STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1096
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, SIMON -- 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 shall be
5 registered, and if required, enrolled pursuant to the provisions of this
6 article unless he shall present a court order directing that he be
7 permitted to vote at such election.
8 2. All persons eligible to vote or who will be eligible by the date of
9 a general election, not including a primary or school district election,
10 shall register before the date specified under section 5-210 of this
11 article.
12 3. Where a specific provision of law relating to the registration of
13 voters exists in any other statute, which is inconsistent with the
14 provisions of this article, such provision shall apply and the
15 provisions of this article not inconsistent therewith shall apply.
16 § 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 8-310 to read
17 as follows:
18 § 8-310. Voting; required. 1. All eligible voters shall vote at each
19 election in person or by absentee ballot; provided however that the
20 requirement to vote shall not apply to a primary or school board
21 election.
22 2. The sole duty imposed under this section shall be to return a
23 ballot. No person shall be compelled to cast a valid vote.
24 3. An eligible voter who fails to cast a ballot shall be subject to a
25 ten dollar fine. The state board of elections may waive the fine for any
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05680-01-9
A. 1096 2
1 person who submits timely proof of a valid excuse. Any funds recovered
2 pursuant to this section shall be utilized for the improvement of the
3 election process.
4 § 3. The state board of elections shall promulgate such rules and
5 regulations as it deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this
6 act. Such rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, a
7 process for waiving the fine in the event of a valid excuse, and what
8 constitutes a valid excuse.
9 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
