H. B. 4621
(By Delegate Laird)
[Introduced February 27, 1998; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend article one, chapter three of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended,
by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirty- four-a, relating to elections; and directing the secretary
of state to propose certain legislative rules for
promulgation concerning the provision upon request of
election ballots in Braille for use by blind persons.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article one, chapter three of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
thirty-four-a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS.
§3-1-34a. Provision for election ballots in Braille.
The secretary of state shall propose legislative rules for promulgation, in accordance with article three, chapter twenty- nine-a of this code, relating to the development, distribution
and use of templates or overlays that may be used in the
production of Braille election ballots for the purpose of
enabling blind persons to vote without additional assistance.
Any person desiring to vote in an election by means of a Braille
ballot shall submit a request therefor in writing, addressed to
the county clerk of the county wherein the person is registered
to vote, not later than sixty days before the election for which
the request applies.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require that the
Secretary of State propose legislative rules regarding the
development, distribution and use of Braille templates or
overlays to be used to provide ballots in Braille so that blind
persons can vote without additional assistance.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.