BILL NUMBER: S286
SPONSOR: RHOADS
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, the administrative code of the city of
New York, the public health law and the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to requiring a government issued photo identification card to
be presented when casting a ballot
PURPOSE:
Requires a government photo identification card to be presented when
casting a ballot.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Section 8-303 of the election law, as added by chapter 420 of
the laws of 2004 and subparagraph 1 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 as
amended by chapter 160 of the laws of 2005, is amended as follows:
§ 8-303 outlines voter ID requirements around voting in person, mail,
affidavit and requirements if someone does not have information
required.
Section 6. Sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
In a representative republic, faith in our election system depends upon
the electorate's well-founded belief that votes are cast and counted in
a consistent, fair and non-discriminatory manner, by individuals who are
properly registered and eligible to do so. New York's system of voting
currently relies upon the nothing more than the subjective determination
of a volunteer poll worker that a signature on a computer tablet matches
a signature contained on voter rolls maintained by local Boards of
Elections. The establishment of reasonable requirements for the
production of government-issued identification in order to vote adds a
level of transparency, safety and security to this process. The legis-
lation sets forth specific forms of identification which are acceptable
and in the absence of such identification, provides a mechanism for the
voter to obtain - at no cost to the voter - government issued identifi-
cation for that purpose.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
Statutes affected: S286: 8-400 election law, 8-400(2) election law, 4174 public health law, 4174(1) public health law, 490 vehicle and traffic law, 490(3) vehicle and traffic law