Provides for the state board of elections to undertake a study of the feasibility for voting by mail, telephone and/or internet

5 Co-sponsors

• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Shirley L. Huntley
• Bill Perkins
• José M. Serrano
• Daniel L. Squadron

BILL NUMBER:S424

Title of bill

An act providing for the state board of elections to undertake a study on the feasibility of permitting voting by mail, telephone and/or the internet and to establish pilot projects relating thereto

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill would require that the state board of elections do a study of the feasibility of voting by mail, telephone and/or over the internet. It would also empower it to establish pilot programs to evaluate the feasibility of any of these methods of voting.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 mandates that the state board of elections undertake a study of the feasibility of voting by mail, telephone and/or over the internet, that such a study may include pilot programs of each method, and that it report to the legislature and the governor the results of the study along with recommendations.

Justification

One of the primary goals of any representative form of government should be to have every eligible voter participate. While attaining such a goal may be a practical impossibility, the legislature must find ways to increase voter turnout. That is especially true given the ominous decline in turnout Over the past four decades in New York State. Since the 1956 election, the percentage of registered voters who cast ballots has steadily fallen from over 93% to less than 64%.

In a recent nationwide study conducted for the League of Women Voters, a majority of non-voters supported proposals which make voting more convenient. Keeping the polls open longer and providing an opportunity to vote by mail were both considered very helpful in getting them to cast votes. This bill would require the board of elections to examine the possibility of using mail, telephone and internet voting. In almost all the tests of mail voting, it has significantly increased voter participation. Recent elections in Oregon have been conducted by mail with startlingly positive results and little or no fraud. According to election officials in various parts of the country, including New York State, the technology exists to use touch-tone phones to securely case your vote. Given the constant decline in voter participation in the electoral process, the state should examine these methods of increasing turnout. The results of this study, when presented to the legislature, will enable it to decide if this is a course that New York should follow.

Fiscal implications

Minimal.

Legislative history 2009-2010

S.3590/A.6716

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.