Voter Law And Teachers: What's The Verdict In New York?

In New York State, teachers are required by law to promote student voter registration and pre-registration. This includes providing eligible high school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 with access to voter registration and pre-registration applications, as well as educating them about the voting process and their rights as voters. The law also stipulates that completion of voter registration forms cannot be made mandatory as a course requirement or graded assignment. Teachers are also required to inform students about the state requirements for voter registration, including the fact that one must be a United States Citizen, be 18 years old, and be a resident of the state and county, city, or village for at least 30 days before the election, among other criteria.

Student voter registration

The State of New York encourages all eligible students to exercise their right to vote. In New York, students can pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 years old, but they cannot cast their vote until they are 18.

Eligibility

To qualify for voter registration in New York State, you must:

• Be a United States Citizen
• Be 18 years old (or pre-register at 16 or 17)
• Be a resident of the state, county, city, or village for at least 30 days before the election
• Not be in prison for a felony conviction
• Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere

How to Register

There are several ways to register to vote in New York State:

• Online: Using a NY.Gov ID, you can access the Online Voter Registration portal to register or update your voter information.
• By Mail: You can request a New York State Voter Registration form by mail or call 1-800-367-8683 to request a voter application. Complete the form, print, sign, date, and mail it to your local county board of elections.
• In-Person: You can register in person at your county board of elections, any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center, or the Department of Motor Vehicles (if you already have DMV-issued identification).

On-Campus Voter Registration

The New York State Election Law mandates that State University campuses provide each student with a voter registration application at the beginning of each school year and during January and February of a presidential election year. This ensures that students have the opportunity to register and participate in the democratic process.

Student voter pre-registration

In New York State, 16 and 17-year-olds can pre-register to vote. This means that they are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18, enabling more students to participate in future elections. The Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) has been organising an annual Student Voter Registration Drive (SVRD) since 2015, in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. During this week-long event, the CEC hosts a series of events at schools across all five boroughs as part of Civics Week. Since its inception, the CEC has registered tens of thousands of students, with nearly 60,000 pre-registered between 2018 and 2020, and 30,000 more in March 2020, just before the COVID-19 lockdown.

To pre-register to vote in New York State, you must be a United States Citizen, be a resident of the state and your county, city, or village for at least 30 days before the election, not be in prison for a felony conviction, not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court, and not claim the right to vote elsewhere. To register, you will need a New York State driver's license, permit, or non-driver ID card, your Social Security number, and a ZIP code currently on record with the DMV. You can register online using a NY.Gov ID, or by filling out the New York State Voter Registration Form and mailing it to your local county board of elections.

Student voter registration access program

The Student Voter Registration Access Program is designed to help students navigate the voting process and ensure they can exercise their democratic right to vote. The program provides information on voter registration, absentee ballots, and special voting circumstances.

Voter Registration

Students can register to vote in their home state or the state they attend college. If a student chooses to register in their home state and is attending college out of state, they can submit an absentee ballot, also known as a mail-in ballot, without having to travel to their hometown polling location. Alternatively, if a student has a permanent or temporary residence in the state where they attend college, they can change their voter registration to that state and vote in person. It is important to note that registering to vote in more than one state is illegal.

Absentee Ballots

Absentee ballots, also referred to as mail-in ballots, allow students to vote remotely without having to be physically present at a polling station. This is especially useful for students who are registered to vote in their home state but are attending college in a different state. To vote using an absentee ballot, students must be registered to vote in their home state and follow the specific procedures outlined by their state's election office.

Special Voting Circumstances

The program also provides guidance on navigating special voting circumstances, such as voting when experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, as a survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault, with a disability, under a conservatorship, or as a formerly incarcerated person. For instance, individuals experiencing homelessness can still cast a ballot by providing the address of a homeless shelter, street intersection, or public park as their residence. Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Voting Rights Act (VRA) require polling locations to provide accommodations for voters with disabilities, including the option to select a person to assist them with voting.

Voter registration and pre-registration applications

In New York State, citizens can register to vote online using the Online Voter Registration portal or by mailing the New York State Voter Registration Form. The form can be completed online and then printed, signed, and dated, or it can be printed and filled out by hand. The form must be mailed to the voter's local county board of elections or submitted in person. In-person registration is also available at the Department of Motor Vehicles, either online or in person, if the individual already has DMV-issued identification. Voter registration forms can also be requested by mail or by calling the 1-800-FOR-VOTE (1-800-367-8683) hotline.

To qualify for voter registration in New York State, individuals must be United States citizens, be 18 years old (or pre-register at 16 or 17), and be a resident of the state and the county, city, or village for at least 30 days before the election. Additionally, they must not be in prison for a felony conviction, be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court, or claim the right to vote elsewhere.

The state of New York has also implemented legislation to encourage student voter registration and pre-registration. The law requires local boards of education, charter schools, and non-public schools to adopt policies that promote student voter registration and pre-registration. This includes providing access to voter registration and pre-registration applications during the school year, assisting with filing applications, and informing students about state requirements. The completion and submission of these forms are not mandatory for students and are not considered course requirements or graded assignments.

Student voter registration and pre-registration requirements

In the United States, the legal voting age is 18 years old. However, many states allow individuals under 18 to pre-register to vote, provided they will be 18 by the next election or Election Day. This is known as early voter registration.

In New York, individuals aged 16 or 17 can pre-register to vote. This is also the case in several other states, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The specific requirements for pre-registration vary by state. For example, in Alaska, individuals can pre-register to vote if they are 17 years old and within 90 days of their 18th birthday. In Connecticut, individuals must be 17 years old and will be 18 on or before the next election. In Louisiana, individuals can pre-register at 16 if registering in person at the Registrar of Voters Office or the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, or at 17 if registering by other means.

It is important to note that the deadline for voter registration is typically a few weeks before an election. For example, in Virginia, the deadline is generally three weeks before a general election and shorter for special elections.

To register to vote, individuals may need to provide certain information, such as their Social Security number and proof of residency in their state. This information can typically be provided through a voter registration application form, which can be submitted electronically, by mail, or in person at a local registration office.

Postsecondary institutions also play a role in promoting voter registration. Under the Higher Education Act of 1965, eligible institutions are required to make a good-faith effort to distribute voter registration forms to their students and make these forms widely available. This can be done through electronic messages or by providing an internet address where the form can be downloaded.

Frequently asked questions