What's happening
This bill requires agencies issuing firearm licenses in New York to distribute and assist with voter registration forms.
Why it matters
Expands voter registration access. by requiring firearm licensing agencies (such as courts and law enforcement) to offer voter registration forms and assistance, potentially reaching populations not typically served by existing voter registration agencies.
Connects civic participation. to a routine government interaction—applying for a firearm license—making it easier for gun owners and applicants to register to vote or update their registration when changing address or renewing a license.
May increase representation. among gun owners and those seeking firearm-related licenses, who might be underrepresented in the voter rolls, thus potentially shifting the makeup of the electorate in New York.
Signals a broader approach to voter outreach. by treating firearm licensing offices as “participating agencies” alongside public assistance and disability services, suggesting a move toward integrating voter registration into a wider range of government services.
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
Headline styles
Register Voters at Gun Offices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to elections
- 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.
Register Voters at Gun Offices
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Stephen Hawley
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
687
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- 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 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
S. 687 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose or general idea of bill
Would require every court and law enforcement agency who have responsi- bility to issue licenses to carry, posses, repair or dispose of firearms to implement a program for the distribution of voter registration forms
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 5-211 of the election law to require every court and law enforcement agency who have responsibility to issue licenses to carry, posses, repair or dispose of firearms to implement a program for the distribution of voter registration forms. Further also adds them to the list of entities that must provide assistance in the completion of these forms.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Under current law entities such as the Department of Labor, Office for the Aging, Division of Veterans' and Military Affairs, Office of Mental Health, Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse are required to provide forms and assist- ance as it relates to voter registration forms. Further Executive Order 169 of 2017 required all State Agencies to provide voter registration forms and assistance. This legislation continues the spirit of this law, and executive order by expanding voter registration opportunities.
Prior legislative history
2017-2018: S. 7049 referred to Elections
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
120 days
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.