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Senator · Senate District 38
History
- Print number 1992b
- Amend and recommit to elections
- Referred to elections
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1144
- Print number 1992a
- Amend and recommit to elections
- Referred to elections
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to voter pre-registration
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1992B
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to voter pre-registration
Purpose
To allow those 16 and 17 years of age to pre-register to vote.
Summary of provisions
A new paragraph p is added to section 5-500 of the election law that specifies for the addition of a space on a voter registration form for pre-registering applicants.
The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-507 to allow a person who is a: least 16 years old and is otherwise qualified to register to vote, to pre-register to vote with that voter automatically registered upon reaching the age of eligibility.
Subsection two of the new section 5-507 requires local boards of education to adopt policies to promote student voter registration and pre-registration.
Justification
There are currently at least a dozen states that allow 16- and/or 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. The age 16 is a sensible time for the DMV and high schools to collect information for voter Pre-registration, as it is the time when a significant amount of people have their first interaction with the DMV, and it is an age where school is still compulsory in New York. Pre-registration allows this information to be collected at a convenient time for the individual rather than making them return to the boards of elections or a state agency when they reach eligible voting age.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2010 only 46.6% of eligible New York voters between the ages of 16 and 24 were registered to vote (the most recent data available). This percentage is likely to increase when information is gathered to pro-register 16- and 17-year-olds, and then automatically registering young voters when they reach an eligible voting age. Getting young people involved in the election process allows them to form the habit of voting and contribute to civic life early
Legislative history
2011-12 - S.5256 - Referred to Elections
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
January 1, in the year succeeding the year this law shall become effective.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.