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 - amends the election law, in relation to the registration and enrollment of voters, by adding a new section 5-217 to allow for any qualified individual to apply for voter registration simultaneously with their application for a hunting license, fishing license, or any combination of both.

Subdivision 2 - states the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with the approval of the Board of Elections will design a form that will serve as an application for registration and enrollment, and clarifies that DEC will incur the costs for the creation of such form.

Subdivision 3 - outlines the voter registration portion of the form will do the following; not require any information that duplicates the information required on the application for the license portion, and will require the applicant's signature, include a statement of the eligibility requirements for voter registration and require the applicant to attest by their signature they meet the requirements under penalty of perjury, and inform the applicant of the voter eligibility requirements, penalties for the submission of false registration application, and the information will remain confidential, and only used for voter registration purposes.

Subdivision 4 - states the form will ask if the applicant would like to register to vote, if they are not already registered to vote where they currently live and if the applicant would like to decline to register to vote. The application will include a statement that informs the applicant they have the right to decline to vote. The application will also inform the applicant assistance and privacy to fill out the application is available, and inform the applicant if they believe that someone has interfered with their right to register, decline to register, their right to privacy, or the right of the applicant to choose their own political party or other political preference they may file a complaint for the state board of elections.

Subdivision 5 - states the DEC will retain the form containing the declination to register to vote for the same period of time that they retain the accompanying application, or for a short period of time, that has been approved by the board of elections.

Subdivision 6 - states the DEC will transmit the completed application to register, or the change of address to the board of elections no later than ten days after they receive it, except if all applications and forms received by the DEC are transmitted in a way that assures the board of elections received the application no later than the

twentieth day before the election, and requires all transmittals include the original signatures.

Subdivision 7 - states the completed application forms received by the DEC no later than the twenty-fifth day before the next ensuing primary, general or special election and transmitted by such department to the appropriate board of elections, so they are received no later than the twentieth day before the election that will entitle the applicant to vote in such election shall entitle the applicant to vote in such election provided the board determines that the applicant if otherwise qualified.

Subdivision 8 - prohibits the disclosure of voter registration information for any other purpose than voter registration by DEC or its employees.

Subdivision 9 - states the board of elections to process the application and send appropriate notice of approval or rejection.

Subdivision 10 - states that there will be strict neutrality with respect to an individual's party enrollment and all individuals seeking to register to vote will be told that government services are not conditioned on being registered to vote.

Subdivision 11 - states that no statements shall be made, or any actions taken, that will discourage an individual from registering to vote.

Subdivision 12 - states the DEC will provide each person who registers to vote with the same assistance that they provide when a person fills out their application forms, unless the person refuses assistance.

Subdivision 13 - states the Board of Elections will adopt the rules and regulations as may be necessary, to carry out the requirements of this section. The board will also adopt the rules and regulations as may be necessary to require county boards and the DEC to provide the state board of elections with the information and data as the board of elections deems necessary to assess compliance with this section and to compile the statistics as required by the federal elections commission.

Subdivision 14 - states the board of elections will develop and distribute public information and promotional materials relating to the purposes and implementation of this program.

Subdivision 15 - states the State Board of Elections will prepare and distribute written instruction to the DEC and shall be responsible for establishing training programs for DEC employees.

Subdivision 16 - states the Commissioner of the DEC will take all actions which are necessary and proper for the implementation of this section. The DEC Commissioner will designate one person within the agency as the agency voter registration coordinator who will, under the direction of the state Board of Elections, be responsible for the voter registration program.

Section 2 - states that this act will take effect on the one hundredth day after it shall become a law, provided that effective immediately, the additional, 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.

Justification

In 1993, the National Voter Registration Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Also known as the "Moter Voter Act," this legislation included provisions that required states to provide all citizens the opportunity to register to vote when they applied for, or renewed their driver's license. Eligible voters were also afforded the opportunity to register to vote while they were applying for public assistance at the Department of Social Services.

This legislation aims to increase voter registration in New York State, by allowing individuals the opportunity to vote, while they apply for a hunting license, fishing license, or a combination of both.

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), there are nearly 700,000 New Yorkers that hunt each year. This legislation, through a thoroughly regulated process, will expand the ability and increase the accessibility for New Yorkers to register to vote.

Legislative history

06/03/13 - Passed Senate 6/11/12 - Passed Senate 2009-2010 - A.2960, Held for consideration in election law 2007-2008 - A.3875, Held for considering in election law 2005-2006 - A.0374, Held for considering in election law

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundredth day after it shall become a law, provided that effective immediately, the additional, 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.