Bill > S05493

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require the use of paper ballots in all elections, replacing existing language that allowed for other voting methods. Specifically, the bill mandates that all citizen elections (with exceptions for certain town officers) must be conducted using paper ballots, with the key requirement that voting secrecy must be preserved. The amendment also maintains existing provisions about voter identification, requiring voters to provide signatures at the time of voting, except in cases of illiteracy or physical disability. The bill includes a procedural provision that the proposed amendment would be referred to the first regular legislative session after the next general election of assembly members and would be published for three months prior to that election, in accordance with constitutional guidelines for proposing amendments. This change represents a significant shift towards a more traditional and potentially more transparent voting method by eliminating the option of alternative voting technologies and standardizing the voting process to paper ballots.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5493