Res 1223-2020

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