Title 9 Part 6211

At the end of each day of early voting, those ballots which were not scanned because a scanner was not available or because the ballot was abandoned at the ballot scanner, shall, if a scanner is then available, be scanned by the election inspectors as provided for by Election Law section 9-110. Any ballots that are unscannable because it is rejected by the scanner or because of an overvote or wholly blank vote warning provided by the ballot scanner, shall be secured in the manner applicable to voted ballots on Election Day and shall remain unexamined until the time of canvass on the day of the election, at which time they shall be examined as provided for in Election Law section 9-110 and duly canvassed. Such ballots shall be reconciled as required by the procedures of the State board and must be held inviolate until the time of canvass on Election Day under tamper evident seal and lock and key.

Affidavit ballots cast during early voting shall be accounted for in the manner of affidavit ballots cast on Election Day. Boards of elections shall complete the bi-partisan review of the affidavits to determine the eligibility of such voter prior to the canvass of affidavit ballots cast during the early voting period, in the same manner as for affidavit ballots submitted on Election Day. Until the time of canvassing, affidavit ballot envelopes shall be secured, when not in bipartisan custody for processing and researching, under tamper evident seal and lock and key as required by the procedures of the State board.

To ensure an efficient and fair early voting process that respects the privacy of the voter, the manner of voting on days of the early voting period shall be the same as the manner of voting on the day of election.

The Board of Elections shall provide at least the following information to media outlets within the county:

County Board of Elections may also provide early voting information by using social media venues and any other communication mechanisms, including but not limited to broadcast advertisements, direct mail or newspaper advertisements. The Board of Elections communications plan shall identify the community based groups that were involved in the development of the plan or were provided early voting information.

The Board of Elections shall annually file a copy of the communications plan on or before May 1st.

This Part shall apply in relation to any election at which early voting is held pursuant to title VI of article 8 of the Election Law as enacted by chapter 6 of the Laws of 2019.