A8581 - Election Disruption Remedies

• Board of Elections must extend voting hours at any polling place where voting is delayed or disrupted for more than 15 consecutive minutes, with extension duration matching the lost time.

• Extended voting time may occur the same day, on a subsequent early voting day, or by election day at the same or alternative polling locations if extending on the same day is impracticable.

• Board of Elections must notify state election officials, Attorney General's civil rights bureau, affected candidates, news media, and impacted voters through multiple communication channels about voting disruptions and extended hours.

• Board of Elections may vote to decline the time extension remedy only by majority vote during a public meeting, with written documentation of the decision and specific reasons, which must be reported to state officials and the Attorney General.

• Ballots cast during extended voting hours cannot be challenged or segregated based on timing, though voters and candidates retain the right to seek independent judicial review of Board decisions.