NY S05036

Defines voter intimidation as using force, violence, coercion or intimidation to compel or prevent voting, and voter suppression as knowingly preventing voting or registration through fraudulent or false information, both felonies with prison sentences up to three years and fines up to $100,000.

Requires local election supervisors to post a voter's bill of rights at every polling place and with sample ballots, guaranteeing voters rights including ballot inspection, assistance in voting, replacement ballots for mistakes, and voting free from coercion.

Mandates the State Board of Elections create a uniform polling place procedures manual indexed by subject with clear language, specific examples of common problems, and procedures for handling voter registration issues, ballot operations, provisional ballots, and security.

Prohibits voting qualifications or procedures that deny or abridge voting rights based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability, and requires new voting procedures to obtain attorney general approval within 60 days before implementation.

Establishes that voting practices diminishing citizens' ability to elect preferred candidates based on protected characteristics constitute vote dilution and denials of voting rights.