Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie to Lead Public Hearing on Automatic Voter Registration

ALBANY, NY—The Senate Majority today announced that a public hearing on automatic voter registration will be held on Thursday, May 30. Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie, Chair of the Elections Committee will lead this hearing, to ensure that a broad range of stakeholders have the opportunity to provide input on the creation of an automatic voter registration system.

Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie said, “Voting is the right that protects all other rights, yet New York is consistently ranked among the worst in the country in voter turnout. At a time when voting rights are under assault at the federal level and across the country, it is more important than ever to expand and protect our democracy in New York. Automatic Voter Registration is a straightforward and evidenced-backed policy that would remove barriers between voters and the ballot box and make it easier for people to make their voices heard.”

The hearing on Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) is only the latest in Senator Myrie’s efforts to expand voting rights in New York State. On the first day of the legislative session, Senator Myrie sponsored S1102, a bill to allow Early Voting which was later signed into law by the Governor and then funded in the Enacted State Budget. In February, Senator Myrie later sponsored legislation to allow electronic poll books and helped to negotiate funding for the measure in the budget. In March, he led a hearing on Public Financing of elections.

The hearing on Automatic Voter Registration will be in Albany on Thursday, May 30th, at 1:00 PM in the Legislative Office Building Hearing Room A, 2nd Floor.

Oral testimony is by invitation only. To RSVP for the hearing or to submit written testimony, please email Edline Jacquet, Senator Myrie’s Chief of Staff, at jacquet@nysenate.gov.