You are reading

Cuomo Signs Gianaris Bill Establishing Automatic Voter Registration in New York

Voters cast their ballot at a polling site in South Ozone Park on Election Day. (Michael Appleton/ Mayoral Photography Office)

Dec. 22, 2020 By Allie Griffin

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law today that establishes an automatic voter registration system in New York.

The new law — sponsored by state Sen. Michael Gianaris — requires specific state agencies, like the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), to established an automatic voter registration system.

The law aims to expedite and streamline voter registration and, in turn, increase voter turnout.

For example, a New Yorker applying for a license through the DMV would be automatically registered to vote.

New Yorkers will have the option to opt out of voter registration, but voter registration will be initiated automatically when they apply for a license or another service.

For voters already registered, they can update any address changes for their vote in the same manner.

The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. New York will join 18 other states which have similar automatic voter registration laws.

“Access to the ballot box should be easy and fair, and enacting Automatic Voter Registration will go a long way towards improving voter participation,” Gianaris said in a statement. “I am proud and thankful that the Governor has signed this bill, paving the way for over a million more New Yorkers to vote.”

email the author: news@queenspost.com

2 Comments

Click for Comments 
Harry DeMell

Aliens who are not US Citizens who vote are forever barred from US citizenship under the law.

Reply
Jorge Colon

No alien is “forever barred”, Biden has promised to “create a path to citizenship” for all manner of illegal aliens.

2
1
Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

PuppetMobile returns to Rego Park with free marionette show featuring Pippi Longstocking

May. 29, 2025 By Colum Motherway

The City Parks Foundation’s beloved PuppetMobile will return to Rego Park this June with a free outdoor performance of Pippi Longstocking, rescheduled after a weather-related postponement earlier this spring. State Senator Joseph Addabbo announced that the marionette show will take place on Thursday, June 12, from 11 a.m. to noon at Painters Playground, located next to P.S. 174 at 65-30 Dieterle Crescent.

Meng holds Social Security listening session in Elmhurst amid concerns over proposed federal cuts

May. 29, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng held a community listening session with local residents and Queens organizations in Elmhurst Wednesday morning to highlight the “devastating impact” that cuts to the Social Security Administration (SSA) would have on the local community, citing reports that the Trump Administration is planning to slash the agency’s workforce and close field offices across the country.