KINGSTON, NY – New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal today announced that the governor has signed their bill (S.9671A/A.10960) to expand protections for survivors of domestic violence who want to keep their voter registration confidential to prevent an abuser from weaponizing public records to locate them.

New York allows survivors of domestic violence to keep their voter registration records private for four years, with the option to renew with a subsequent application to the State Board of Elections (BOE). However, under the previous law, the State BOE was not required to notify survivors when those confidentiality protections were set to expire, potentially exposing a person’s address to an abuser without their knowledge. S.9671A/A.10960 closes that gap by requiring the State BOE to mail survivors a notice at least six months before their protections expire, including instructions for how to renew them. The law goes into effect immediately.

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “We must use every tool possible to ensure that survivors of domestic violence remain safe and can feel secure in their lives. Requiring the State Board of Elections to notify survivors before their confidential voter registration status expires will help prevent a lapse in this critical layer of protection. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation, and I thank Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal for her partnership in getting this done and Governor Hochul for signing it into law so that we can strengthen an important safeguard for New Yorkers.”

 

“Having the opportunity to keep their voter record, including their address, private with the Board of Elections is a critical safety measure for survivors of domestic violence," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. "Too many survivors continue to face stalking and other abuse long after they have left an abusive situation. With the signing of this new law, which I was proud to sponsor with Senator Hinchey, survivors will be empowered to shield their information and protect themselves from harm."

 

Connie Neal, Executive Director, New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said, “This legislation strengthens safety and expands support for survivors of domestic violence, and we appreciate the attention it brings to the realities they face. We thank the sponsors, Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, for championing this work and are pleased to see the governor has signed it into law.”

###