Allows any qualified person to apply for voter registration and enrollment by application made with an application for any hunting or fishing license

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Allows for any qualified individual to apply for voter registration simultaneously with their application for a hunting license, fishing license, or any combination of both.

Section 2: Requires the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)with the approval of the Board of Elections to design a form that will serve as an application for registration and enrollment. Clarifies that DEC will incur the costs for the creation of such form.

Section 3: Outlines the required provisions of the voter registration portion of the form.

Section 4: Requires the form to bear certain questions, statements, and information.

Section 5: Requires DEC to retain the form that declines voter registration for a certain time period.

Section 6: Requires DEC to transmit the voter registration form to the appropriate Board of Elections.

Section 7: Requires DEC to transmit applications within certain time frames.

Section 8: Prohibits the disclosure of voter registration information for any other purpose than voter registration by DEC or its employees.

Section 9: Requires Board of Elections to process the application and send appropriate notice of approval or rejection.

Section 10: Requires strict neutrality with respect to an individual's party enrollment and all individuals seeking registration shall be told that government services are not conditioned on being registered to vote.

Section 11: Prohibits any statement or action from being made to discourage an individual from registering to vote.

Section 12: Requires DEC to provide any individual who chooses to register to vote the same assistance as the individual would be given to fill out the DEC forms.

Section 13: Requires the State Board of Elections to promulgate rules and regulations that may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

Section 14: The State Board of Elections shall develop and distribute public information and promotional material relating to the implementation of this program.

Section 15: Requires the State Board of Elections to prepare and distribute written instruction to the DEC and shall be responsible for establishing training programs for DEC employees.

Section 16: Requires DEC to take all actions which are necessary for the implementation of the program. Directs DEC to designate at least one person within the agency as the voter registration coordinator.

Justification

In 1993 the National Voter Registration Act was enacted by Congress. Part of this law included provisions that required states to provide all citizens the opportunity to register to vote when they apply for or renew a driver's license. It then directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to forward the application to the appropriate election official. The enactment of the "motor voter" law has led to an increase in the number of registered voters in New York State and throughout the country. While the "motor voter" law has been successful, there is still a large population of individuals who do not operate a motor vehicle and therefore do not have access to this convenient voter registration method.

This legislation is designed to expand on the ideas set forth in the "motor voter" law to hunting and fishing licenses. Under this proposal, the Department of Environmental Conservation must amend its hunting and fishing license applications to include an application for voter registration, similar to the current driver's license application. In New York State there are more than 2 million licensed hunters and anglers. These citizens will have the opportunity to register to vote in a similar manner of ease as provided under the "motor voter" provisions. The effect of this law will be far reaching as it will present New Yorkers with a simple voter registration option which will increase the number of registered voters in this state and help to further develop widespread participation in New York State elections. Similar legislation has been enacted in Georgia and proposed in Florida.

Legislative history

2009-2010 A.2960 - Held for consideration in election law. 2007-2008 A.3875 - Held for consideration in election law. 2005-2006 A.0374 - Held for consideration in election law.

Fiscal implications

Unknown.

Effective date

One hundred and eighty days after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.