What's happening
This bill allows voters to update their address up to ten days and change party affiliation up to twenty-five days before an election.
Why it matters
Increases voter flexibility. By allowing address updates up to ten days before an election, the bill helps ensure that voters who move shortly before an election can still cast a ballot at their correct polling place without being turned away or forced to vote by affidavit.
Enhances party participation. The ability to change party affiliation up to twenty-five days before any primary, special, or general election gives voters more agency to participate in the party primary of their choice, which can be particularly important in states like New York where many offices are decided in the primary.
Reduces administrative lag. Previously, party affiliation changes were processed only after the general election, but this bill requires that these changes be entered before the next election, allowing voters’ preferences to be reflected more quickly and accurately on voter rolls.
Supports voter engagement and turnout. By making it easier and faster to update addresses and party enrollments, the bill could remove barriers that discourage participation, especially for young, mobile, or newly engaged voters.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Voters Update Address
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- 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.
Change Voter Address Deadline
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 591 A. 284
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, DICKENS, BLAKE, GOTTFRIED, D'URSO, SEAWRIGHT, HYNDMAN, NIOU -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to authorizing the provision of notice of a change of address ten days before an election and authorizing the change of party affiliation within twenty-five days of an election
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 5-208 of the election law, as added by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
3. If such a notice is received at least [twenty] ten days before a primary, special or general election, such change of address must be completed before such election.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 5-304 of the election law, as amended by chapter 90 of the laws of 1991, is amended to read as follows:
3. A change of enrollment received by the board of elections not later than the twenty-fifth day before [the] a primary, special or general election shall be [deposited in a sealed enrollment box, which shall not be opened until the first Tuesday following such general election. Such change of enrollment shall be then removed and] entered before such election as provided in this article.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01950-01-9
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.