STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6909 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN SENATE December 18, 2019 ___________ Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to requirements for first time voters The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 8-303-a 2 to read as follows: 3 § 8-303-a. Voter identification for first time voters. 1. Applicabil- 4 ity. Each board of elections, in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner, 5 shall require a voter to meet the requirements of subdivision two of 6 this section if the individual has not previously voted in an election 7 for local, state or federal office. 8 2. Requirements. (a) In general. An individual meets the requirements 9 of this subdivision if the individual: 10 (1) in the case of an individual who votes in person presents to the 11 appropriate election inspector, clerk or coordinator a current and valid 12 United States passport, New York state issued REAL ID, New York state 13 Enhanced ID, social security card, birth certificate, or nationalization 14 papers; or 15 (2) in the case of an individual who votes by mail, submits in the 16 outer envelope with the envelope containing the ballot a copy of a 17 current and valid United States passport, New York state issued REAL ID, 18 New York state Enhanced ID, social security card, birth certificate, or 19 nationalization papers. 20 (b) Fail-safe voting. (1) An individual who is attempting to vote in 21 person, but who does not meet the requirements of this subdivision, may 22 cast an affidavit ballot, and notwithstanding this section of law, such 23 affidavit ballot shall be duly cast and counted, even though such indi- 24 vidual does not meet the requirements of subparagraph one of paragraph 25 (a) of this subdivision, provided such individual casting such ballot is EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD13284-01-9

S. 6909 2 1 an otherwise eligible voter pursuant to law, provided further that such 2 ballot otherwise complies with the requirements of law. 3 (2) An individual who is attempting to vote by mail but who does not 4 meet the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subdivision may cast such 5 ballot by mail and such ballot shall be duly cast and counted, notwith- 6 standing this section, provided the voter is determined to be an eligi- 7 ble voter, provided further that such ballot otherwise complies with the 8 requirements of law. 9 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Relates to requirements for first time voters

What's Happening

Why It Matters