STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1606
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to establishing compulsory
voting in this state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 5-100 of the election law, as amended by chapter
2 373 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 5-100. Registration; required. 1. A person shall not be entitled to
4 vote in any election held pursuant to this chapter unless [he] such
5 person shall be registered, and if required, enrolled pursuant to the
6 provisions of this article unless [he] such person shall present a court
7 order directing that [he] such person be permitted to vote at such
8 election.
9 2. All persons eligible to vote or who will be eligible by the date of
10 a general election, not including a primary or school district election,
11 shall register before the date specified under section 5-210 of this
12 article.
13 3. Where a specific provision of law relating to the registration of
14 voters exists in any other statute, which is inconsistent with the
15 provisions of this article, such provision shall apply and the
16 provisions of this article not inconsistent therewith shall apply.
17 § 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 8-310 to read
18 as follows:
19 § 8-310. Voting; required. 1. All eligible voters shall vote at each
20 election in person or by absentee ballot; provided however that the
21 requirement to vote shall not apply to a primary or school board
22 election.
23 2. The sole duty imposed under this section shall be to return a
24 ballot. No person shall be compelled to cast a valid vote.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04202-01-5
A. 1606 2
1 3. An eligible voter who fails to cast a ballot shall be subject to a
2 ten dollar fine. The state board of elections may waive the fine for any
3 person who submits timely proof of a valid excuse. Any funds recovered
4 pursuant to this section shall be utilized for the improvement of the
5 election process.
6 § 3. The state board of elections shall promulgate such rules and
7 regulations as it deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this
8 act. Such rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, a
9 process for waiving the fine in the event of a valid excuse, and what
10 constitutes a valid excuse.
11 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
