NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8827A

Senate Bill S8827A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires any student graduating from a high school in New York state be provided with a voter registration form

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 12, 2024	print number 8827a
Apr 12, 2024	amend and recommit to elections
Mar 19, 2024	referred to elections

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2023-S8827 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Add §5-232, El L

2023-S8827 - Summary

Requires any student graduating from a high school in New York state be provided with a voter registration form.

2023-S8827 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8827

SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to requiring any student
graduating from a high school in New York state be provided with a voter
registration form

 
PURPOSE:

This bill will require the state board of education and local boards of
elections to provide graduating high school students with a voter regis-
tration application and information.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: The election law is amended by adding a new section; § 5-232

Section 2: Act and effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

None.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Although school districts throughout the state of New York organize
voter registration drives and provide information regarding how and
where to register to vote, there is no statutory requirement under New
York state law for school districts in the state to provide eligible
students matriculated within a school district with:

(1) information regarding their eligibility to pre-register to vote.

(2) information regarding where and how to register.

(3) information regarding where and how to vote.

(4) a voter registration application.

The intent of this legislation is to require the state board of educa-
tion in conjunction with local boards of elections to provide school
boards with information materials and voter registration applications to
graduating high school students of voting age to register for general
elections, and to those who are eligible to pre-register to vote in
primary elections, for local, statewide, or federal elections.

In order for democracy to thrive, it is critical that all eligible citi-
zens participate in the right to franchise. In the state of New York,
voter registration is instrumental in ensuring all those who are eligi-
ble to vote can vote.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become law.

2023-S8827 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8827
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 19, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BAILEY -- 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 requiring  any  student
   graduating  from  a  high  school in New York state be provided with a
   voter registration form
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-232
 to read as follows:
   § 5-232. GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. 1. IN ADDITION TO ANY  OTHER
 METHOD  OF VOTER REGISTRATION PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ARTICLE, EVERY QUALI-
 FIED PERSON SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH AN APPLICATION FOR  REGISTRATION  AND
 ENROLLMENT UPON GRADUATION FROM ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN
 THE  STATE.  SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE IN THE SAME FORM AS PRESCRIBED BY
 SECTION 5-210 OF THIS TITLE.
   2. A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH QUALIFIED PERSONS ARE  GRADUATING  SHALL
 TRANSMIT  ANY  COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION FORM TO THE APPRO-
 PRIATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN TEN DAYS AFTER  RECEIPT  EXCEPT
 THAT  ALL  SUCH COMPLETED APPLICATIONS AND FORMS RECEIVED BY THE DEPART-
 MENT AFTER THE TWENTIETH DAY PRIOR TO AN ELECTION AND BY THE TWELFTH DAY
 BEFORE SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE TRANSMITTED IN SUCH  MANNER  AND  AT  SUCH
 TIME  AS  TO  ASSURE THEIR RECEIPT BY SUCH BOARD OF ELECTIONS AS SOON AS
 PRACTICABLE AND NOT LATER THAN THE TENTH DAY BEFORE SUCH  ELECTION.  ALL
 TRANSMITTALS SHALL INCLUDE ORIGINAL SIGNATURES.
   3. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS RECEIVED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT LATER
 THAN THE TWELFTH DAY BEFORE THE NEXT ENSUING PRIMARY, GENERAL OR SPECIAL
 ELECTION  AND  TRANSMITTED  BY  SUCH  SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE APPROPRIATE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS SO THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED NOT LATER  THAN  THE  TENTH
 DAY  BEFORE  SUCH  ELECTION  SHALL ENTITLE THE APPLICANT TO VOTE IN SUCH
 ELECTION PROVIDED THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT THE APPLICANT  IS  OTHERWISE
 QUALIFIED.
   4.  DISCLOSURE OF VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, INCLUDING A DECLINA-
 TION TO REGISTER, BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ITS  AGENTS  OR  EMPLOYEES,  FOR
 OTHER  THAN  VOTER REGISTRATION PURPOSES, SHALL BE DEEMED AN UNWARRANTED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14546-01-4
 S. 8827                             2
 
 INVASION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS  OF  SUBDIVISION
 TWO  OF SECTION EIGHTY-NINE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW AND SHALL CONSTI-
 TUTE A VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER.
   5.  APPLICATION  FORMS SHALL BE PROCESSED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN
 THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY SECTION 5-210 OF THIS TITLE.  THE  BOARD  SHALL
 SEND  THE  APPROPRIATE  NOTICE  OF  APPROVAL OR REJECTION AS REQUIRED BY
 SUBDIVISION NINE OF SUCH SECTION 5-210.
   6. STRICT NEUTRALITY WITH RESPECT TO A PERSON'S PARTY ENROLLMENT SHALL
 BE MAINTAINED AND ALL  PERSONS  SEEKING  VOTER  REGISTRATION  FORMS  AND
 INFORMATION  SHALL  BE  ADVISED  THAT GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE NOT CONDI-
 TIONED ON BEING REGISTERED TO VOTE.
   7. NO STATEMENT SHALL BE MADE NOR ANY ACTION TAKEN TO  DISCOURAGE  THE
 APPLICANT FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE.
   8.  THE  STATE  BOARD SHALL ADOPT SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE
 NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. THE BOARD SHALL
 ALSO ADOPT SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY  BE  NECESSARY  TO  REQUIRE
 COUNTY BOARDS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD
 WITH  SUCH  INFORMATION  AND DATA AS THE BOARD DEEMS NECESSARY TO ASSESS
 COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION AND TO COMPILE SUCH STATISTICS  AS  MAY  BE
 REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
   9. THE STATE BOARD SHALL DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE PUBLIC INFORMATION AND
 PROMOTIONAL  MATERIALS  RELATING  TO  THE PURPOSES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
 THIS PROGRAM.
   10. THE STATE BOARD SHALL PREPARE AND DISTRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTMENT  OF
 EDUCATION  WRITTEN  INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM
 AND SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR  EMPLOY-
 EES  OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT INVOLVED IN
 SUCH PROGRAM.
   11. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL TAKE  ALL  ACTIONS  WHICH  ARE
 NECESSARY AND PROPER FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMIS-
 SIONER  OF EDUCATION SHALL DESIGNATE ONE PERSON WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS
 THE DEPARTMENT VOTER REGISTRATION COORDINATOR WHO WILL, UNDER THE DIREC-
 TION OF THE STATE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS,  BE  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  THE  VOTER
 REGISTRATION PROGRAM IN SUCH DEPARTMENT.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
 the date on which 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.

2023-S8827A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Elections
Law Section:: Election Law
Laws Affected:: Add §5-232, El L

2023-S8827A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires any student graduating from a high school in New York state be provided with a voter registration form.

2023-S8827A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8827--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 19, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Elections  --  committee
   discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
   to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the election law, in relation to requiring any student
   graduating from a high school in New York state  be  provided  with  a
   voter registration form

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new  section  5-232
 to read as follows:
   §  5-232. GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. 1. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER
 METHOD OF VOTER REGISTRATION PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ARTICLE, EVERY  QUALI-
 FIED  PERSON  SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH AN APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AND
 ENROLLMENT UPON GRADUATION FROM ANY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN
 THE STATE. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE IN THE SAME FORM AS  PRESCRIBED  BY
 SECTION 5-210 OF THIS TITLE.
   2.  A  SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WHICH QUALIFIED PERSONS ARE GRADUATING SHALL
 TRANSMIT ANY COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION FORM TO  THE  APPRO-
 PRIATE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS NOT LATER THAN TEN DAYS AFTER RECEIPT EXCEPT
 THAT ALL SUCH COMPLETED APPLICATIONS AND FORMS RECEIVED  BY  THE  SCHOOL
 DISTRICTS OR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AFTER THE TWENTIETH DAY PRIOR TO AN
 ELECTION  AND BY THE TWELFTH DAY BEFORE SUCH ELECTION SHALL BE TRANSMIT-
 TED IN SUCH MANNER AND AT SUCH TIME AS TO ASSURE THEIR RECEIPT  BY  SUCH
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AND NOT LATER THAN THE TENTH
 DAY BEFORE SUCH ELECTION. ALL TRANSMITTALS SHALL INCLUDE ORIGINAL SIGNA-
 TURES.
   3. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS RECEIVED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT NOT LATER
 THAN THE TWELFTH DAY BEFORE THE NEXT ENSUING PRIMARY, GENERAL OR SPECIAL
 ELECTION AND TRANSMITTED BY SUCH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  TO  THE  APPROPRIATE
 BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  SO THAT THEY ARE RECEIVED NOT LATER THAN THE TENTH
 DAY BEFORE SUCH ELECTION SHALL ENTITLE THE APPLICANT  TO  VOTE  IN  SUCH
 ELECTION  PROVIDED  THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT THE APPLICANT IS OTHERWISE
 QUALIFIED.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD14546-02-4
 S. 8827--A                          2
 
   4. DISCLOSURE OF VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, INCLUDING A  DECLINA-
 TION  TO  REGISTER,  BY  A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ITS AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES, FOR
 PURPOSES OTHER THAN VOTER REGISTRATION SHALL BE  DEEMED  AN  UNWARRANTED
 INVASION  OF  PERSONAL PRIVACY PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION
 TWO  OF SECTION EIGHTY-NINE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW AND SHALL CONSTI-
 TUTE A VIOLATION OF THIS CHAPTER.
   5. APPLICATION FORMS SHALL BE PROCESSED BY THE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS  IN
 THE  MANNER  PRESCRIBED  BY SECTION 5-210 OF THIS TITLE. THE BOARD SHALL
 SEND THE APPROPRIATE NOTICE OF APPROVAL  OR  REJECTION  AS  REQUIRED  BY
 SUBDIVISION NINE OF SUCH SECTION 5-210.
   6. STRICT NEUTRALITY WITH RESPECT TO A PERSON'S PARTY ENROLLMENT SHALL
 BE  MAINTAINED  AND  ALL  PERSONS  SEEKING  VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS AND
 INFORMATION SHALL BE ADVISED THAT GOVERNMENT  SERVICES  ARE  NOT  CONDI-
 TIONED ON BEING REGISTERED TO VOTE.
   7.  NO  STATEMENT SHALL BE MADE NOR ANY ACTION TAKEN TO DISCOURAGE THE
 APPLICANT FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE.
   8. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ADOPT SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS
 AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS  SECTION.  THE
 BOARD SHALL ALSO ADOPT SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO
 REQUIRE  COUNTY  BOARDS  AND  THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE THE
 STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WITH SUCH INFORMATION AND  DATA  AS  THE  BOARD
 DEEMS  NECESSARY  TO  ASSESS COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION AND TO COMPILE
 SUCH STATISTICS AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION.
   9. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL DEVELOP  AND  DISTRIBUTE  PUBLIC
 INFORMATION  AND  PROMOTIONAL  MATERIALS  RELATING  TO  THE PURPOSES AND
 IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM.
   10. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PREPARE AND DISTRIBUTE  TO  THE
 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
 THE  PROGRAM AND SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING TRAINING PROGRAMS
 FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND  EACH  SCHOOL  DISTRICT
 INVOLVED IN SUCH PROGRAM.
   11.  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  EDUCATION SHALL TAKE ALL ACTIONS WHICH ARE
 NECESSARY AND PROPER FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMIS-
 SIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL DESIGNATE ONE PERSON WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT  AS
 THE DEPARTMENT VOTER REGISTRATION COORDINATOR WHO WILL, UNDER THE DIREC-
 TION  OF  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VOTER
 REGISTRATION PROGRAM IN SUCH DEPARTMENT.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
 the date on which 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.

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