Legislation (S.2951A/A.8858A) Provides Voters More Time to Register To Vote Ahead of an Election

Reduces Registration Deadline from 25 Days to 10 Days Prior to Election Day

Governor Hochul today signed legislation (S.2951A/A.8858A) that increases access to the ballot by allowing voters more time to register and vote ahead of an election. The new legislation allows voters to cast a ballot in an election if their registration forms are received by the board of elections by the tenth day ahead of an election, as compared to the twenty-five days ahead of an election currently mandated by law. Governor Hochul called for this important update to our state election laws as part of her 2022 State of the State agenda.

"Too often, there are unnecessary obstacles for voters to pass through just to participate in the democratic process," Governor Hochul said. "By removing these hurdles, more New Yorkers can bring their representation to the ballot box. By shortening this time period, more New Yorkers can be flexible with their voter registration and exercise their right to vote."

The New York State Constitution stipulates that voters must register to vote at least 10 days prior to an election in which they wish to cast a ballot. However, New York's current election law unnecessarily extends this minimum deadline, requiring that voter registration forms be submitted in person at least twenty-five days prior to an election or postmarked at least twenty-five days in advance and received by the board of elections by 20 days prior to an election. This shrinks by more than two weeks the amount of time that eligible New Yorkers have to submit their registration forms and make their voices heard in an election.

Under the legislation signed by Governor Hochul today, this overly restrictive timeline will be addressed and voter registration deadlines will be moved closer to Election Day and into alignment with the standard set by the State Constitution. Voters will be eligible to vote in an election if they register in person by 10 days prior to an election; voters submitting registration forms by mail will be eligible to vote in an election if their forms are postmarked by 15 days prior to the election and received by the board of elections by 10 days prior to an election.

State Senator Brian Kavanagh said, "In recent years, we've taken many significant steps to change our laws and make elections more voter friendly. We know that many New Yorkers, with busy lives and many competing priorities, may choose to engage with the election process within the final weeks before an election. With the registration deadline set nearly a month before elections, new voters are routinely excluded from participating. This law changes the deadline to the constitutional minimum of 10 days before any election, making it that much easier for New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote. I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for signing this important legislation, Assemblymember Robert Carroll for his sponsorship in the Assembly, and all New Yorkers who have joined our efforts to protect and strengthen our democracy. I will continue to work toward the goal of permitting registration up to and including election day."

Assemblymember Robert C. Carroll said, "New York State must ensure that New Yorkers don't face unnecessary obstacles in exercising their right to vote and this legislation, which reduces the voter registration deadline from 25 to the constitutional minimum of 10 days before an election, is a good step. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues and voting rights and election reform advocates in making New York State a true model when it comes to fair, transparent, and well administered elections."