New York S 5965: Relates to enacting voting rights expansion act; repealer

Bill Text

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S05965 Summary:

BILL NOS05965 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSRSEPULVEDA

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MLTSPNSR

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Rpld §§8-400 & 8-402, amd El L, generally

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Relates to voting rights expansion, voter registration on election day, expansion of the use of and requirements for absentee voting, creation of a real-time state wide voter registration database, special ballots for election employees, and voter affidavits.

Go to top S05965 Actions:

BILL NOS05965 

&nbsp

03/04/2025REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

01/07/2026REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

Go to topS05965 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05965 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS05965 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5965

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 4, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. PARKER, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections

 AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to voting rights expan-
 sion, voter registration on election day, expansion of the use of and
 requirements for absentee voting, creation of a real-time state wide
 voter registration database, special ballots for election employees,
 voter affidavits; and to repeal certain provisions of such law relat-
 ing thereto

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The election law is amended by adding two new sections
 2 5-217 and 5-217-a to read as follows:
 3 § 5-217. Registering at the polling place; election day registration.
 4 1. The provisions of this section and section 5-217-a of this title
 5 shall be used as an additional procedure for voter registration. For
 6 the purposes of this section and section 5-217-a of this title, the term
 7 "election day" shall refer to state primary and to state general
 8 elections, to all town, city, school district, and village district
 9 elections, and to all elections where persons may vote by absentee
 10 ballot. A person registering to vote on election day shall do so in
 11 accordance with the provisions of this section and all other applicable
 12 laws including, but not limited to completion of a voter registration
 13 form as provided for in section 5-210 of this title. The provisions of
 14 this section and those of 5-217-a of this title shall apply notwith-
 15 standing any provisions of law to the contrary.
 16 2. Any person whose name is not on the checklist but who is otherwise
 17 a qualified voter shall be entitled to vote by requesting to be regis-
 18 tered to vote at the polling place on election day. The voter may then
 19 vote in such election. The applicant shall be required to produce appro-
 20 priate proof of qualifications as provided in this chapter.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10512-01-5

 S. 5965 2

 1 3. Any person who is waiting to register to vote at the polling place
 2 on election day at the time scheduled for the closing of the polls shall
 3 be allowed to vote if determined to be qualified to register.
 4 § 5-217-a. Effect of registration on election day. Any person who
 5 registers to vote on election day according to the provisions of section
 6 5-217 of this title shall be registered to vote at all subsequent town,
 7 state, and federal elections.
 8 § 2. Section 8-400 of the election law is REPEALED and a new section
 9 8-400 is added to read as follows:
 10 § 8-400. Absentee voting. 1. A qualified voter may vote as an absentee
 11 voter under this chapter if, on the occurrence of any village election
 12 conducted by the board of elections, primary election, special election,
 13 general election or New York city community school board district or
 14 city of Buffalo school district election, if such voter elects to do
 15 such. Any reference to "board of elections" in the remaining provisions
 16 of this section means only the board of elections of the county or city
 17 in which the absentee voter is a qualified voter.
 18 2. The board of elections for all counties or cities shall mail an
 19 absentee ballot to every registered and qualified voter residing in such
 20 c