Letter to NY State Legislators Urging Co-Sponsorship of Voter Empowerment Act of New York

The Brennan Center sent letters to New York Senators and Assemblymembers urging them to co-sponsor the Voter Empowerment Act of New York (A187A/S619A), a bill that would bring much-needed reforms to New York’s voter registration process, while saving money and increasing registration rates. The following is an example of the letter that was sent to Senate Elections Committee Chair Thomas O’Mara. 

[Download the letter]

May 13, 2013

Re: Co-sponsorship for the Voter Empowerment Act of New York (A187A/S619A)

Dear Senator O’Mara,

I am writing to you today on behalf of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law to urge you to co-sponsor the Voter Empowerment Act (VEA) of New York (A187A/S619A).  By comprehensively modernizing New York’s outdated voter registration process, the VEA will save money and register more voters. 

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a not-for-profit, non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on issues of democracy and justice.  Through the activities of its Democracy Program, the Brennan Center seeks to bring the ideal of representative self-government closer to reality by working to eliminate barriers to full and equal political participation, and to ensure that public policy and institutions reflect the diverse voices and interests that make for a rich and energetic democracy.

New York’s voter registration system is in desperate need of an upgrade. New York ranks 47^th in the nation in voter registration, with less than 64% of eligible New Yorkers registered to vote.[1]   The current voter registration system is a costly, outdated, paper-based system that is subject to human error — every paper form is one typo away from potentially disfranchising a voter.  The VEA will modernize that system by harnessing technology that saves money for the state and taxpayers, enhances registration accuracy and reliability, and increases the number of eligible voters who are registered in the state.

How the VEA Works

The key provisions of the VEA will: 

• Electronically transfer the voter registration information already digitally collected by certain government agencies to local election offices when an eligible citizen consents to being registered to vote or when an already-registered voter changes her address;
• Incorporate existing verification and eligibility checks on registration applications;
• Transfer to the correct county the registrations of New Yorkers who move within the state;
• Enable voters to access and update their own voter registration records online;
• Allow people to register to vote, or change their party affiliation, closer to Election Day; and
• Permit sixteen and seventeen year-olds to pre-register and permit college students to vote in the community they consider home.

A modernized voter registration system allows voters to seamlessly use the information they are already providing for other government transaction for voting purposes. This eliminates needless paperwork, and makes registering more convenient for voters.  By automatically updating voter registration records when a voter moves within the state, the VEA ensures that New Yorkers do not lose the right to vote because of an address change.  The VEA also gives voters the choice to register and update their voter information online at any time.  New Yorkers can bank online and pay their taxes online; they should be able to safely and securely access and update voter registration online as well.  

How the VEA Benefits Voters and Election Administrators

More Registered Voters.  In other states where implemented, a modernized voter registration system has increased the number of voters who are able to successfully register and cast a ballot.  In Washington and Kansas, the number of voter registration transactions at DMVs nearly doubled, and in South Dakota, the number increased almost eight-fold.[2]  And, by ensuring that eligible teens have the right to pre-register to vote in advance of their 18^th birthday, and that college students can vote in the community they truly consider home, the VEA will increase participation among young voters.

Cost Savings.  A modernized voter registration system will save New York taxpayers money.  Digital registration saves money on data entry, printing and mailing costs.  Maricopa County, Arizona spends only 3 cents to process an electronic registration, compared with 83 cents for a paper form.  The county estimates it saved more than $450,000 in registration costs in 2008 alone,[3] and more than $1 million over the course of five years.[4]  Other states are seeing similar savings.  Delaware saved more than $200,000 in the first year it fully automated DMV registration.  Washington’s State Board of Elections saved more than $126,000 in 2008 alone, and its counties saved even more.[5]

Reduce Registration Problems. States that have passed similar bills have reported a significant reduction in voter registration problems, and a decrease in provisional ballots cast.[6]  This will allow more voters to cast ballots that count and enable election officials to do their job more easily, effectively, and accurately.  Election officials have consistently reported that electronic registrations are less error-prone than paper forms, thus making voter rolls more accurate.  And what has been reported as one of the most challenging aspects of voter list maintenance, tracking changes of addresses,[7] will be far more streamlined with VEA.   More precise and up-to-date voter rolls will also enable officials to allocate ballots, machines, and poll workers more accurately, leading to more efficient elections.  

The VEA will modernize New York’s voter registration system by providing convenient and secure options for voters to get and stay registered in a way that largely eliminates the errors and frustrations that plague the current system.  It will give New Yorkers more choices about how to register to vote, restore faith in our registration system, and ensure that our democracy is open to all eligible voters.  

Again, we urge you to show your support for these much needed reforms, and to become a co-sponsor of the Voter Empowerment Act.

Sincere Regards,

Diana Kasdan

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A187A Sponsors and co-sponsors

Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh

Assemblymember Michael Cusick

Assemblymember Micah Kellner

Assemblymember José Rivera

Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick

Assemblymember Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes

S619A Sponsors and co-sponsors

Senator Michael Gianaris

Senator Eric L. Adams

Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

Senator Tony Avella

Senator Martin Malavé Dilan

Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson

Senator Brad Hoylman

Senator Timothy Kennedy

Senator Liz Krueger

Senator Velmanette Montgomery

Senator José R. Peralta

Senator Bill Perkins

Senator José M. Serrano

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins

Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk