S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8123
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
August 30, 2013
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Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to student-voter pre-re-
gistration
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby finds that
youths aged eighteen to twenty-four have the lowest rate of registration
in New York. Experience in other states and countries indicates that
pre-registration of students before they reach eighteen will signif-
icantly increase such voter participation.
S 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-231 to read
as follows:
S 5-231. VOTER PRE-REGISTRATION. 1. EVERY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HIGH
SCHOOL AND BOARDS OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE
SHALL OFFER SIXTEEN AND SEVENTEEN YEAR-OLD STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
PRE-REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE TIME OF STUDENTS' REGISTRATION OR CLASS
SELECTION FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
2. THE PRE-REGISTRATION SHALL BE OPTIONAL FOR STUDENTS.
3. THE SCHOOL SHALL INCLUDE THIS OPTION IN CLASS OFFERING SCHEDULES
FOR STUDENT COURSE REGISTRATION.
4. ONCE SUCH STUDENTS ARE PRE-REGISTERED, THE LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS
SHALL MAINTAIN REGISTRATION ON FILE AND REGISTRATION SHALL AUTOMATICALLY
BECOME ACTIVE WHEN THE REGISTRANT TURNS EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11746-01-3