Provides for the provision of voter registration forms to students by colleges, universities and public high schools

Section 2 amends § 5-211 of the election law to add public school districts, colleges and universities to the list of agencies and offices subject to the provisions of Motor Voter, with duties and obligations set forth in subdivision 18.

Section 3 amends subdivision 8 of § 5-211 of the election law to add public school districts, colleges and universities to the list of agencies and offices subject to the provisions of Motor Voter, with duties and obligations set forth in subdivision 18.

Section 4 provides that an applicant who submits a applicant to register to vote must be at least 17 years of age at the time of submission. (Under current law, such applicant may be 17 only if he or she will be turning 18 within the same calendar year.) A registered voter's eligibility to cast a ballot will continue to commence on the voter's 18th birthday.

Section 5 provides an effective date of July 1, 2010 for college and universities, and July 1, 2011 for public school districts.

Justification

According to the results of an extensive study conducted by my office of colleges in New York State, both public and private institutions are remiss of Federal Law which requires them to make voter registration forms readily accessible to enrolled students.

The report, Youth At the Polls: A Survey of Voter Registration at NYS Colleges, surveyed over 60 schools across the state. Under a 1998 Amendment of the Higher Education Act, all colleges in good faith are required to provide voter registration forms to students physically on campus before the state's deadline for federal and gubernatorial elections. New York State election law also requires every public college and university (SUNY CUNY) to provide voter registration forms to every student at the start of each academic year and in January of presidential election years.

Despite the state and federal mandate, a quarter of public schools surveyed were not equipped to register students to vote, and 90% failed to send students voter registration materials in the mail. Of private schools, only 50% made voter registration materials available on campus, and 0% offered information via a posting.

This bill would clarify the means by which colleges and universities must satisfy their existing obligation to make voter registration materials available to their students.

Expanding the law will allow us to enroll more voters while they are still students in the public education system, thereby increasing the likelihood of civic engagement and strengthening our democracy. This bill is put forth in the memory of the late Dr. Ray Seidelman, who taught, mentored, and engaged students in Politics at Sarah Lawrence College for over twenty-five years. Sharing his belief in the electoral process and grass roots democracy, he inspired his students to actively participate in elections at all levels. Dr. Seidelman's definition of democracy, "Democracy is not what we have, it is what we aspire to be. So dare to aspire to it, for in the process you become a democratic citizen. It takes courage to live as a democratic citizen, and that's why we fight for it; this will involve you in great risks, but it's worth it because it will make you free." Ray believed in the intrinsic value of political participation, for what it brings into being within and between people joined in the struggle to create a slightly more human life by pursuing justice, freedom, equality, and democracy. He is known as a teacher linking theory with practice, intellectual development with public-service learning, and political theory with the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.

Legislative history

2008 - S.6169A - Referred to Elections

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.