Senate Bill S7961

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7961

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to designating certain
state university campuses as early voting sites and polling sites

 
PURPOSE:

Relates to designating state and city university campuses as early
voting sites and polling sites.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 4-104 of the election law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 5-a requiring that a campus which is operated by the
State University of New York, has over 16,000 enrolled students and has
an on-campus dormitory have a polling place designated for registrants
on the campus.

Section 2 adds Section 8-604 of the election law requiring that early
              

voting be made available on a campus which is operated by the State
University of New York, has over 16,000 enrolled students and has an
on-campus dormitory.

Section 3 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York's public university systems are unique in their size and stat-
ure. In Fall 2021, there were a total of 326,010 undergraduate students
on State University of New York campuses and an estimated 243,000 under-
graduates on City University of New York campuses. Many of these
students live on their respective campuses and choose to register as
voters in the community they expect to be a part of for a significant
period of their lives.

However, many campuses are in areas of our state that are restricted
geographically. This makes it very difficult for registrants who live
on-campus to access polling places in off-campus areas in which they are
not completely familiarized. In addition, it remains difficult for
students who don't have vehicles on campus to exercise their right to
vote in the absence of robust public transportation systems statewide.

This legislation would ensure that students across New York State can
exercise one of our most sacred rights, the right to vote, regardless of
where they choose to attend school.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: A8783 - Referred to Election Law

2021-22: A4179 - Referred to Election Law

2023-24: A34 - Referred to Election Law

2025-25: A2554 - Referred to Election Law

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.