BILL NUMBER: S5752
SPONSOR: GIANARIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to allowing for polling
place voter registration for any qualified person who is not registered
to vote
 
PURPOSE:
Provides that qualified persons who are not registered to vote may
register on a day of election at their polling places.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends 5-210 of election law by adding a new
subdivision 1-a which enables qualified persons to register to vote on
election day.
Section two of the bill sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation seeks to set parameters and guidelines for Election Day
voter registration ("EDR"). Allowing for persons eligible to vote to
register to vote up until, and on, Election Day has increased voter
turnout in the 23 jurisdictions (California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota,
Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the District of Columbia)
in which it has been enacted.
Studies have consistently shown states that make it easier for people to
vote through policies like same day registration and vote by mail
programs have higher turnout - the 2020 election, where more votes were
cast by mail than ever before is a perfect example. New York consistent-
ly ranks near the bottom in voter turnout in the country. It is imper-
ative that the state take every action necessary to allow eligible
voters to get involved in elections until the very last moment when
often it is too late to register to vote.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S170 (Gianaris) died in Elections / A8175 (Carroll) died in
elections
2021-22: S3088 (Gianaris) died in Elections
2019-20: S2150 (Gianaris) died in Elections
2017-18: S3235 (Gianaris) died in Elections / A8612 (Kavanagh) died in
elections
2015-16: S2483-B (Gianaris) died in Elections / A5957 (Kavanagh) died in
elections
2013-14: S609-A (Gianaris) died in Elections / A172-A (Kavanagh) died in
elections
2011-12: S1972-A (Gianaris) died in Elections / A1684-A (Kavanagh) died
in elections
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This shall take effect the first of January next succeeding the date on
which it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S5752: 5-210 election law