BILL NUMBER: S7980

SPONSOR: MYRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to adding a voter's e-mail
address and telephone number to the information contained on a voter
registration application that is not available for public inspection

 
PURPOSE:

Provides that a voter's telephone number and/or e-mail address provided
on a voter registration application is not available for public
inspection.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 3-220 of the election law, as
2 amended by chapter 104 of the laws of 2010 to include email addresses
and telephone numbers to the list of personal information not available
for public inspection under the supervision of the board of elections.
              

Section 2 sets forth the effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The current statutory provision was designed to protect voters' sensi-
tive, personal information, which is requested on a voter registration
application, from its improper use. The current law exempts a voter's
driver's license number, department of motor vehicle non-driver photo ID
number, social security number and facsimile number from public
inspection and disclosure. Recently, the application form was changed to
ask the voter to provide an e-mail address in addition to their tele-
phone number.

Identity theft and the improper use of personal identification informa-
tion is a growing problem as technology has advanced. To permit the
public disclosure of a voter's telephone number and/or e-mail address,
can actually deter an unregistered voter from completing an application.
In addition, it can be a cause of concern to voters who may not wish to
receive information either by e-mail or telephone. The protection of
email addresses and phone numbers will not have a detrimental effect on
either the Board's or a member of the public's ability to verify the
identity of a voter.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.