S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4518
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 4, 2021
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Introduced by M. of A. WALKER, BARRON, COOK -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to enacting the "Modern-
ized Voter Registration Act of New York"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Modernized
Voter Registration Act of New York".
§ 2. Title 2 of article 5 of the election law is amended by adding
four new sections 5-200, 5-201, 5-205 and 5-207 to read as follows:
§ 5-200. AUTOMATED VOTER REGISTRATION. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
MANNER OF REGISTRATION REQUIRED BY THIS ARTICLE, EACH PERSON IN THE
STATE QUALIFIED TO VOTE PURSUANT TO SECTION 5-102 OF THIS ARTICLE, SHALL
BE AUTOMATICALLY REGISTERED TO VOTE AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION,
PROVIDED THAT THE PERSON CONSENTS TO VOTER REGISTRATION.
2. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL
REGISTER TO VOTE OR UPDATE THE REGISTRATION RECORD OF ANY PERSON IN THE
STATE QUALIFIED TO VOTE PURSUANT TO SECTION 5-102 OF THIS ARTICLE WHO
CONSENTS TO THE REGISTRATION OR UPDATE AND DOES ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(A) COMPLETES AN APPLICATION FOR A NEW OR RENEWED DRIVER'S LICENSE,
NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD, PRE-LICENSING COURSE CERTIFICATE,
LEARNER'S PERMIT OR CERTIFICATION OF SUPERVISED DRIVING WITH THE DEPART-
MENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES, OR NOTIFIES SUCH DEPARTMENT IN WRITING OF A
CHANGE OF HIS OR HER NAME OR ADDRESS;
(B) COMPLETES AN APPLICATION FOR SERVICES, RENEWAL OR RECERTIFICATION
FOR SERVICES, OR CHANGE OF ADDRESS RELATING TO SUCH SERVICES FROM AGEN-
CIES DESIGNATED IN SECTION 5-211 OF THIS TITLE;
(C) COMPLETES AN APPLICATION FOR SERVICES, RENEWAL OR RECERTIFICATION
FOR SERVICES, OR CHANGE OF ADDRESS RELATING TO SUCH SERVICES FROM ANY
MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY AS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE THIRTEEN OF THE
PUBLIC HOUSING LAW;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07681-01-1
A. 4518 2
(D) REGISTERS FOR CLASSES AT INSTITUTIONS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF
NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK;
(E) COMPLETES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT OR IS DISCHARGED FROM
PAROLE;
(F) COMPLETES AN APPLICATION FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE;
(G) BECOMES A MEMBER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL
AFFAIRS; OR
(H) COMPLETES AN APPLICATION WITH ANY OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCY
DESIGNATED AS A SOURCE AGENCY PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF SUBDIVISION
THREE OF THIS SECTION.
3. (A) THE TERM "SOURCE AGENCY" INCLUDES THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHI-
CLES, ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5-211 OF THIS
TITLE, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW
YORK, ALL PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES LISTED IN ARTICLE THIRTEEN OF THE
PUBLIC HOUSING LAW, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPER-
VISION, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL
AFFAIRS AND ANY AGENCY DESIGNATED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PURSU-
ANT TO PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
(B) THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS MAY DESIGNATE ADDITIONAL STATE AGEN-
CIES TO SERVE AS SOURCES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION. IN DESIGNATING AN AGEN-
CY UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CONSIDER:
(I) THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SOURCE RECORDS REFLECT A LARGE NUMBER OF
ELIGIBLE CITIZENS;
(II) THE EXTENT TO WHICH SOURCE RECORDS REFLECT ELIGIBLE CITIZENS WHO
WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT TO MODERNIZE VOTER
REGISTRATION;
(III) THE ACCURACY OF PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION DATA IN SOURCE RECORDS;
AND
(IV) ANY ADDITIONAL FACTORS DESIGNATED BY THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICIAL
AS REASONABLY RELATED TO ACCOMPLISHING THE PURPOSES OF THE ACT TO
MODERNIZE VOTER REGISTRATION.
4. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE SOURCE AGENCIES SHALL ENTER
INTO AGREEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT FOR EACH PERSON DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION
TWO OF THIS SECTION, EACH SOURCE AGENCY ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMITS TO THE
STATE OR LOCAL BOARDS OF ELECTIONS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN A FORMAT
THAT CAN BE READ BY THE COMPUTERIZED STATEWIDE VOTER REGISTRATION LIST:
(A) GIVEN NAME OR NAMES AND SURNAME OF SURNAMES;
(B) MAILING ADDRESS AND RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS;
(C) DATE OF BIRTH;
(D) CITIZENSHIP;
(E) DRIVER'S LICENSE OR NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD NUMBER, LAST
FOUR DIGITS OF THE PERSON'S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, OR A SPACE FOR THE
PERSON TO INDICATE THAT HER OR SHE DOESN'T NOT HAVE ANY SUCH NUMBER;
(F) POLITICAL PARTY ENROLLMENT, IF ANY;
(G) AN INDICATION THAT THE PERSON INTENDS TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE
BALLOT, IF ANY; AND
(H) AN IMAGE OF THE PERSON'S SIGNATURE.
IN THE EVENT THAT ANY TRANSMISSION OF DATA PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
FAILS TO INCLUDE AN IMAGE OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S SIGNATURE, THE ABSENCE OF A
SIGNATURE SHALL NOT PRECLUDE THE REGISTRATION OF AN ELIGIBLE CITIZEN.
THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO ENABLE AN ELIGIBLE
CITIZEN, WHOSE INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND
WHOSE INFORMATION LACKS AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, TO PROVIDE A SIGNATURE
AT THE POLLING PLACE OR WITH AN APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
BEFORE VOTING. THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE AN ELECTOR WHO HAS NOT PROVIDED A
SIGNATURE BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE POLLING PLACE OR SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE
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BALLOT TO PRESENT A CURRENT AND VALID PHOTO IDENTIFICATION OR A COPY OF
A CURRENT UTILITY BILL, BANK STATEMENT, GOVERNMENT CHECK, PAYCHECK, OR
OTHER GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE VOTER.
5. IF AN AGENCY DOES NOT ROUTINELY REQUEST INFORMATION CONCERNING THE
CITIZENSHIP STATUS OF INDIVIDUALS, IT SHALL MAINTAIN RECORDS SUFFICIENT
TO TRANSMIT TO THE BOARD INDICATIONS OF UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP FOR
EACH PERSON DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, BUT SHALL NOT
RETAIN, USE, OR SHARE ANY SUCH INFORMATION RELATING TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S
CITIZENSHIP FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE.
6. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL PREPARE AND DISTRIBUTE TO
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PROGRAM AND SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING TRAINING PROGRAMS
FOR EMPLOYEES OF SOURCE AGENCIES LISTED IN THIS SECTION. TRAINING SHALL
INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS THAT EMPLOYEES OF ANY SOURCE AGENCY COMMUNICATE TO
EACH INDIVIDUAL IDENTIFIED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION THAT THE
SOURCE AGENCY MAINTAINS STRICT NEUTRALITY WITH RESPECT TO A PERSON'S
PARTY ENROLLMENT AND ALL PERSONS SEEKING VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS AND
INFORMATION SHALL BE ADVISED THAT GOVERNMENT SERVICES ARE NOT CONDI-
TIONED ON BEING REGISTERED TO VOTE, OR ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE.
NO STATEMENT SHALL BE MADE NOR ANY ACTION TAKEN TO DISCOURAGE THE APPLI-
CANT FROM REGISTERING TO VOTE.
7. THE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE SOURCE
AGENCIES SHALL INCLUDE THE FORMAT IN WHICH INFORMATION WILL BE TRANSMIT-
TED, WHETHER AND HOW EACH ENTITY WILL COLLECT, IN ADDITION TO THE MANDA-
TORY INFORMATION LISTED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION, ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS FROM PERSONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILI-
TATING VOTER REGISTRATION, THE FREQUENCY OF DATA TRANSMISSIONS, THE
PROCEDURES, AND OTHER MEASURES THAT WILL BE USED TO ENSURE THE SECURITY
AND PRIVACY OF THE INFORMATION TRANSMITTED, AND ANY OTHER MATTER NECES-
SARY OR HELPFUL TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
8. EACH SOURCE AGENCY SHALL COOPERATE WITH THE STATE BOARD OF
ELECTIONS AND COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO FACILITATE THE VOTER REGIS-
TRATION OF EACH PERSON DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, AND
TO ELECTRONICALLY TRANSMIT THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO REGISTER EACH SUCH
PERSON TO VOTE OR TO UPDATE EACH SUCH PERSON'S VOTER REGISTRATION
RECORD.
9. EACH SOURCE AGENCY SHALL ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE
BOARD OF ELECTIONS FINALIZING THE FORMAT AND CONTENT OF ELECTRONIC TRAN-
SMISSIONS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER FIRST, TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE; PROVIDED, THAT EACH SOURCE AGENCY SHALL BE ABLE
TO COMPLY FULLY WITH ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING THE
COLLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF ALL DATA REQUIRED TO REGISTER INDIVIDUALS
TO VOTE, BY JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR.
§ 5-201. SAME DAY REGISTRATION. EACH COUNTY SHALL ALLOW ANY ELIGIBLE
INDIVIDUAL ON THE DAY OF AN ELECTION AND ON ANY DAY WHEN VOTING, INCLUD-
ING EARLY VOTING, TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN SUCH ELECTION AT THE POLLING
PLACE AND TO CAST A VOTE IN SUCH ELECTION.
§ 5-205. INTERNET REGISTRATION. 1. THE BOARD SHALL ENSURE THAT THE
FOLLOWING SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT ANY TIME ON THE OFFI-
CIAL PUBLIC WEBSITES OF THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY, IN THE
SAME MANNER AND SUBJECT TO THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE SERVICES
PROVIDED BY VOTER REGISTRATION REGULATIONS: (A) ONLINE APPLICATION FOR
VOTER REGISTRATION; (B) ONLINE ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS IN APPLYING TO
REGISTER TO VOTE; (C) ONLINE COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION BY APPLICANTS OF
THE MAIL VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION INCLUDING ASSISTANCE WITH
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PROVIDING A SIGNATURE IN ELECTRONIC FORM; AND (D) ONLINE RECEIPT OF
COMPLETED VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS.
2. ANY COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL ACCEPT AN ONLINE VOTER REGISTRA-
TION APPLICATION PROVIDED BY AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THIS SECTION, AND
ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUAL IS REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE STATE, IF (A)
THE INDIVIDUAL MEETS THE SAME VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE
TO INDIVIDUALS WHO REGISTER TO VOTE BY MAIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW
USING THE MAIL VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM AND (B) THE INDIVID-
UAL PROVIDES A SIGNATURE IN ELECTRONIC FORM.
3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AN INDIVIDUAL PROVIDES A SIGNATURE IN
ELECTRONIC FORM BY (A) EXECUTING A COMPUTERIZED MARK IN THE SIGNATURE
FIELD ON AN ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION; OR
(B) SUBMITTING WITH THE APPLICATION AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF THE INDIVID-
UAL'S HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURE THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS.
4. (A) UPON THE ONLINE SUBMISSION OF A COMPLETED VOTER REGISTRATION
APPLICATION BY AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THIS SECTION, THE APPROPRIATE STATE
OR LOCAL ELECTION OFFICIAL SHALL SEND THE INDIVIDUAL A NOTICE CONFIRMING
THE STATE'S RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION AND PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW
THE INDIVIDUAL MAY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION, AND (B) AS SOON
AS THE APPROPRIATE ELECTION OFFICIAL HAS APPROVED OR REJECTED AN APPLI-
CATION SUBMITTED BY AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THIS SECTION, THE OFFICIAL SHALL
SEND THE INDIVIDUAL A NOTICE OF THE DISPOSITION OF THE APPLICATION.
5. ANY COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL MAKE THE SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE
ONLINE UNDER SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION AVAILABLE THROUGH THE USE
OF AN AUTOMATED TELEPHONE-BASED SYSTEM, SUBJECT TO THE SAME TERMS AND
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE UNDER THIS SECTION TO THE SERVICES MADE AVAILABLE
ONLINE, IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE SERVICES AVAILABLE ONLINE IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
§ 5-207. UPDATING REGISTRATION INFORMATION THROUGH THE INTERNET. 1.
THE BOARD SHALL ENSURE THAT ANY REGISTERED VOTER ON THE COMPUTERIZED
LIST MAY AT ANY TIME UPDATE THE VOTER'S REGISTRATION INFORMATION,
INCLUDING THE VOTER'S ADDRESS AND ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESS, ONLINE
THROUGH THE OFFICIAL PUBLIC WEBSITE OF THE ELECTION OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE LIST, SO LONG AS THE VOTER ATTESTS TO THE
CONTENTS OF THE UPDATE BY PROVIDING A SIGNATURE IN ELECTRONIC FORM IN
THE SAME MANNER REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW.
2. APPLICATIONS FOR VOTER REGISTRATION SHALL PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR
VOTERS TO RECEIVE VOTER INFORMATION AND FUTURE REGISTRATION INFORMATION
AND CORRESPONDENCE BY EMAIL.
3. THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL NOTIFY EVERY REGISTERED VOTER OF THE
OPTION TO REGISTER AND MAKE CHANGES TO THEIR VOTER INFORMATION ELECTRON-
ICALLY.
§ 3. Subdivision 5 of section 5-210 of the election law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (n) to read as follows:
(N) AGREEMENTS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5-200 OF THIS TITLE BETWEEN
SOURCE AGENCIES AND THE STATE OR COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO INCLUDE THE COLLECTION OR TRANSMISSION OF THE INFORMATION
REQUESTED IN PARAGRAPH (J) OR SUBPARAGRAPH (I), (V), (XI) OR (XIII) OF
PARAGRAPH (K) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND NO BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL
REFUSE TO REGISTER TO VOTE OR UPDATE THE REGISTRATION RECORD OF ANY
PERSON IN THE STATE WHOSE INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
5-200 OF THIS TITLE FOR THE REASON THAT SUCH INFORMATION DOES NOT
INCLUDE THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BY PARAGRAPH (J) OR SUBPARAGRAPH (I),
(V), (X), (XI) OR (XIII) OF PARAGRAPH (K) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.