What's happening
This bill requires all electronic income tax preparation software in New York to include a link to the state voter registration website.
Why it matters
Expands Voter Registration Access. By integrating voter registration prompts into tax software, the bill aims to reach a wide swath of New Yorkers who may not otherwise encounter voter registration opportunities, especially those who file taxes electronically.
Leverages a High-Usage Platform. Tax preparation software is used annually by millions of residents, making it a strategic channel to encourage civic participation and potentially increase registration rates, particularly among populations that may be under-registered.
Creates a Consistent, Statewide Standard. The requirement applies to all electronic tax software offered for sale or use in New York, ensuring that regardless of the provider, users will receive the same prompt and access to voter registration resources.
Promotes Collaboration Between Agencies. The bill requires coordination between the Department of Taxation and Finance and the State Board of Elections, fostering inter-agency cooperation to streamline voter outreach efforts and maintain up-to-date registration links.
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Who cares
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Link Taxes to Voter Registration
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
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.
Tax Software Adds Voter Link
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8108
IN SENATE
March 29, 2018
Introduced by Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the tax law and the election law, in relation to requiring tax preparation software to provide a link to voter registration websites
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 171 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivision twenty-ninth to read as follows:
Twenty-ninth. Require that all electronic income tax preparation software offered for sale or use in the state of New York include a prompt providing a link to users of such software to a New York state voter registration application website pursuant to section 5-231 of the election law.
§ 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-231 to read as follows:
§ 5-231. Electronic income tax voter registration. The department of taxation and finance, in consultation with the state board of elections, shall require that all electronic income tax preparation software offered for sale or use in the state of New York include a prompt to users of such software which shall provide a link to a New York state voter registration application website.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15197-02-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law and the election law, in relation to requiring tax preparation software to provide a link to voter registration websites
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would be known as the "Representation through Taxation" bill. It would allow individuals the opportunity to register to vote on tax return software when doing their taxes. New York consistently ranks in the low 30 to 40 percent in voter turnout. This legislation would give one more avenue for potential voters to register. This legislation would also place additional securities in our election by registering with information they must place on tax returns for proper identification.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Section 171 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdi- vision twenty-nine which require that all electronic income tax prepara- tion software offered for sale or use in the state of New York to include a prompt providing a link to users of such software to a New York state voter registration application website pursuant to section 5-231 of the election law.
Read the full memo (648 words)
Section 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-231 to read as follows the department of taxation and finance, in consultation with the state board of elections, shall require that all electronic income tax preparation software offered for sale or use in the state of New York include a prompt to users of such software which shall provide a link to a New York state voter registration application website.
Justification
No voter registration process is perfect, ours is riddled with flaws. "Representation through Taxation" would add a vital opportunity to increase voter rolls and participation in elections. The United States is one of only a few democracies in the world where the government does not take responsibility for registering voters. Instead, our government leaves the construction of voter registration to partisan and non-parti- san voter registration organizations, political parties, election offi- cials, and active citizens. It is not surprising that voter registration and turnout in New York State are neither complete or the lowest of the 50 states.
In contrast, the international norm is an orderly process of automatic registration of every citizen who reaches voting age and of every person who becomes a citizen. Citizens are automatically placed on voter rolls upon reaching voting age and/or government officials actively work to register all citizens. For example, in Iraq's first democratic elections, election officials automatically transferred the names of Iraqis from ration lists to voter rolls.
Voter registration should be the mutual responsibility of citizens and their government. The government should not only facilitate registra- tion; it should actively register adults who are eligible to vote as part of its responsibility to have accurate rolls. 100% voter registra- tion should be the goal. Allowing voters to register through tax soft- ware has the potential to bring together conservatives who are concerned about fraudulent voter registrations and liberals who are concerned about anemic political participation.
This year, when Minnesotans file their taxes through state-approved electronic filing systems they'll see a new prompt in the long series of tax-return questions asking if they'd like to register to vote. The message directs the taxpayer to the Minnesota Secretary of State's website, where any eligible voter with an email address can register to vote online.
However best achieved, we believe that such changes would register far more citizens in an orderly way, generate more understanding of the value of 100% registration, and provide a means to systematically intro- duce young people to the importance of political participation. We see a natural complement to this proposal being a "voting curriculum" for high school students.
Prior legislative history
New Legislation
Fiscal implications
Yet to be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.