* § 7-118. Ballots; facsimile and sample. The board of elections shall provide facsimile and sample ballots which shall be arranged in the form of a diagram showing such part of the face of the voting machine as shall be in use at that election. Such facsimile and sample ballots shall be either in full or reduced size and shall contain suitable illustrated directions for voting on the voting machine. Such facsimile ballots shall be mounted and displayed for public inspection at each polling place during election day. Sample ballots may be mailed by the board of elections to each eligible voter at least three days before the election, or in lieu thereof, a copy of such sample ballot may be published at least once within one week preceding the election in newspapers representing the major political parties. One copy of such facsimile shall be sent to each school in the county, providing the ninth through the twelfth years of compulsory education, and in the city of New York to each such school in the city of New York, at least one week before each general election for posting at a convenient place in such school. The board of elections shall also send a facsimile ballot to any other school requesting such a ballot.

* NB Effective until July 1, 2020

* § 7-118. Ballots; facsimile and sample. 1. The board of elections shall provide facsimile and sample ballots which shall be arranged in the form of a diagram showing such part of the face of the voting machine or ballots as shall be in use at that election. Such facsimile and sample ballots shall be distinguishable from the official ballot by size, color, or other means and shall contain suitable illustrated directions for voting on the voting machine or ballot.

2. Such facsimile ballots shall be mounted and displayed for public inspection at each polling place during election day.

3. Sample ballots may be mailed by the board of elections to each eligible voter at least three days before the election, or in lieu thereof, a copy of such sample ballot may be published at least once within one week preceding the election in newspapers or on a website maintained by the board of elections.

4. One copy of such facsimile shall be sent to each school in the county, providing the ninth through the twelfth years of compulsory education, and in the city of New York to each such school in the city of New York, at least one week before each general election for posting at a convenient place in such school. The board of elections shall also send a facsimile ballot to any other school requesting such a ballot. In the alternative, the requirements of this subdivision may be fully satisfied by publishing such facsimile on a website maintained by the board of elections and notifying each such school of such publication.

* NB Effective July 1, 2020 until January 1, 2021

* § 7-118. Ballots; facsimile and sample. 1. The board of elections shall provide facsimile and sample ballots which shall be arranged in the form of a diagram showing such part of the face of the voting machine or ballots as shall be in use at that election. Such facsimile and sample ballots shall be distinguishable from the official ballot by size, color, or other means and shall contain suitable illustrated directions for voting on the voting machine or ballot.

2. Such facsimile ballots shall be mounted and displayed for public inspection at each polling place during election day.

3. Sample ballots may be mailed by the board of elections to each eligible voter at least three days before the election, or in lieu thereof, a copy of such sample ballot may be published at least once within one week preceding the election in newspapers or on a website maintained by the board of elections. Each county board of elections shall transmit electronically in a format to be determined by the state board of elections, as it is available, a copy of the candidate and contest information contained on each of its ballot styles to the state board of elections. The state board shall create a system to allow such information to be made publicly available via its website, as well as the website of any county board of elections, and in such a way as to be accessible with a computer screen-reading program.

4. One copy of such facsimile shall be sent to each school in the county, providing the ninth through the twelfth years of compulsory education, and in the city of New York to each such school in the city of New York, at least one week before each general election for posting at a convenient place in such school. The board of elections shall also send a facsimile ballot to any other school requesting such a ballot. In the alternative, the requirements of this subdivision may be fully satisfied by publishing such facsimile on a website maintained by the board of elections and notifying each such school of such publication.

* NB Effective January 1, 2021