L.L. 2000/029

Enactment date: 5/25/2000

Int. No. 450-B

By Council Member Miller, the Public Advocate (Mr. Green), Council Members Pinkett, Spigner, Robles, Carrion, Clarke, DiBrienza, Fisher, Freed, Henry, Koslowitz, Leffler, Linares, Lopez, Marshall, Michels, Moskowitz, O'Donovan, Perkins, Provenzano, Quinn, Reed, Rivera, Warden, Watkins, White, Wooten, Harrison and Eisland; also Council Members Malave-Dilan, Eldridge, Foster, Lasher, Povman and Robinson.

A Local Law to amend the charter of the city of New York to establish a system to distribute voter registration forms at certain agencies.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Legislative intent and findings. Current federal and state law requires that a sophisticated computerized voter registration plan be put in place in motor vehicle agencies. However, while more than 91% of New York State residents eighteen and over outside of New York City hold driver's licenses, less than 50% of City residents do. In order to ensure that application forms be as widely and freely distributed as possible, this legislation requires certain City agencies to distribute voter registration forms to clients when they first apply for services or when they recertify or change their address. This procedure has been found to be highly effective in registering new voters and updating voter registration rolls in places across the country that have implemented similar programs. This program will serve to facilitate public access to voter registration forms, but not actually register anyone because only the Board of Elections may register a voter pursuant to State Election Law.

* * *

[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

* * *

§ 3. Severability. Should any provision or application of this local law be determined to be unlawful or unenforceable, all other provisions and applications of this local law shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect.

§ 4. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment.