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History
- Referred 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
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S857
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
Section 1. Amends paragraph o of subdivision 4 of section 5-500 of the election law and adds a new paragraph p that provide for the addition of a space on a voter registration form for pre-registering applicants.
Section 2. Adds a new section 5-507 to the election law to allow a person who is at least 16 years old and is otherwise qualified to register to vote, to pre-register to vote with that voter becoming automatically registered upon reaching the age of eligibility. This section also requires local boards of education to adopt policies to promote student voter registration and pre-registration.
Section 3. Effective date.
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 18 and 24 were registered to vote (the most recent data available). This percentage is likely to increase when information is gathered to pre-register 16- and 17year-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
2014: S1992-B/A2042-B - Elections/Passed Assembly
2013: S1992-A/A2042-A - 3rd Reading Calendar/Passed Assembly
2011-12: S5256/A7440 - Elections/Election Law
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.