What's happening
This bill shortens the voter registration deadline from 25 to 15 days before an election in New York State.
Why it matters
Expands access to voting by allowing people to register closer to Election Day, which could help those who become newly interested in voting or meet eligibility requirements just before an election.
Could increase overall voter participation, especially among younger voters, new residents, or those who may have missed previous deadlines due to lack of awareness or life changes.
Requires election boards to process registrations within a shorter timeframe, potentially increasing administrative pressure but also modernizing and streamlining voter registration processes.
May affect campaign strategies and get-out-the-vote efforts, since candidates and advocacy groups could continue outreach and registration drives later into the election cycle.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Speed Up Voter Registration
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 46–14
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.256
- Referred to elections
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 47–15
Show 3 earlier actions
- Ordered to third reading cal.1130
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Shorten Voter Registration Deadlines
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor David Buchwald
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2311
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to voter registration
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 5-210 of the election law, as amended by chapter 255 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
3. Completed application forms, when received by any board of elections and, with respect to application forms promulgated by the federal election commission, when received by the state board of elections, or showing a dated cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or contained in an envelope showing such a dated cancellation mark which is not later than the [twenty-fifth] fifteenth day before the next ensuing primary, general or special election, and received no later than the [twentieth] tenth day before such election, or delivered in person to such board of elections not later than the tenth day before [a special] such election, shall entitle the applicant to vote in such election, if he or she is otherwise qualified, provided, however, such applicant shall not vote on a voting machine until his or her identity is verified. Any board of elections receiving an application form from a person who does not reside in its jurisdiction but who does reside elsewhere in the state of New York, shall forthwith forward such application form to the proper board of elections. Each board of elections shall make an entry on each such form of the date it is received by such board.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01062-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to voter registration
Purpose
The bill authorizes voters whose applications are timely mailed and received to vote in the next primary, general, or special election.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 5-210 of the election law, as amended by chapter 225 of the laws of 2015, to provide that an application postmarked by no later than fifteen days before the next primary, general or special election, which is received no later than ten days before such election, or which is delivered in person at least ten days before such election to the county board of elections, shall entitle such applicant to vote at such election.
Section 2 of the bill establishes the effective date.
Justification
Article II, Section 5 of the New York State Constitution requires that in order to vote in an election a voter's registration must be completed at least ten days before such election. This bill reduces the time peri- od prior to an election during which a person can register to vote and be entitled to vote to the constitutional ten day minimum, and clarifies that when a registration is received at least ten days before a primary, general or special election, the voter is entitled to vote in that election.
Under current law, an application postmarked by twenty-five days before the next primary, general or special election, which is received at least 20 days before such election, or delivered in person to the county board of elections at least 10 days before a special election entitles the applicant to vote in that special election. It fails to address the right of the applicant to vote in primary and general elections in the same circumstances, which appears to be a technical error.
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Fiscal impact on localities
None.
Impact on regulation of businesses and individuals
None.
Impact on fines, imprisonment, forfeiture of rights, or other penal sanctions
None.
Legislative history
2018: S7131(Kavanagh)/A10582 (Buchwald)- Elections/Election Law 2017: A5908(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2016: A5870(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2015: A5870(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2014: A2104(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2013: A2104(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2012: A5900(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2011: A5900(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2010: A8348(Kavanagh)- Election Law 2009: A8348(Kavanagh)- Election Law
Effective date
This act shall take immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.