Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends various New York laws relating to elections and automatic voter registration.

Highlights:

• Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to use a system of automatic voter registration for each person who conducts any of the following transactions regarding a REAL ID or Enhanced license, beginning January 1, 2028 (Sec. 2):

• An application for a driver’s license or identification card;

• A renewal, recertification, or reexamination for such documents; or

• Any change of address or name form for such documents.

• Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to use a system of automatic voter registration for each person who conducts any of the transactions described above regarding a standard license, beginning January 1, 2029 (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to send the following information to the State Board of Elections for any individual who conducts a transaction described above and who has demonstrated U.S. citizenship and sufficient age to register to vote (Sec. 2):

• Name;

• Date of birth;

• Driver’s license or state ID number;

• Residence and mailing address;

• County of residence;

• Citizenship status;

• An electronic copy of their signature, if available;

• The date of their transaction with the Department of Motor Vehicles;

• Gender, if available;

• Telephone number, if available; and

• E-mail address, if available.

• Specifies that the Department of Motor Vehicles may not transmit an individual’s information if they are a participant in the address confidentiality program (Sec. 2).

• Requires the State Board of Elections to forward an individual’s information to the Board of Elections of the county or city of the person’s residence, and requires the Board of Elections to register or pre-register that individual to vote (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that an individual is eligible to vote in an election that takes place at least 12 days after their transaction with the Department of Motor Vehicles, if they were not previously registered to vote (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that an individual may decline their automatic voter registration or pre-registration, so long as they do not vote in any election before they do so (Sec. 2).

• Requires the automatic voter registration system to include a space for an applicant to select or decline party enrollment, and inform them of the address confidentiality program (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that any information concerning the citizenship status of an individual collected and transmitted according to this Section may not be retained, used, or shared for any other purpose except as required by law (Sec. 2).

• Requires the State Board of Elections to transmit updated information to the relevant local Board of Elections for individuals whose name, residence, or mailing address differs between their Department of Motor Vehicles transaction and their existing voter registration (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that an individual will be notified of any information change that results from the automatic system, and informed of how to correct such update if necessary (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this Section does not authorize or require the Department of Motor Vehicles to request documentation establishing an applicant’s citizenship solely for the purposes of voter registration (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Department of Health, and county and city Departments of Social Services to automatically transmit the following information to the State Board of Elections for each individual who applies for or re-enrolls in Medicaid (Sec. 3):

• Name;

• Date of birth;

• The last four digits of their social security number;

• Residence and mailing address;

• County of residence;

• Citizenship status;

• An electronic copy of their signature, if available;

• The date of their application or re-enrollment;

• Gender, if available;

• Telephone number; if available; and

• E-mail address, if available.

• Specifies that, if required by federal law, the Department of Health and local Departments of Social Services must notify an individual prior to transmitting their information to the State Board of Elections (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect January 1, 2028 (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text