What's happening
This bill requires all government entities issuing firearm licenses in New York to also provide voter registration forms and assistance.
Why it matters
Expands access to voter registration by requiring agencies involved in firearm licensing to actively provide registration forms and help applicants complete them. , which could increase voter enrollment among populations interacting with the firearms licensing system.
Mandates that voter registration services be offered not only at initial application but also during renewals, address changes, and other interactions with firearm licensing agencies. , reinforcing multiple opportunities for eligible voters to register or update their information.
Integrates firearm licensing offices into a broader network of government agencies already tasked with facilitating voter registration. , reflecting a policy approach that voting should be accessible as a routine government service, regardless of the reason for a citizen’s visit.
May have political and social implications by linking firearm ownership processes with voter registration. , potentially impacting both gun owners’ participation in elections and broader debates around civic engagement and gun policy in New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Register Voters at Gun Offices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in election law
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
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.
Register Voters at Gun Offices
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Robert Ortt
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1703
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY, BLANKENBUSH, DiPIETRO, D'URSO, FRIEND, GIGLIO, LAWRENCE, MORINELLO, NORRIS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to designating every government entity which issues licenses to carry, possess, repair and dispose of firearms as participating agencies for voter registration form distribution and assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 5-211 of the election law, as amended by chapter 265 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
Each agency designated as a participating agency under the provisions of this section shall implement and administer a program of distribution of voter registration forms pursuant to the provisions of this section. The following offices which provide public assistance and/or provide state funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities are hereby designated as voter registration agencies: designated as the state agencies which provide public assistance are the office of children and family services, the office of temporary and disability assistance and the department of health. Also designated as public assistance agencies are all agencies of local government that provide such assistance. Designated as state agencies that provide programs primarily engaged in providing services to people with disabilities are the department of labor, office for the aging, division of veterans' affairs, office of mental health, office of vocational and educational services for individuals with disabilities, commission on quality of care for the mentally disabled, office [of mental retardation and] for people with developmental disabilities, commission for the blind, office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the office of the advocate for the disabled and all offices which administer programs
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02402-01-9
A. 1703 2
established or funded by such agencies. Additional [state] participating agencies designated as voter registration offices are the department of state [and], the [division] district offices of the workers' compensation board and every court and law enforcement agency when such entities are issuing licenses to carry, possess, repair or dispose of firearms. Such agencies shall be required to offer voter registration forms to persons upon initial application for services, for participation in activities or for use of facilities, and upon renewal or recertification for services and upon change of address relating to such services, participation in activities or use of facilities of the agency. Such agencies shall also be responsible for providing assistance to applicants in completing voter registration forms, receiving and transmitting the completed application form from all applicants who wish to have such form transmitted to the appropriate board of elections. The state board of elections shall, together with representatives of the United States department of defense, develop and implement procedures for including recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States as voter registration offices when such offices are so designated by federal law. The state board of elections shall also make request of the United States [Immigration and Naturalization Service] Citizenship and Immigration Services to include applications for registration by mail with any materials which are given to new citizens. All institutions of the state university of New York and the city university of New York, shall, at the beginning of the school year, and again in January of a year in which the president of the United States is to be elected, provide an application for voter registration to each student in each such institution. The state board of elections may, by regulation, grant a waiver from any or all of the requirements of this section to any office or program of an agency, if it determines that it is not feasible for such office or program to administer such requirement.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, provided however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.