S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3843
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 30, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SEPULVEDA, MOSLEY, LAVINE, RAIA, SOLAGES, MAYER,
   GOTTFRIED, BLAKE, CRESPO -- Multi-Sponsored by  --  M.  of  A.  LOPEZ,
   RAMOS,  RICHARDSON  --  read  once  and  referred  to the Committee on
   Election Law
 
 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.
   §  2.  This  act  shall  be known and may be cited as the "young adult
 voter registration act".
   § 3. The election law is amended by adding a new section 5-231 to read
 as follows:
   § 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02201-01-7

 A. 3843                             2
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION  AND,
 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.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.