File #: Res 1223-2020    Version: * Name: Permit voter registration, party enrollment and change of party enrollment within 10 days of a primary, general or special election. (A.3557)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations
On agenda: 1/23/2020
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A3557, sponsored by Assembly member Robert Carroll, which would permit voter registration, party enrollment and change of party enrollment within 10 days of a primary, general or special election.
Sponsors: Justin L. Brannan, Ben Kallos, Brad S. Lander
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 1223, 2. January 23, 2020 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-23-20, 4. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - January 23, 2020
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2021*Justin L. Brannan City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/23/2020*Justin L. Brannan City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/23/2020*Justin L. Brannan City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 1223

 

Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A3557, sponsored by Assembly member Robert Carroll, which would permit voter registration, party enrollment and change of party enrollment within 10 days of a primary, general or special election.

 

By Council Members Brannan, Kallos and Lander

 

Whereas, All eligible New Yorkers deserve a reasonable opportunity to exercise their fundamental voting rights; and

Whereas, New York State consistently has one of the lowest voter turnout rates, ranking 42nd among states in the 2018 General Election (down from 41st in the 2016 General Election), according to the United States Elections Project; and

Whereas, Potential voters often find it challenging to register, due to confusing rules and/or lack of time, resulting in nearly 24% of eligible voters not being registered, according to the think tank Pew Research Center; and

Whereas, New York State has closed primary elections that require voters to register with a political party in order to participate in their party’s primary; and

                     Whereas, Prior to a 2019 amendment, New York State had the earliest party enrollment change deadline in the United States: one calendar year and 25 days prior to the current year’s General Election; and                     

                     Whereas, A 2019 amendment to the Election Law allowed voters in New York State to register to vote 25 days prior to any election event, including general, primary and special elections; and

                     Whereas, Election Law additionally dictates that political party enrollments must be completed 25 days prior to a primary election, in order to be considered effective; and

Whereas, Under the current process, the voter registration deadline being nearly one month before an election could cause many hopeful registrants to not be eligible to vote in the following election; and

                     Whereas, On January 29, 2019, New York Assembly member Robert Carroll introduced

A3557, which would permit voter registration, party enrollment and change of party enrollment within 10 days of a primary, general or special election; and

                     Whereas, Making the voter registration deadline closer to election events can only benefit New Yorkers, by granting more time to register to vote; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the city of New York calls on the  New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A3557, sponsored by Assembly member Robert Carroll, which would permit voter registration, party enrollment and change of party enrollment within 10 days of a primary, general or special election.

 

 

EK

LS11088

1/10/2020