View Scorecard for Year
Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR
After the New York State Legislature passed a historic package of election reforms in 2023, they continued to make additional pro-voter changes this past year. The Legislature expanded ballot cure options, extended the option to vote by mail to certain new first-time voters, and revised the state’s Voting Rights Act. However, it also failed to pass legislation to remove barriers to voter registration by implementing a more secure and efficient automatic voter registration system. Therefore, New York received a B on this year’s progress report.
Looking Back
Where New York Started at the Beginning of 2024
- Automatic Voter Registration: Partial AVR
- Online Voter Registration: DMV ID
- Same-Day Registration: No
- Restoration of Rights: Prison Disenfranchisement
- Vote by Mail: Excuse-Only
- Electronic Registration Information Center Member: No
- Early Voting Opportunities: Regular Ballot Early Voting
- ID Requirements: No Document Required
Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for New York as of 2024, we considered the state a top tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2024 activity against other top tier states. Last year, New York was considered a middle tier state.
How Our Tier Compares
- COVI (2024): 10th
- EPI Score (2022): 47th
- CLC State Scorecard (2022): 7/10
- MAP Democracy Rating (2024): MEDIUM
2024: This Past Year
Legislative Action
The New York State Legislature, once again, focused on making pro-voter improvements to state election laws, but missed an opportunity to implement an even more effective and secure automatic voter registration system.
- SB 9837 makes changes to the state’s ballot cure laws to allow voters to cure their ballot by mail, email, in person, or by uploading it to the board of elections online.
- AB 10357 makes changes to the state’s newly enacted Voting Rights Act to expand protections to additional groups of voters, among other changes.
- AB 3250A allows anyone that is preregistered to vote and will turn 18 by election day to vote by mail.
- SB 6130 allows registered voters that have a law license in the state to serve as poll workers anywhere in the state.
- SB 610 authorizes boards of elections to establish drop boxes for absentee ballot returns based on guidelines to be established by the State Board of Elections. The governor has requested an amendment to ensure this also covers early mail ballots.