S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6592

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 29, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- 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  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 SENIORS SUCH MATERIALS AS MAY BE PUBLISHED BY
THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION AND, WHERE  APPRO-
PRIATE,  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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD13495-01-6

S. 6592                             2

STUDENT WHO RECEIVES A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
A  REGENTS,  LOCAL,  GENERAL  EQUIVALENCY  OR  INDIVIDUALIZED  EDUCATION
PROGRAM  DIPLOMA.  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL DELIVER SUCH VOTER REGISTRATION
FORM  TO EACH GRADUATING STUDENT AT THE SAME TIME AND IN THE SAME MANNER
AS IT DELIVERS DIPLOMAS TO EACH SUCH STUDENT.
  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.