenty-third  day  before  such  special  election. The town clerk shall
 deliver the names and addresses of qualified voters to  the  appropriate
 board  or  boards of registration on or before the first meeting of such
 board or boards. At the first and subsequent meetings of  the  board  of
 registration for each voting place designated by the town board for such
 special  town  election,  such  board of registration shall place on the
 register described in subdivision four hereof the names of all qualified
 voters and all other  qualified  voters  who  personally  appear,  THOSE
 VOTERS WHO HAVE MADE APPLICATION FOR EARLY MAIL BALLOTS, and those mili-
 tary  voters and such other voters who are absent by reason of confining
 illness or physical disability or whose duties, occupation  or  business
 required  them to be outside of the state of New York, having the quali-
 fications of voters prescribed in this section and who have made  appli-
 cation for absentee ballots as certified to them by the town clerk.
   §  51.  Subdivision  2  of  section 84-a of the town law is amended by
 adding a new paragraph a-1 to read as follows:
   A-1. PROVIDED THAT, IF THE APPLICANT DOES NOT PROVIDE  A  REASON  THAT
 THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH
 A OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROCESSED AS AN APPLICA-
 TION  FOR  AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO SECTION EIGHT-FOUR-B OF THIS
 ARTICLE.
   § 52. Subdivision 3 and paragraph a of subdivision 6 of  section  84-a
 of  the  town  law,  as  added  by  chapter 396 of the laws of 1988, are
 amended to read as follows:
   3.  If, upon examining the application required under  the  provisions
 of  subdivision  two  of this section, and upon such inquiry as it deems
 proper, the board of inspectors shall be satisfied that the applicant is
 a qualified voter of the town, and entitled to vote by absentee  ballot,
 such board of inspectors shall place his name upon a list, thereupon the
 applicant  shall  be issued or mailed an absentee voter's ballot and the
 town clerk shall make an appropriate entry on the list  indicating  that
 an  absentee  ballot  has been applied for by, and issued to, the appli-
 cant. PROVIDED THAT, AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT THAT DOES NOT
 PROVIDE A REASON THAT THE APPLICANT IS ENTITLED TO SUCH A  BALLOT  SHALL
 BE  PROCESSED  AS  AN  APPLICATION  FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT PURSUANT TO
 PARAGRAPH A-1 OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS  SECTION  AND  SECTION  EIGHTY-
 FOUR-B OF THIS ARTICLE.
 S. 7394                            40

   a.    The town clerk shall make a list of all persons to whom absentee
 voter's ballots shall have been issued and keep such list on file in his
 office where it shall be available for public inspection during  regular
 office  hours  until  the day of the election.  Any qualified voter may,
 upon  examination  of  such list, file a written challenge of the quali-
 fications as a voter of any person whose  name  appears  on  such  list,
 stating  the  reasons  for  such  challenge.  A CHALLENGE TO AN ABSENTEE
 BALLOT MAY NOT BE MADE ON THE BASIS THAT THE VOTER SHOULD  HAVE  APPLIED
 FOR AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT. Such written challenge shall be transmitted by
 the town clerk to the inspectors of election on election day.
   §  53. The town law is amended by adding a new section 84-b to read as
 follows:
   § 84-B.  EARLY  MAIL  BALLOTS  FOR  SPECIAL  TOWN  ELECTIONS;  SPECIAL
 PROVISIONS. 1. EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR ALL SPECIAL TOWN
 ELECTIONS FOR WHICH PERSONAL REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
   2.  A.  AN  APPLICANT  FOR  SUCH  AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT SHALL SUBMIT AN
 APPLICATION SETTING FORTH (1) THEIR NAME AND RESIDENCE ADDRESS,  INCLUD-
 ING  THE STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY, OR TOWN AND RURAL DELIVERY ROUTE, IF
 ANY; (2) THAT THEY ARE OR WILL BE, ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, A  QUALI-
 FIED  VOTER  OF  THE  TOWN  IN  WHICH THEY RESIDE; AND (3) THAT THEY ARE
 REGISTERED IN THE TOWN. SUCH APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED  BY  THE  TOWN
 CLERK  AT  LEAST  SEVEN  DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION IF THE BALLOT IS TO BE
 MAILED TO THE VOTER, OR THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION, IF THE BALLOT IS TO
 BE DELIVERED PERSONALLY TO THE VOTER OR THEIR AGENT.
   B. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED
 BY THE VOTER:
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I  MAKE  ANY  MATERIAL
 FALSE STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF APPLICATION FOR EARLY MAIL
 BALLOTS, I SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
 DATE ............... SIGNATURE OF VOTER ................................
   3. IF, UPON EXAMINING THE APPLICATION REQUIRED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
 SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AND UPON SUCH INQUIRY AS IT DEEMS PROP-
 ER,  THE  BOARD OF INSPECTORS SHALL BE SATISFIED THAT THE APPLICANT IS A
 QUALIFIED VOTER OF THE TOWN, AND ENTITLED TO VOTE BY EARLY MAIL  BALLOT,
 SUCH  BOARD  OF INSPECTORS SHALL PLACE THEIR NAME UPON A LIST, THEREUPON
 THE APPLICANT SHALL BE ISSUED OR MAILED AN EARLY  MAIL  BALLOT  AND  THE
 TOWN  CLERK  SHALL MAKE AN APPROPRIATE ENTRY ON THE LIST INDICATING THAT
 AN EARLY MAIL BALLOT HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY, AND ISSUED TO, THE  APPLI-
 CANT.
   4.  BALLOTS  FOR EARLY MAIL VOTERS SHALL BE, AS NEARLY AS PRACTICABLE,
 IN THE SAME FORM AS THOSE TO BE VOTED AT THE TOWN ELECTION. ON THE  BACK
 OF  SUCH EARLY MAIL BALLOTS SHALL BE PRINTED THE WORDS "OFFICIAL BALLOT,
 EARLY MAIL VOTER".
   5. A. THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION SHALL ENCLOSE EACH EARLY MAIL  VOTER'S
 BALLOT IN AN ENVELOPE WHICH SHALL BE LABELLED:
 
                             ELECTION MATERIAL
                              PLEASE EXPEDITE
 ON ONE SIDE OF SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL BE PRINTED:
                     OFFICIAL BALLOT, EARLY MAIL VOTER
                                    FOR
                           SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION
 NAME OF VOTER ................
 RESIDENCE (STREET AND NUMBER, IF ANY) .......
 TOWN OF ....................
 S. 7394                            41
 
 COUNTY OF ...................
   THE  DATE  OF  THE ELECTION AND NAME OF THE TOWN SHALL BE PRINTED, AND
 THE NAME OF THE VOTER, RESIDENCE AND DISTRICT SHALL BE WRITTEN IN BY THE
 TOWN CLERK.
   B. ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL BE PRINTED THE FOLLOWING
 STATEMENT:
                       STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER
   I DO DECLARE THAT I WILL HAVE BEEN A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES  FOR
 THIRTY  DAYS, AND WILL BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, ON THE DATE OF
 THE SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION; THAT I WILL HAVE  BEEN  A  RESIDENT  OF  THIS
 STATE  AND  OF  THE  TOWN SHOWN ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS ENVELOPE FOR
 THIRTY DAYS NEXT PRECEDING THE SAID ELECTION; THAT I AM OR ON SUCH  DATE
 WILL  BE, A REGISTERED VOTER OF SAID TOWN; THAT I HAVE NOT QUALIFIED, OR
 DO I INTEND TO VOTE, ELSEWHERE THAN AS SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE SIDE  OF
 THIS  ENVELOPE;  THAT  I  HAVE NOT RECEIVED OR OFFERED, DO NOT EXPECT TO
 RECEIVE, HAVE NOT PAID, OFFERED OR PROMISED TO PAY, CONTRIBUTED, OFFERED
 OR PROMISED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ANOTHER TO BE PAID OR USED,  ANY  MONEY  OR
 OTHER  VALUABLE  THING,  AS  A  COMPENSATION OR REWARD FOR THE GIVING OR
 WITHHOLDING OF A VOTE AT THIS SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION, AND HAVE  NOT  MADE
 ANY  PROMISE  TO  INFLUENCE THE GIVING OR WITHHOLDING OF ANY SUCH VOTES;
 THAT I HAVE NOT MADE OR BECOME DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INTERESTED IN  ANY
 BET  OR  WAGER  DEPENDING UPON THE RESULT OF THIS SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION;
 AND THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF BRIBERY OR ANY INFAMOUS CRIME, OR,
 IF SO CONVICTED, THAT I HAVE BEEN PARDONED OR RESTORED TO ALL THE RIGHTS
 OF A CITIZEN, WITHOUT RESTRICTION  AS  TO  THE  RIGHT  OF  SUFFRAGE,  OR
 RECEIVED  A  CERTIFICATE OF RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES OR A CERTIFICATE OF
 GOOD CONDUCT PURSUANT TO ARTICLE  TWENTY-THREE  OF  THE  CORRECTION  LAW
 REMOVING MY DISABILITY TO REGISTER AND VOTE.
   I HEREBY DECLARE THAT THE FOREGOING IS A TRUE STATEMENT TO THE BEST OF
 MY  KNOWLEDGE  AND  BELIEF, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IF I MAKE ANY MATERIAL
 FALSE STATEMENT IN THE FOREGOING STATEMENT OF EARLY MAIL VOTER, I  SHALL
 BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   DATE.... SIGNATURE OF VOTER....
   C.  THE  ENVELOPE  SHALL  BE GUMMED, READY FOR SEALING, AND SHALL HAVE
 PRINTED THEREON, ON THE SIDE OPPOSITE THE STATEMENT, INSTRUCTIONS AS  TO
 THE  DUTIES  OF  THE  VOTER  AFTER  THE  MARKING  OF  THE  BALLOT, WHICH
 INSTRUCTIONS SHALL INCLUDE A SPECIFIC DIRECTION STATING THAT THE  ENVEL-
 OPE  MUST REACH THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK NOT LATER THAN FIVE P.M. ON
 THE DAY OF THE ELECTION IN ORDER THAT THEIR VOTE MAY BE CANVASSED.
   D. A PERSON WHO SHALL MAKE ANY MATERIAL FALSE STATEMENT IN THE  STATE-
 MENT  OF  EARLY MAIL VOTER APPEARING ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THE ENVELOPE
 AS PROVIDED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR.
   6. A. THE TOWN CLERK SHALL MAKE A LIST OF ALL PERSONS  TO  WHOM  EARLY
 MAIL  VOTER'S  BALLOTS SHALL HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND KEEP SUCH LIST ON FILE
 IN THEIR OFFICE WHERE IT SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION DURING
 REGULAR OFFICE HOURS UNTIL THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. ANY QUALIFIED  VOTER
 MAY,  UPON  EXAMINATION  OF  SUCH  LIST, FILE A WRITTEN CHALLENGE OF THE
 QUALIFICATIONS AS A VOTER OF ANY PERSON WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON SUCH LIST,
 STATING THE REASONS FOR SUCH CHALLENGE. A CHALLENGE  TO  AN  EARLY  MAIL
 BALLOT  MAY  NOT BE MADE ON THE BASIS THAT THE VOTER SHOULD HAVE APPLIED
 FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT. SUCH WRITTEN CHALLENGE SHALL BE  TRANSMITTED  BY
 THE TOWN CLERK TO THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION ON ELECTION DAY.
   B.  SUCH  LIST  SHALL  ALSO BE POSTED IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE OR PLACES
 DURING THE ELECTION, AND ANY QUALIFIED VOTER MAY CHALLENGE  THE  ACCEPT-
 ANCE  OF  THE  EARLY  MAIL VOTER'S BALLOT OF ANY PERSON ON SUCH LIST, BY
 S. 7394                            42
 
 MAKING THEIR CHALLENGE AND THE REASONS THEREFOR KNOWN TO THE  INSPECTORS
 OF ELECTION BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE POLLS.
   7. A. THE TOWN CLERK SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CALL UPON THE COMMISSIONER
 OF  POLICE  AND  THE  OFFICERS  AND MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE FOR SUCH
 ASSISTANCE IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS  SECTION  AS  HE
 SHALL  REQUIRE,  AND  SUCH  COMMISSIONER AND OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
 POLICE FORCE SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO RENDER SUCH ASSISTANCE.
   B. THE BOARD OF INSPECTORS MAY REQUIRE ANY PERSON TO ATTEND BEFORE  IT
 AT  THE  OFFICE  OF THE TOWN CLERK OF THE DISTRICT AND BE EXAMINED AS TO
 ANY MATTER IN RELATION TO WHICH SUCH BOARD IS CHARGED WITH A DUTY  UNDER
 THIS  SECTION,  AND  MAY  ISSUE A SUBPOENA THEREFOR. EACH MEMBER OF SUCH
 BOARD OF INSPECTORS DISTRICT SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER ANY  OATH
 THAT MAY BE REQUIRED OR AUTHORIZED BY LAW IN THIS CONNECTION.
   8.  NO  EARLY  MAIL VOTER'S BALLOT SHALL BE CANVASSED, UNLESS IT SHALL
 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK NOT LATER  THAN  FIVE
 P.M. ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION.
   9.  THE  TOWN  CLERK  SHALL,  ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION, TRANSMIT ALL
 EARLY MAIL VOTERS' ENVELOPES, RECEIVED BY HIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH  SUBDI-
 VISION EIGHT OF THIS SECTION, TO THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.
   10.  IF,  AT THE ELECTION, ANY EARLY MAIL VOTERS' ENVELOPES SHALL HAVE
 BEEN RECEIVED AT THE POLLING PLACE, THE  INSPECTORS  OF  ELECTION  IMME-
 DIATELY  AFTER  THE  CLOSING  OF THE POLLS SHALL EXAMINE THEM, AND SHALL
 COMPARE THE SIGNATURE, IF ANY, ON EACH ENVELOPE WITH THE  SIGNATURE,  IF
 ANY, ON THE REGISTER, OF THE PERSON OF THE SAME NAME WHO REGISTERED FROM
 THE SAME ADDRESS. IF THE SIGNATURES ARE FOUND TO CORRESPOND, THE INSPEC-
 TORS  SHALL  CERTIFY THERETO BY SIGNING THEIR INITIALS OPPOSITE THE NAME
 OF THE VOTER AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE REGISTER. IF A PERSON WHOSE
 NAME IS ON AN ENVELOPE AS A VOTER, SHALL HAVE ALREADY VOTED IN PERSON AT
 SUCH SPECIAL TOWN ELECTION, OR IF THEIR NAME, RESIDENCE  AND  SIGNATURE,
 AS  STATED  ON  THE ENVELOPE, ARE NOT ON THE REGISTER, OR IF THERE IS NO
 SIGNATURE ON THE ENVELOPE, THIS ENVELOPE SHALL BE  LAID  ASIDE  UNOPENED
 AND  BE  RETURNED UNOPENED TO THE TOWN CLERK. IF SUCH PERSON IS FOUND TO
 BE REGISTERED AND HAS NOT SO VOTED IN PERSON, AND  IF  NO  OBJECTION  IS
 MADE,  OR  IF  AN OBJECTION MADE BE NOT SUSTAINED, THE ENVELOPE SHALL BE
 OPENED AND THE BALLOT WITHDRAWN WITHOUT UNFOLDING AND DEPOSITED  IN  THE
 PROPER  BOX  OR  BOXES.  AT  THE TIME OF THE DEPOSIT OF SUCH BALLOT, THE
 INSPECTORS SHALL ENTER THE WORDS "EARLY MAIL  VOTE"  AT  AN  APPROPRIATE
 PLACE IN THE REGISTER.
   11. DURING SUCH EXAMINATION ANY QUALIFIED VOTER PRESENT IN THE POLLING
 PLACE  MAY  OBJECT TO THE VOTING OF THE BALLOT CONTAINED IN ANY ENVELOPE
 UPON THE GROUND OR GROUNDS THAT THE PERSON NAMED THEREON IS NOT A QUALI-
 FIED VOTER OF THE TOWN. AN INSPECTOR SHALL MAKE SUCH AN OBJECTION IF  HE
 SHALL KNOW OR SUSPECT THAT THE PERSON NAMED ON SUCH ENVELOPE IS NOT SUCH
 A  QUALIFIED  VOTER.  THE ELECTION INSPECTORS SHALL FORTHWITH PROCEED TO
 DETERMINE EACH OBJECTION INCLUDING ANY WRITTEN CHALLENGE TRANSMITTED  TO
 THEM  BY  THE TOWN CLERK AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION.
 UNLESS THE INSPECTORS, BY MAJORITY VOTE, SHALL  SUSTAIN  THE  OBJECTION,
 THE CHAIRMAN, OR IF HE REFUSES, ANOTHER INSPECTOR SHALL ENDORSE UPON THE
 ENVELOPE  THE  OBJECTION  AND THE WORDS "NOT SUSTAINED," SHALL SIGN SUCH
 ENDORSEMENT, AND SHALL OPEN THE  ENVELOPE  AND  DEPOSIT  THE  BALLOT  AS
 PROVIDED  IN  THIS  SECTION.  SHOULD  THE  INSPECTORS, BY MAJORITY VOTE,
 SUSTAIN SUCH OBJECTION, THE OBJECTION  AND  WORD  "SUSTAINED"  SHALL  BE
 SIMILARLY  ENDORSED  UPON THE ENVELOPE, THE ENVELOPE SHALL NOT BE OPENED
 NOR THE BALLOTS THEREIN CANVASSED, AND SUCH ENVELOPE SHALL  BE  RETURNED
 UNOPENED  TO  THE  TOWN  CLERK. IF THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION SHALL HAVE
 RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE ENDORSED WITH THE NAME OF A PERSON WHO TO THE KNOW-
 S. 7394                            43
 
 LEDGE OF THE INSPECTORS IS DECEASED ON THE  DAY  OF  THE  ELECTION,  THE
 INSPECTORS  SHALL  RETURN  SUCH ENVELOPE UNOPENED TO THE TOWN CLERK WITH
 THE WORDS "DECEASED--OBJECTION SUSTAINED" ENDORSED ON THE ENVELOPE.
   12. IF THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION SHALL HAVE RECEIVED AN ENVELOPE, AND
 UPON  OPENING  THE SAME NO BALLOT SHALL BE FOUND THEREIN, THE INSPECTORS
 SHALL MAKE A MEMORANDUM SHOWING THAT THE BALLOT  IS  MISSING.  WHEN  THE
 CASTING  OF  EARLY  MAIL  VOTERS' BALLOTS SHALL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, THE
 INSPECTORS SHALL ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER OF SUCH BALLOTS  WHICH  HAVE  BEEN
 DEPOSITED  IN  THE  BALLOT BOX BY DEDUCTING FROM THE NUMBER OF ENVELOPES
 OPENED THE NUMBER OF MISSING BALLOTS, AND SHALL MAKE A  SEPARATE  RETURN
 THEREOF IN DUPLICATE. THE NUMBER OF EARLY MAIL VOTERS' BALLOTS DEPOSITED
 IN THE BALLOT BOX SHALL BE ADDED TO THE NUMBER OF OTHER BALLOTS DEPOSIT-
 ED  IN THE BALLOT BOX IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF ALL BALLOTS TO
 BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BALLOT BOX. SUCH BALLOTS SHALL THEN  BE  COUNTED
 OR  CANVASSED BY THE INSPECTORS OF ELECTION ALONG WITH THE OTHER BALLOTS
 CAST AT SUCH DISTRICT ELECTION, OR,  WHERE  VOTING  MACHINES  ARE  USED,
 SHALL BE ADDED TO THE VOTES RECORDED ON SUCH MACHINES.
   13.  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO EARLY MAIL BALLOTS
 IN SPECIAL TOWN ELECTIONS, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION  OF  LAW.
 THE PROVISIONS OF ANY OTHER LAW AS THEY RELATE TO SPECIAL TOWN ELECTIONS
 NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH SHALL APPLY TO THE CONDUCT OF SUCH ELECTIONS.
   §  54.  Paragraph  1  of subdivision a of section 1053 of the New York
 city charter, as amended by local law number 48 of the city of New  York
 for the year 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  material explaining the date and hours during which the polls will
 be open for that election; when, where, and how  to  register  to  vote;
 when  an  eligible voter is required to reregister; when, where, and how
 EARLY MAIL AND absentee ballots are obtained and used;  instructions  on
 how  to  vote; information on the political subdivisions applicable to a
 particular voter's address; and any other general information on  voting
 deemed  by  the  board  to  be  necessary or useful to the electorate or
 otherwise consistent with the goals of this charter;
   § 55. Paragraph 8 of subdivision b of section 1054  of  the  New  York
 city charter, as added by local law number 6 of the city of New York for
 the year 2019, is amended to read as follows:
   8.  conduct  yearly trainings for all relevant staff of the department
 of correction. Such training shall include, at minimum,  information  on
 voting  laws  for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals in the
 state of New York, voter registration procedures, EARLY MAIL AND  absen-
 tee voting, and determining eligibility to vote.
   § 56. Subdivision 9 of section 1057-a of the New York city charter, as
 amended  by  chapter  322  of  the  laws  of 2021, is amended to read as
 follows:
   9. In addition to the other requirements of this section, the  depart-
 ment  of correction shall implement and administer a program of distrib-
 ution and submission of EARLY MAIL AND absentee ballot applications, and
 subsequently received EARLY  MAIL  OR  absentee  ballots,  for  eligible
 incarcerated  individuals. Such department shall offer, to all incarcer-
 ated individuals who are registered to vote,  EARLY  MAIL  AND  absentee
 ballot  applications,  and  a  means to complete them, during the period
 from sixty days prior to any primary, special, or  general  election  in
 the  city  of  New York until two weeks prior to any such election. Such
 department shall subsequently provide any EARLY MAIL OR absentee  ballot
 received from the board of elections in response to any such application
 to  the  applicable  incarcerated  individual,  as  well  as  a means to
 complete it. Such department shall provide assistance to any such incar-
 S. 7394                            44
 
 cerated individual in  filling  out  such  application  or  ballot  upon
 request.  Such department shall, not later than five days after receipt,
 transmit such completed applications and ballots from  any  incarcerated
 individual who wishes to have them transmitted to the board of elections
 for  the  city of New York. The provisions of this subdivision shall not
 apply in any specific instance in which the department deems  it  unsafe
 to comply therewith.
   §  57.  Paragraph 3 of subdivision a of section 1057-d of the New York
 city charter, as added by local law number 64 of the city  of  New  York
 for the year 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   (3)  notification  of the deadline for submission of [a] AN EARLY MAIL
 VOTING APPLICATION OR A mailed  absentee  voting  application  for  such
 election, sent ten business days prior to such deadline; and
   § 58. Subdivision a of section 1057-e of the New York city charter, as
 added  by local law number 65 of the city of New York for the year 2016,
 is amended to read as follows:
   a. allowing any registered voter who has submitted an application  for
 an  EARLY  MAIL  OR  absentee  ballot,  or  who otherwise has a right to
 receive an EARLY MAIL OR  absentee  ballot,  for  an  upcoming  election
 pursuant  to  the election law to view the current status of their EARLY
 MAIL OR absentee application and EARLY MAIL OR absentee  ballot.    Such
 website and mobile application shall indicate for each such voter wheth-
 er the board of elections in the city of New York has:
   (1)  received  such  voter's  request  for  an  EARLY MAIL OR absentee
 ballot, if applicable;
   (2)  approved  or  rejected  such  request,  if  applicable,  and,  if
 rejected, a brief statement of the reason for rejection;
   (3) mailed or delivered an EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot to such voter
 for such upcoming election, and shall include the ability for such voter
 to  see  the  status of a mailed EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot by United
 States postal service intelligent mail barcode or successor technology;
   (4) received such voter's completed EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballot  for
 such upcoming election; and
   (5)  determined  that  such  voter's  completed EARLY MAIL OR absentee
 ballot was invalid, and, if such a finding was made, a  brief  statement
 of the reason.
   § 59. The last undesignated paragraph of subparagraph (a) of paragraph
 3  of  subdivision  d of section 1057-g of the New York city charter, as
 amended by local law number 3 of the city of New York for the year 2023,
 is amended to read as follows:
   You have a right to a replacement ballot. If you make  a  mistake,  or
 want  to  change your vote, (insert "ask a poll worker for a new ballot"
 or, for EARLY MAIL OR absentee ballots, "call the board of elections  at
 (insert  phone  number  here)  for  instructions  on how to obtain a new
 ballot").
   § 60. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025 and  shall  apply  to
 any  general,  primary, run-off primary, or special election held there-
 after.