BILL NUMBER: S1356
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law and the vehicle and traffic law, in
relation to joining multistate voter list maintenance organizations
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
To authorize the State Board of Elections (SBOE) to join a multistate
voter list maintenance organization such as the Electronic Registration
Information Center, also known as ERIC.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Describes the legislative intent.
Section 2: Amends Article 5 of the Election Law by adding a new title to
authorize the SBOE to join a multistate voter list maintenance organiza-
tion and share certain information with the multi-state voter list main-
tenance organization. Further provides that subsequent withdrawal from
such multistate voter list maintenance organization will require an
affirmative vote of the SBOE commissioners.
Section 3: Amends Article 219-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Section 4: States that New York State shall join a multistate voter list
maintenance organization promptly after the effective date of this act
and must complete its registration on or before July 31, 2026.
Section 5: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
A multistate voter list maintenance organization is a coordinating enti-
ty between the states that aids them in removing ineligible voters from
their voter rolls. The Electronic Registration Information Center
(ERIC)is a public charity non-profit membership organization comprising
more than 20 states and the District of Columbia. ERIC's purpose is to
assist states in improving the accuracy of America's voter rolls and
increasing access to voter registration for all eligible citizens.
As the official record of all eligible voters in a state, a state's
voter registration rolls are the foundation of free, fair, and accurate
elections. Keeping voter rolls up to date is a challenge because, every
day, voters move or pass away. Those who move out of state do not always
remember to update their registration. Illegal voting is exceedingly
rare but maintaining accurate voter rolls reduces the opportunity for
such behavior and it helps build confidence in election outcomes.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2023: S6173-A, Passed Senate
2024: S6173-B, Passed Senate
Assembly
2023: A7052-B, Referred to Election Law
2024: A7052-C, Referred to Election Law
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
A one-time membership fee of $25,000 is required to join ERIC to help
cover expenses for technology upgrades and expansions necessary to
support a growing membership.
States also pay annual dues to cover operating costs and are based, in
part, on the citizen voting age population in each state. Members
approve the dues and the annual budget. Dues for the 2022-23 fiscal year
range from about $26,000 to about $116,000. ERIC's 2021-22 operating
budget is about $1,538,000. ERIC conducts annual independent audits of
its financial statements.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.