Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) is calling for the full state Assembly to take immediate action on his legislation (A.2292), which would enable more people to register to vote after the Election Law Committee today held this legislation in committee for future consideration.

The bill corrects technical problems in the state’s existing election laws to require individuals have the opportunity to register at more government agencies, such as while they are paying their taxes, getting a fishing or hunting permit, or getting a marriage certificate. Currently, certain agencies are not required to provide this opportunity on governmental forms, while the law does mandate an opportunity to register at agencies such as those providing public assistance benefits and departments of motor vehicles.

“People go into a government office building looking for a one-stop shop for help,” said Norris. “The law should provide opportunities to enroll new voters equally and across the board at government agencies. The Legislature, dominated by downstate-driven Majority lawmakers, should not be picking and choosing which agencies or forms must provide an opportunity to register to vote. All eligible New Yorkers should be able to easily register to vote, and I believe government agencies and entities offering all services should be required to provide this opportunity to do so.”

Under current law, the public can register to vote at all county Boards of Elections, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, social services offices, the Department of Health or Department of Labor, City University of New York and State University of New York locations, veterans services offices and many other locations. However, there is no requirement to offer voter registration opportunities on forms or when conducting business at the following locations, but would be under Norris’ bill. His bill expands the list of eligible locations to include:

• the Department of Health,
• the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
• the Department of Labor
• the Office of Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - vocational rehabilitation
• county and city departments of social services
• the New York City Housing Authority
• the Department of Agriculture and Markets
• the Department of Taxation and Finance
• the Department of Environmental Conservation
• the Department of Financial Services
• the New York State Insurance Fund
• the Office of the Professions
• the Division of Licensing Services
• the Empire State Development corporation
• the State Liquor Authority
• the state Workers’ Compensation Board
• the Division of Military and Naval Affairs
• the Office of Real Property Tax Services and local assessors
• public and private colleges and universities and career and vocational schools
• and any municipal offices processing pistol permits, birth, marriage, or death certificates, hunting and fishing licenses, building permits and economic development applications
• any other agency or entity that accepts an application or collects a fee in exchange for a government or educational service, or deemed appropriate by the governor.

If you are not registered to vote in New York and would like to do so, you can also visit https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html.