S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9463--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 8, 2016
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Introduced by M. of A. SEPULVEDA, MOSLEY, LAVINE, RIVERA, SOLAGES,
MAYER, GOTTFRIED, BLAKE, CRESPO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
LOPEZ, RAMOS, RICHARDSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Election Law -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the young
adult voter registration act
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and
declares that voting is a central tenet of democracy. The vitality of
the democratic process depends on voter participation in elections. Yet,
far too few New Yorkers vote in local, state or national elections, and
voter participation has been declining. The legislature finds that
affirmative steps are necessary to encourage and increase voter partic-
ipation in all elections.
The legislature further finds that this decline and lack of partic-
ipation is due, in part, to the fact that voters find it difficult to
register to vote. Although state law provides mechanisms for distribut-
ing voter registration forms by state agencies as part of agency-based
voter registration programs, the department of education does not
participate in such programs. The legislature finds that the department
of education is uniquely positioned in the state to enhance the partic-
ipation of young people in the democratic process by distributing voter
registration forms to potential young voters.
S 2. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "young adult
voter registration act".
S 3. The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-231 to read
as follows:
S 5-231. YOUNG ADULT VOTER REGISTRATION. 1. REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
EACH PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL WITHIN THE STATE SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE
DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO ALL STUDENTS SUCH MATERIALS AS MAY BE
PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13495-02-6
A. 9463--A 2
WHERE APPROPRIATE, SHALL PROVIDE APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AND
ENROLLMENT, AND MAY ASSIST IN THE EXECUTION OF SUCH APPLICATIONS.
2. REGISTRATION OF GRADUATING SENIORS. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SHALL PROVIDE A POSTAGE PAID VOTER REGISTRATION FORM TO EACH GRADUATING
STUDENT WHO RECEIVES A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
A REGENTS, LOCAL, GENERAL EQUIVALENCY OR INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PROGRAM DIPLOMA, OR TO ANY STUDENT WHO REQUESTS ONE.
3. FORMS TO BE AVAILABLE AT SCHOOL. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL
ENSURE THAT POSTAGE PAID VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE
MAIN OR CENTRAL OFFICE OF EACH HIGH SCHOOL UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE
DEPARTMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO WISH TO OBTAIN ONE. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL
ALSO ENSURE THAT EACH SUCH HIGH SCHOOL PROVIDES ADEQUATE NOTICE TO ITS
STUDENTS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SUCH FORMS IN ITS MAIN OR CENTRAL
OFFICE.
4. SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF FORMS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUEST FROM THE
BOARD OF ELECTIONS A SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS TO
MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.