File #: Int 0463-2014    Version: Name: Providing e-mail and text message notifications to NYC voters.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations
On agenda: 8/21/2014
Enactment date: 6/5/2016 Law number: 2016/064
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to providing e-mail and text message notifications to New York city voters.
Sponsors: James Vacca, Inez E. Dickens, Inez D. Barron, Corey D. Johnson, Peter A. Koo, Darlene Mealy, Rosie Mendez, Karen Koslowitz, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, James G. Van Bramer, Andrew Cohen, Stephen T. Levin, Paul A. Vallone, Ben Kallos, David G. Greenfield, Joseph C. Borelli
Council Member Sponsors: 16
Summary: This bill would require the NYC Board of Elections to send email and text message notifications regarding local, state and federal elections to registered NYC voters who provide their email address or mobile phone number to the BOE, including information regarding (1) the dates and hours of elections, (2) poll site locations, (3) absentee voting requirements and deadlines, (4) links to sample ballots (by email only), and (5) links to the BOE’s website. The bill would also require BOE to provide opportunities for NYC voters to provide their email address or phone number for this purpose, as well as provide the option for such voters to unsubscribe from the service.
Attachments: 1. Legislative History Report, 2. Summary of Int. No. 463-A, 3. Int. No. 463 - 8/21/14, 4. Committee Report 2/29/16, 5. Hearing Testimony 2/29/16, 6. Hearing Transcript 2/29/16, 7. Committee Report 5/4/16, 8. Hearing Transcript 5/4/16, 9. May 5, 2016 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 10. Committee Report - Stated Meeting, 11. Int. No. 463-A - FINAL, 12. Fiscal Impact Statement, 13. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-5-16, 14. Legislative Documents - Letter to the Mayor, 15. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - May 5, 2016, 16. Local Law 64
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
6/5/2016AJames Vacca Administration City Charter Rule Adopted  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/5/2016AJames Vacca City Council Sent to Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/5/2016AJames Vacca City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
5/4/2016*James Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/4/2016*James Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/4/2016*James Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/4/2016AJames Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
2/29/2016*James Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/29/2016*James Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/29/2016*James Vacca Committee on Governmental Operations Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/21/2014*James Vacca City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/21/2014*James Vacca City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 463-A

 

By Council Members Vacca, Dickens, Barron, Johnson, Koo, Mealy, Mendez, Koslowitz, Rodriguez, Van Bramer, Cohen, Levin, Vallone, Kallos, Greenfield and Borelli

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to providing e-mail and text message notifications to New York city voters.

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 46 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 1057-d to read as follows:

§1057-d Notifications to voters. a. The board of elections in the city of New York shall send e-mail and text message notifications related to voting for local, state, and federal elections to registered New York city voters who provide the board with an e-mail address or mobile phone number for this purpose. The board shall provide opportunities for city residents to provide an e-mail address or mobile phone number to the board for this purpose and shall maintain a database of all such e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers. Such e-mail and text message notifications shall be sent for primary elections, general elections and special elections for which each such voter is eligible to vote, for the following purposes and at the following times:

(1) notification of the dates and hours of such election, as well as the applicable poll site location, and any changes thereto, for such voter, sent ten business days prior to such date, and on election day;

(2) notification of the dates, hours, locations, and eligibility requirements for casting an in-person absentee ballot sent on the first day of in-person absentee voting for such election;

(3) notification of the deadline for submission of a mailed absentee voting application for such election, sent ten business days prior to such deadline; and

(4) for e-mailed notifications only, distribution to such voter of an applicable sample ballot, or a link to such sample ballot, for such election, sent within two business days of such sample ballot being posted online.

b. E-mail and text message notifications sent pursuant to this section shall include links to the board's website to access relevant forms, materials and other additional information, as determined by the board, and shall be available in the languages in which the board publishes the election notices sent to such voter by mail.

c. The board shall provide opportunities for city residents to provide an e-mail address or mobile phone number through the following means:

(1) on voter registration forms;

(2) on the board's website;

(3) by collecting e-mail addresses at events promoting voter registration, voter participation, and any other events or meetings the board deems appropriate;

(4) in all mailings to registered voters by directing recipients of such mailings to the board's website; and

(5) by any other means that the board determines would facilitate the collection of e-mail addresses of registered or prospective New York city voters.

d. The board shall provide all e-mail and text message recipients under this section the option to unsubscribe from receiving such e-mail or text message notifications or to update an e-mail address or mobile phone number previously provided to the board. The board shall not remove any e-mail address or mobile phone number from its database unless an e-mail or text message recipient unsubscribes or provides an updated e-mail address or mobile phone number, or if e-mails or text messages sent to such e-mail address or mobile phone number are not successfully transmitted for a period of one year.

e. The board shall not share, sell or otherwise disclose e-mail addresses or mobile phone numbers collected pursuant to this section, except as otherwise required by law, without acquiring advance written permission from individuals providing such information, or unless ordered by a court of law.

§2. This local law takes effect January 1, 2017.

 

dss/smd

LS 2067/2014

4/27/16 9:00 pm