Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a)
(1) The agency shall provide to any person
who does not speak or understand English, voter registration assistance in the
same manner and at the same level which they provide assistance for the
completion of their own forms. In targeted areas of New York State, members of
language minority groups identified pursuant to sections 4(f)(4) and 203(c) of
the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as amended, shall be provided both written
materials and oral assistance in their language to aid them in understanding
and following the procedures for voter registration. Written materials in
Spanish and Chinese will be available from the State Board.
(2) The agency shall provide a mail voter
registration application form to every person who wishes to register to vote
but prefers not to do so at the agency, and to any person who otherwise
requests a mail registration form.
(b)
(1)
Pursuant to Election Law, section
5-211(8)(f), the
following shall serve as the address and phone number for use in related
circumstances: you may file a complaint with the State Board of Elections at 40
North Pearl Street, Suite 5, Albany, NY 12207-2729, or fax a complaint to (518)
4NY-NVRA.
(2) A signed declination
form shall be retained by each participating agency for 22 months.
(c)
(1) Each agency shall transmit to the
appropriate board of elections at least once a week, all completed applications
for registration forms and change of address forms. Each transmittal shall
include a completed transmittal form which will be provided by the State Board
of Elections. The agency is to complete part one of the document and retain the
pink copy for its records. The white and yellow copies of the transmittal
document shall be included in each transmittal to the appropriate County Board
of Elections.
(2) Each agency shall
be required to complete the following information on every transmittal form:
(i) site code;
(ii) date of transmittal;
(iii) number of voter registration
applications in this transmittal;
(iv) total number of voter registration
applications transmitted, year to date;
(v) number of declinations received since the
last transmittal, delineated as follows:
(a)
declined, with no explanation;
(b)
already registered;
(c) asked for
and received a mail registration form; and
(d) blanks.
(3) All completed voter registration forms
and changes of address for voting purposes, which are received by an agency
between the 13th and 25th day before a general, special or primary election,
shall be transmitted to the appropriate board by whatever means and with a
frequency calculated to assure their receipt by the appropriate board not later
than the 20th day before such election.
(4) Each agency, at the request of the State
Board, shall provide the number of agency transactions at each site.
(d) In addition to its own rules
and regulations, each agency shall develop written procedures necessary for the
implementation of this program and shall provide the State Board with a copy of
such procedures. Those procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
(1) method and frequency of
transmittal of completed voter registration materials to the appropriate board
of elections;
(2) procedures for
ensuring compliance with the requirements of this act by programs and agencies
under contract with such agency to provide services to persons with
disabilities;
(3) plans for
providing required foreign language assistance;
(4) provisions governing the use of
volunteers to provide assistance in completing voter registration forms when
provision of such assistance in completing the agency form is included in the
volunteers' regular duties. Volunteer services shall not relieve agency
obligations under the law;
(5) each
agency shall name one person as the voter registration program coordinator for
the agency. That person shall be responsible for the establishment and
maintenance of site coordinators, employee training, program coordination,
procedures, and supplies;
(6) in
addition to the initial implementation lists provided to the State Board of
Elections, agencies shall submit any changes to programs, sites and locations,
on a monthly basis.
(e)
Not later than 60 days prior to program implementation, at the beginning of
each school year, and again in January or February in a presidential election
year, CUNY and SUNY administrations shall provide State Board of Elections with
specific plans for voter registration at each college campus and shall submit a
request for numbers of voter registration forms required. Such plans shall
include, but not be limited to, procedures to assure that each student receive
a voter registration form and shall include the name and telephone number of a
contact person at each college campus.