Q&A
Voters' right to bring assistants for language help
1:44:20
·
55 sec
Council Member Hanif mentions that the community finds it helpful to bring someone with them to the polling site for assistance. Executive Director Ryan explains the legal rights of voters to bring assistants.
- Ryan confirms that under New York state election law, anyone has the right to bring someone to assist them in filling out the ballot
- This right applies not only for language assistance but also for those with manual dexterity or comprehension issues
- The only restriction is that the assistant cannot be the voter's employer or union representative
- Ryan explains that this restriction dates back to prevent interference or coercion from the Tammany Hall era
Shahana K. Hanif
1:44:20
Yeah.
1:44:20
The community has found it helpful to be able to bring someone with them, to the site, which I think
Michael Ryan
1:44:26
So so Yeah.
1:44:27
In that regard, anyone has a right under New York state election law to bring someone, to help, to assist them in filling out the ballot.
1:44:38
That's not only somebody that needs language assistance, if they had manual dexterity issues or or or comprehension issues if, you know, especially for some of the more complex things, you're allowed to bring any one of your own choosing, provided that it's not your employer or your union.
1:44:57
As interestingly as the law requires to, I guess, prevent going back to Tammany Hall days, interference or coercion on the part of an employer or or or a union to, try to compel someone, to do something that wasn't voluntary.
Shahana K. Hanif
1:45:13
Thank you.
Michael Ryan
1:45:14
You're welcome.
