S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4896
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 8, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GOODELL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Election Law
 
 AN ACT to amend the tax law, the real property tax law and  the  vehicle
   and traffic law, in relation to enacting the "taxpayer voter registra-
   tion act"
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "taxpayer voter registration act".
   §  2.  The  tax  law is amended by adding a new section 664 to read as
 follows:
   § 664. VOTER REGISTRATION. THE COMMISSIONER  SHALL  REQUIRE  THAT  ALL
 INCOME  TAX RETURNS ALLOW THE TAXPAYER TO REGISTER TO VOTE BY CHECKING A
 BOX, TO BE INCLUDED ON THE RETURN, THAT  INDICATES  THAT  THE  APPLICANT
 WOULD  LIKE  TO REGISTER TO VOTE. ADJACENT TO SUCH BOX, THERE SHALL BE A
 STATEMENT IN PROMINENT TYPE, "IF YOU CHECK THIS BOX, YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM
 UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT (1) YOU ARE  A  CITIZEN  OF  THE  UNITED
 STATES, (2) YOU WILL HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTY, CITY OR VILLAGE LISTED AS
 YOUR  ADDRESS  ON  YOUR  TAX RETURN FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT
 ELECTION, (3) YOU MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER,  AND  (4)  YOUR
 SIGNATURE  OR  MARK IS AFFIXED TO THIS TAX RETURN OR IS ON FILE WITH THE
 NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE OR THE NEW YORK  STATE
 DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES." THE INCOME TAX RETURNS SHALL ALSO PROVIDE
 A  MEANS  FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO SELECT A POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, IF
 SO DESIRED BY THE INDIVIDUAL.
   § 3. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new section  997
 to read as follows:
   § 997. VOTER REGISTRATION; GENERAL. THE TAXING ENTITY SHALL INCLUDE ON
 ALL  TAX  BILLS ISSUED UNDER THIS CHAPTER A CHECK BOX, TO BE INCLUDED ON
 THE BILL, THAT INDICATES THAT THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE  TO  REGISTER  TO
 VOTE.  ADJACENT  TO  SUCH  BOX,  THERE SHALL BE A STATEMENT IN PROMINENT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04686-01-1

 A. 4896                             2
 
 TYPE, "IF YOU CHECK THIS BOX, YOU SWEAR OR  AFFIRM  UNDER  PENALTIES  OF
 PERJURY  THAT  (1)  YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, (2) YOU WILL
 HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTY, CITY OR VILLAGE LISTED AS YOUR ADDRESS ON YOUR
 TAX  RETURN  FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION, (3) YOU MEET
 ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER, AND (4)  YOUR  SIGNATURE  OR  MARK  IS
 AFFIXED TO THIS TAX RETURN OR IS ON FILE WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DEPART-
 MENT  OF  TAXATION AND FINANCE OR THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR
 VEHICLES." THE TAX BILL SHALL ALSO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO
 SELECT A POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, IF SO DESIRED BY THE INDIVIDUAL.
   § 4. The real property tax law is amended  by  adding  a  new  section
 997-a to read as follows:
   §  997-A.  VOTER  REGISTRATION;  CHANGE OF ADDRESS. UPON A TRANSFER OF
 RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY, THE REAL ESTATE TRANSFER  RETURN  FILED  WITH
 THE  COMMISSIONER AND SIGNED BY THE BUYER OF SUCH RESIDENTIAL REAL PROP-
 ERTY SHALL INCLUDE A CHECK BOX, TO BE INCLUDED ON  THE  FORM  ABOVE  THE
 SIGNATURE  LINE  WITH A STATEMENT IN PROMINENT TYPE, "NOTICE TO GRANTEE:
 NEW YORK STATE ELECTION LAW REQUIRES YOU TO REREGISTER TO  VOTE  IF  YOU
 CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS. BY CHECKING THIS BOX AND SIGNING AND RETURNING THIS
 FORM YOU WILL APPLY TO VOTE UNDER THE ADDRESS STATED ON THIS FORM UNLESS
 YOU  OPT-OUT. IF YOU ARE NOT A RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OR NEW YORK
 STATE, YOU CANNOT CHECK THIS BOX. BY CHECKING THIS BOX AND SIGNING BELOW
 YOU SWEAR OR AFFIRM UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY THAT (1) YOU ARE A  CITI-
 ZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, (2) YOU WILL HAVE LIVED IN THE COUNTY, CITY OR
 VILLAGE  LISTED  AS YOUR ADDRESS ON YOUR TAX RETURN FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS
 BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION, (3) YOU MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER,
 AND (4) YOUR SIGNATURE OR MARK IS AFFIXED TO THIS TAX RETURN  OR  IS  ON
 FILE  WITH  THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE OR THE
 NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. THE  REAL  ESTATE  TRANSFER
 RETURN  SHALL  ALSO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TO SELECT A POLI-
 TICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, IF SO DESIRED BY THE INDIVIDUAL."
   § 5. The tax law is amended by adding a new  section  45  to  read  as
 follows:
   §  45.  VOTER  REGISTRATION.  (A)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ELECTRONICALLY
 TRANSMIT TO THE STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS,  AND  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
 ELECTIONS  SHALL ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMIT TO LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTION, TO
 THE EXTENT SUCH INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE, IN A FORMAT THAT CAN  BE  READ
 BY  THE  COMPUTERIZED  STATEWIDE  VOTER  REGISTRATION LIST THE FOLLOWING
 INFORMATION FOR EACH PERSON DESCRIBED IN SECTION SIX HUNDRED  SIXTY-FOUR
 OF  THIS CHAPTER AND SECTIONS NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN AND NINE HUNDRED
 NINETY-SEVEN-A OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW:
   (I) WHETHER SUCH PERSON CHECKED THE BOX TO INDICATE A DESIRE TO REGIS-
 TER TO VOTE;
   (II) GIVEN NAME OR SURNAME;
   (III) MAILING ADDRESS AND RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS;
   (IV) DATE OF BIRTH;
   (V) EVIDENCE OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP,  NEW  YORK  RESIDENCE,  AND
 ATTESTATION OF ELIGIBILITY;
   (VI) AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE TAX PAYER'S SIGNATURE; AND
   (VII) POLITICAL PARTY ENROLLMENT, IF ANY.
   (B) THE STATE OR LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS SHALL:
   (I)  IDENTIFY  ALL INDIVIDUALS WHOSE INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED BY THE
 DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE, BUT  ARE
 NOT CURRENTLY, REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE STATE; AND
   (II)  PROMPTLY  SEND  EACH  SUCH  INDIVIDUAL  WRITTEN NOTICE AND SHALL
 INCLUDE:
   (1) AN EXPLANATION THAT VOTER REGISTRATION IS VOLUNTARY;

 A. 4896                             3
 
   (2) A STATEMENT OFFERING THE INDIVIDUAL THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL WITH
 A POLITICAL PARTY OR TO DECLINE TO ENROLL WITH A POLITICAL PARTY, IF THE
 INDIVIDUAL HAS NOT ALREADY ENROLLED WITH A POLITICAL PARTY;
   (3)  THE VOTER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND A STATEMENT THAT THE INDI-
 VIDUAL MUST DECLINE REGISTRATION IF THEY DO NOT MEET SUCH REQUIREMENTS;
   (4) A STATEMENT EXPLAINING THAT IF THE INDIVIDUAL APPLIES TO  REGISTER
 TO  VOTE  ELECTRONICALLY, SUCH INDIVIDUAL THEREBY CONSENTS TO THE USE OF
 AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE INDIVIDUAL'S MANUAL SIGNATURE THAT IS  IN  THE
 CUSTODY  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  MOTOR  VEHICLES,  THE  STATE  BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS OR THE LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTION,  AS  THE  INDIVIDUAL'S  VOTER
 REGISTRATION  EXEMPLAR  SIGNATURE  IF  THE  INDIVIDUAL  VOTER'S EXEMPLAR
 SIGNATURE IS NOT PROVIDED WITH THE VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION;
   (5) A REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTATION OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP  AND  NEW
 YORK STATE RESIDENCY, AS REQUIRED BY LAW OR REGULATION;
   (6)  PENALTIES FOR SUBMISSION OF FALSE INFORMATION FOR REGISTRATION TO
 VOTE; AND
   (7) INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECTING ERRONEOUS INFORMATION.
   (C) THE NOTICE REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (II) OF SUBDIVISION (B)  OF  THIS
 SECTION  SHALL INCLUDE A FORM THAT OFFERS THE INDIVIDUAL THE OPPORTUNITY
 TO ELECT TO DECLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND, IN A SEPARATE SECTION,  THE
 OPPORTUNITY  TO  ENROLL  WITH  A POLITICAL PARTY OR TO DECLINE TO ENROLL
 WITH A POLITICAL PARTY IF THE INDIVIDUAL  HAS  NOT  ALREADY  SELECTED  A
 POLITICAL  PARTY  AFFILIATION,  A  LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED TO
 ESTABLISH THE UNITES STATES CITIZENSHIP AND NEW YORK  RESIDENCY,  AND  A
 POSTAGE PRE-PAID ENVELOPE TO RETURN THE FORM.
   (D)  THE  STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PREPARE AND DISTRIBUTE TO THE
 DEPARTMENT  WRITTEN  INSTRUCTIONS  AS  TO  THE  IMPLEMENTATION  OF   THE
 PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  SECTION  AND SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING
 TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
   (E) THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE DEPART-
 MENT SHALL INCLUDE THE FORMAT IN WHICH INFORMATION WILL BE  TRANSMITTED,
 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.
   (F) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE STATE BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS
 AND  COUNTY  BOARDS OF ELECTIONS TO FACILITATE THE VOTER REGISTRATION OF
 EACH PERSON DESCRIBED IN 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.
   (G)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE BOARD
 OF ELECTIONS FINALIZING THE FORMAT  AND  CONTENT  OF  ELECTRONIC  TRANS-
 MISSIONS  REQUIRED  BY  THIS  SECTION NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER FIRST, TWO
 THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO; PROVIDED, THAT THE  DEPARTMENT  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-THREE.
   § 6. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 201-a to read as follows:
   §  201-A.  VOTER  REGISTRATION. UPON THE REQUEST OF THE STATE BOARD OF
 ELECTIONS, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL RELEASE AN ELECTRONIC VERSION  OF  THE
 INDIVIDUAL'S   MANUAL SIGNATURE THAT IS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT
 AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S VOTER REGISTRATION EXEMPLAR SIGNATURE  FOR  PURPOSES
 OF  VOTER  REGISTRATION  PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FORTY-FIVE AND SIX HUNDRED
 SIXTY-FOUR OF THE TAX LAW AND SECTIONS  NINE  HUNDRED  NINETY-SEVEN  AND
 NINE HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN-A OF THE REAL PROPERTY TAX LAW.

 A. 4896                             4
 
   §  7. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
 law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amendment  and/or  repeal  of
 any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on
 its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or  before
 such effective date.