Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and lawmakers on Tuesday were nearing an agreement to simplify the much-criticized ballots used in the state’s elections. The new ballot would contain shorter instructions, without legal jargon, and would emphasize the names of candidates in clear, bold type. The proposed design, which was described by an official with direct knowledge of it, would also forbid more than two languages to be used on a ballot, allowing for larger and more legible text.
The proposal would also position fill-in ovals directly next to candidates’ names, reducing the chance that voters would mistakenly mark the oval associated with a candidate other than the one for whom they intended to vote. The official said Mr. Cuomo and lawmakers were likely to come to a final agreement in the coming days, and that the Legislature would approve the new specifications during this year’s legislative session, which is scheduled to end on June 21.
Source: New York Near Deal for Simplified Ballots – NYTimes.com.