What's happening
This bill allows eligible New Yorkers to register and vote at their polling place on Election Day with valid ID.
Why it matters
Expands access to voting by enabling unregistered, eligible New Yorkers to register at their local polling place on Election Day. , lowering barriers for people who missed standard registration deadlines or recently moved.
Requires proof of residence through forms of ID that comply with the Help America Vote Act. , helping to balance expanded access with election integrity and preventing ineligible voting.
Provides an affidavit ballot option for those lacking immediate proof of residence. , ensuring that eligible voters aren’t turned away but that their votes are only counted after verification, which protects against fraud while maximizing participation.
Mandates clear procedures for Election Day registration and voting. , placing responsibility on local boards of elections to create a smooth process, which could reduce confusion, lines, and administrative errors on Election Day.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Register to Vote at Polls
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6479
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 7, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to allowing for polling place voter registration for any qualified person who is not registered to vote
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 5-210 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-a. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article relating to registration requirements, any qualified person who is not registered in this state may apply personally for registration and enrollment by appearing at the appropriate polling place for the election district in which he or she resides on the day of any primary, general or special election during the hours that such polling place is open for voting. To be eligible to register pursuant to this subdivision, a person must provide acceptable forms of identification containing proof of residence, as determined by state law implementing the Help Americans Vote Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-252). Any person who so registers to vote shall execute the following instrument in substantially the following form:
"I, (name), do hereby certify, under penalty of perjury, that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified voter, having resided at (place of residence) for at least thirty days immediately preceding this election, that I am not disqualified on any legal grounds from voting and that I have not already voted at this election."
(b) If a registrant is unable to provide valid proof of residence as required by paragraph (a) of this subdivision, such registrant may be allowed to register for and vote in any election by affidavit ballot. Such affidavit ballot shall not be counted until election officials can determine such registrant's residence and eligibility to vote.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07878-01-9
A. 6479 2
(c) The board of elections shall establish a procedure by which a person who registers pursuant to this subdivision may cast his or her vote at the appropriate polling place.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a concurrent resolution amending the constitution, entitled "CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY" proposing amendments to section 5 of article 2 of the constitution, in relation to the ten day advance registration requirement, as proposed by legislative bills numbers S.1048 and A.777 of 2019.
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.