What's happening
This bill enacts the Modernized Voter Registration Act, establishing automatic, same-day, and online voter registration in New York.
Why it matters
Expands opportunities to register. By integrating voter registration with interactions at the DMV, public universities, public housing authorities, correctional release, and other state agencies, this act aims to capture eligible but previously unregistered voters at multiple common life events, potentially increasing participation and representation, especially among traditionally underrepresented groups.
Reduces barriers and modernizes access. The availability of online and same-day registration removes traditional obstacles like paperwork deadlines and in-person visits, making it easier for people with busy schedules, mobility challenges, or limited transportation to engage in the electoral process.
Emphasizes data security and privacy. The bill requires secure electronic transmission of voter data and mandates that agencies only use citizenship information for voter registration, addressing some potential privacy and data misuse concerns that can arise with expanded data sharing among government agencies.
Simplifies and standardizes the process. By centralizing and automating much of the registration process, and requiring agencies to maintain neutrality and not condition services on registration, the act seeks to reduce confusion, administrative errors, and the risk of disenfranchisement due to bureaucratic mistakes, while also keeping voters informed and able to update their information efficiently.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
State and county boards of elections
They would administer consent-based automated registration, allow same-day registration during early voting and on Election Day, and provide electronic registration services.
DMV, SUNY, CUNY and other source agencies
They would collect and electronically transmit voter registration information under agreements with the State Board of Elections.
Eligible unregistered voters
They could register through specified agency transactions with their consent, online or at polling places when voting is underway.
People completing prison sentences or discharged from parole
Those qualified to vote would be offered consent-based automated registration upon completing a maximum prison sentence or being discharged from parole.
Headline styles
Expand Voter Registration Access
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
6 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5215
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 16, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, CARLUCCI, KRUEGER, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO -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 enacting the "Modernized Voter Registration Act of New York"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Modernized Voter Registration Act of New York".
§ 2. The election law is amended by adding four new sections 5-200, 5-201, 5-205 and 5-207 to read as follows:
§ 5-200. Automated voter registration. 1. Notwithstanding any other manner of registration required by this article, each person in the state qualified to vote pursuant to section 5-102 of this article, shall be automatically registered to vote as provided in this section, provided that the person consents to voter registration.
2. The state board of elections or county board of elections shall register to vote or update the registration record of any person in the state qualified to vote pursuant to section 5-102 of this article who consents to the registration or update and does any of the following:
(a) completes an application for a new or renewed driver's license, non-driver identification card, pre-licensing course certificate, learner's permit or certification of supervised driving with the department of motor vehicles, or notifies such department in writing of a change of his or her name or address;
(b) completes an application for services, renewal or recertification for services, or change of address relating to such services from agencies designated in section 5-211 of this title;
(c) completes an application for services, renewal or recertification for services, or change of address relating to such services from any
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05911-02-9
S. 5215 2
municipal housing authority as set forth in article thirteen of the public housing law;
(d) registers for classes at institutions of the state university of New York and the city university of New York;
(e) completes a maximum sentence of imprisonment or is discharged from parole;
(f) completes an application for unemployment insurance;
(g) becomes a member or employee of the division of military and naval affairs; or
(h) completes an application with any other state or federal agency designated as a source agency pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision three of this section.
3. (a) The term "source agency" includes the department of motor vehicles, any government agency designated pursuant to section 5-211 of this title, the state university of New York and the city university of New York, all public housing authorities listed in article thirteen of the public housing law, the department of corrections and community supervision, the department of labor, the division of military and naval affairs and any agency designated by the state board of elections pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.
(b) The state board of elections may designate additional state agencies to serve as sources for voter registration. In designating an agency under this paragraph, the state board of elections shall consider:
(i) the likelihood that source records reflect a large number of eligible citizens;
(ii) the extent to which source records reflect eligible citizens who would not otherwise be registered under the act to modernize voter registration;
(iii) the accuracy of personal identification data in source records; and
(iv) any additional factors designated by the chief election official as reasonably related to accomplishing the purposes of the act to modernize voter registration.
4. The state board of elections and the source agencies shall enter into agreements to ensure that for each person described in subdivision two of this section, each source agency electronically transmits to the state or local boards of elections the following information in a format that can be read by the computerized statewide voter registration list:
(a) given name or names and surname of surnames;
(b) mailing address and residential address;
(c) date of birth;
(d) citizenship;
(e) driver's license or non-driver identification card number, last four digits of the person's social security number, or a space for the person to indicate that her or she doesn't not have any such number;
(f) political party enrollment, if any;
(g) an indication that the person intends to apply for an absentee ballot, if any; and
(h) an image of the person's signature.
In the event that any transmission of data pursuant to this section fails to include an image of an individual's signature, the absence of a signature shall not preclude the registration of an eligible citizen. The board of elections shall develop procedures to enable an eligible citizen, whose information is transmitted pursuant to this section and whose information lacks an electronic signature, to provide a signature at the polling place or with an application for an absentee ballot
S. 5215 3
before voting. The board may require an elector who has not provided a signature before arriving at the polling place or submitting an absentee ballot to present a current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter.
5. If an agency does not routinely request information concerning the citizenship status of individuals, it shall maintain records sufficient to transmit to the board indications of United States citizenship for each person described in subdivision two of this section, but shall not retain, use, or share any such information relating to an individual's citizenship for any other purpose.
6. The state board of elections shall prepare and distribute to participating agencies written instructions as to the implementation of the program and shall be responsible for establishing training programs for employees of source agencies listed in this section. Training shall include requirements that employees of any source agency communicate to each individual identified in subdivision two of this section that the source agency maintains strict neutrality with respect to a person's party enrollment and all persons seeking voter registration forms and information shall be advised that government services are not conditioned on being registered to vote, or eligibility to register to vote. No statement shall be made nor any action taken to discourage the applicant from registering to vote.
7. The agreements between the state board of elections and the source agencies shall include the format in which information will be transmitted, whether and how each entity will collect, in addition to the mandatory information listed in subdivision four of this section, additional information on a voluntary basis from persons for the purpose of facilitating voter registration, the frequency of data transmissions, the procedures, and other measures that will be used to ensure the security and privacy of the information transmitted, and any other matter necessary or helpful to implement the requirements of this section.
8. Each source agency shall cooperate with the state board of elections and county board of elections to facilitate the voter registration of each person described in subdivision two of this section, and to electronically transmit the information needed to register each such person to vote or to update each such person's voter registration record.
9. Each source agency shall enter into an agreement with the state board of elections finalizing the format and content of electronic transmissions required by this section no later than September first, two thousand twenty-one; provided, that each source agency shall be able to comply fully with all requirements of this section, including the collection and transmission of all data required to register individuals to vote, by January first, two thousand twenty-two.
§ 5-201. Same day registration. Each county shall allow any eligible individual on the day of an election and on any day when voting, including early voting, to register to vote in such election at the polling place and to cast a vote in such election.
§ 5-205. Internet registration. 1. The board shall ensure that the following services are available to the public at any time on the official public websites of the appropriate county or municipality, in the same manner and subject to the same terms and conditions as the services provided by voter registration regulations: (a) online application for voter registration; (b) online assistance to applicants in applying to register to vote; (c) online completion and submission by applicants of
S. 5215 4
the mail voter registration application including assistance with providing a signature in electronic form; and (d) online receipt of completed voter registration applications.
2. Any county or municipality shall accept an online voter registration application provided by an individual under this section, and ensure that the individual is registered to vote in the state, if (a) the individual meets the same voter registration requirements applicable to individuals who register to vote by mail in accordance with the law using the mail voter registration application form and (b) the individual provides a signature in electronic form.
3. For purposes of this section, an individual provides a signature in electronic form by (a) executing a computerized mark in the signature field on an online voter registration application; or
(b) submitting with the application an electronic copy of the individual's handwritten signature through electronic means.
4. (a) Upon the online submission of a completed voter registration application by an individual under this section, the appropriate state or local election official shall send the individual a notice confirming the state's receipt of the application and providing instructions on how the individual may check the status of the application, and (b) as soon as the appropriate election official has approved or rejected an application submitted by an individual under this section, the official shall send the individual a notice of the disposition of the application.
5. Any county or municipality shall make the services made available online under subdivision one of this section available through the use of an automated telephone-based system, subject to the same terms and conditions applicable under this section to the services made available online, in addition to making the services available online in accordance with the requirements of this section.
§ 5-207. Updating registration information through the internet. 1. The board shall ensure that any registered voter on the computerized list may at any time update the voter's registration information, including the voter's address and electronic mail address, online through the official public website of the election official responsible for the maintenance of the list, so long as the voter attests to the contents of the update by providing a signature in electronic form in the same manner required under the law.
2. Applications for voter registration shall provide an option for voters to receive voter information and future registration information and correspondence by email.
3. The board of elections shall notify every registered voter of the option to register and make changes to their voter information electronically.
§ 3. Paragraph (k) of subdivision 5 of section 5-210 of the election law, as amended by chapter 179 of the laws of 2005, subparagraph (xii) as added by chapter 362 of the laws of 2008, is amended and a new paragraph (n) is added to read as follows:
(k) The form shall also include space for the following information, which must be contained on the inside of the form after it is folded for mailing:
(i) A space for the applicant to indicate whether or not he or she has ever voted or registered to vote before and, if so, the approximate year in which such applicant last voted or registered and his or her name and address at the time.
(ii) The name and residence address of the applicant including the zip code and apartment number, if any.
S. 5215 5
(iii) The date of birth of the applicant.
(iv) A space for the applicant to indicate his or her driver's license or department of motor vehicles non-driver photo ID number or the last four digits of his or her social security number or, if the applicant does not have either such number, a space for the applicant to indicate he or she does not have either.
(v) A space for the applicant to indicate whether or not he or she is a citizen of the United States and the statement "If you checked "no" in response to this question, do not complete this form."
(vi) [A space for the applicant to answer the question "Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day?" and the statement "If you checked "no" in response to this question, do not complete this form unless you will be 18 by the end of the year."
(vii)] A statement informing the applicant that if the form is submitted by mail and the applicant is registering for the first time, certain information or documents must be submitted with the mail-in registration form in order to avoid additional identification requirements upon voting for the first time. Such information and documents are:
(A) a driver's license or department of motor vehicles non-driver photo ID number; or
(B) the last four digits of the individual's social security number; or
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 enacting the "Modernized Voter Registration Act of New York"
Purpose or general idea of bill
The Modernized Voter Registration Act of New York provides for automated voter registration of eligible consenting citizens at designated govern- ment agencies; permitting same day registration on the day of an election and to cast a vote in such election; allowing for voter regis- tration through the Internet; and the updating of registration informa- tion through the internet.
Summary of specific provisions
The Modernized Voter Registration Act of New York modernizes and stream- lines the election law in several ways, as summarized below:
Amends the election law by adding a new section that will automate the voter registration process at government agencies required to offer voter registration services, and allows the board of elections to desig- nate additional state agencies to serve as sources for voter registra- tion; Amends the election law by adding a new section that will allow for same day voter registration. Each county shall allow for individual eligible voters on the day of an election and on any day when voting, including early voting, to register to vote in such election at the polling pace and to cast a vote in such election;
Amends the election law to require the state board of elections to ensure that services are made available to the public for voter regis- tration on public websites of stale and local government agencies Services shall include online voter registration applications, online assistance, online submission, and online receipt; Amends the election law to require the state board of elections to make certain updating registration information available to voters via the Internet and to provide for voter registration or registration updates over the Inter- net;
Justification
Modernizing the voter registration system will increase the efficiency of voter registration for the State and its constituent governmental units, save hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, increase the completeness and accuracy of the statewide voter registration list, prevent erroneous disenfranchisement of eligible citizens, promote greater participation of eligible voters in elections, and reduce the incidence of voter registration fraud and voting fraud.
New York's paper-based voter registration system is inefficient, error prone, and unjustifiably costly. A modern voter registration system that electronically transmits voter registration information will reduce costs involved in processing voter registrations and maintaining complete and accurate voter registration lists. Other states that have implemented similar programs have experienced significant cost savings.
In eliminating reliance on paper, a modern voter registration system will reduce the number of duplicate or outdated registration records and ensure that fewer eligible voters are left off the voter rolls or are registered at incorrect or former addresses. A modern voter registration system will also reduce the inaccuracy and disenfranchisement that occurs because of human error. By reducing the administrative burdens presently involved in ensuring that a voter's current and accurate information is included on the statewide voter registration list, a modern voter registration system promotes greater participation of eligible voters in elections.
Modernizing the voter registration system will increase voter registra- tion and participation, while also increasing the accuracy of the voter registration list, thus reducing the opportunities for fraud.
Legal history of bill
2017-18: S3409 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION 2015-16: S.6041A - Referred to Elections
Fiscal implications on the state
Projected cost savings from a decrease in costs required to administer voter registration, in an amount to be determined. None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.