Senator Persaud And Senate Majority Advances Automatic Voter Registration System, Strengthens Voting Rights And Protections

Senator Persaud And Senate Majority Advances Automatic Voter Registration System, Strengthens Voting Rights And Protections

(Brooklyn, NY) Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, together with the Senate Majority advanced major voting reforms, including the implementation of an automatic voter registration (AVR) system. Additional voting protection bills were passed to address concerns raised during the most recent elections due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  This legislative package builds on previous legislation passed to strengthen and expand New Yorkers’ voting rights. 

Voting is the bedrock of our democracy, and New Yorkers should not have to jump hurdles to cast their vote,” Senator Persaud said. “These reforms strengthen our voting rights and protections that came to light during COVID-19. Increasing voter accessibility by expanding absentee voting, and implementing an automatic voter registration system, will allow more New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote.”   
 

The bills passed by Senator Persaud and the Senate Majority include: 

Senate Bill S.8806: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Michael Gianaris, will implement the New York Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2020 and create an automatic voter registration system through qualified New York State government agencies and departments. 
Senate Bill S.8370B: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, will give voters notice of any deficiencies in their absentee ballot envelopes and an opportunity to fix them to ensure their votes can be counted.
Senate Bill S.8015D: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Alessandra Biaggi, will define the term “illness” for the purposes of absentee voting to include instances where a voter is unable to appear personally at a polling place because there is a risk of contracting or spreading a disease-causing illness to the voter or to other members of the public.
Senate Bill S.8799A: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Michael Gianaris, temporarily provides that any absentee ballot shall be presumed to be timely even if it does not bear a dated postmark if such ballot was received and timestamped by the day after Election Day. 
Senate Bill S.8783A: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Zellnor Myrie, temporarily allows the processing of absentee ballot applications prior to 30 days before the election. 
Senate Bill S.6886D: This legislation, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, will require electors to vote for the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidate who received the highest number of votes in the state.
Senate Bill S.8796A: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, temporarily allows certain party designations and nominations to be made via video teleconference.
Senate Bill S.8465A: This legislation, sponsored by Senator John Liu, will clarify that the use of alternate, anglicized or familiar names on election petitions and ballots is acceptable provided that such name is demonstrated to be commonly used to identify that person in the person’s community and that the use of such name is not intended to mislead voters or petition signers.
Senate Bill S.8782: This legislation, sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin, will require that in each county, the municipality with the largest population contain at least one early voting location.

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