Bill
A 3649
The bill authorizes New York to join multistate voter list maintenance groups to securely share and compare voter data for keeping accurate rolls.
Status: Substituted by S1356A (May 27, 2025)
Introduced: January 29, 2025
Primary sponsor: Al Taylor (with many cosponsors; see below)
Committee referrals / actions: Referred to Election Law (1/29/2025); printed as A3649A/A3649B; amended and recommitted; reported to Ways & Means and Rules; ordered to third reading (5/27/2025); substituted by S1356A (5/27/2025).
Purpose
- The bill’s title and legislative history indicate its purpose is to authorize New York (state or its election authorities) to join and participate in multistate voter list‑maintenance organizations. These are interstate cooperative registrant-data programs (for example, organizations like ERIC) that help states improve the accuracy of voter rolls by comparing registration and other data across states.
Key provisions (intended scope and typical elements)
- Authorization to join: Grants the New York State Board of Elections, or other designated state election authority, the statutory authority to enter into agreements with recognized multistate voter list maintenance organizations.
- Data sharing and matching: Permits secure exchange of voter registration and related data (e.g., change-of-address, duplicate registrations, deceased registrants) with member jurisdictions to identify registration errors and updates.
- Purpose limitations: Limits use of shared data to voter list maintenance and other election‑related administrative purposes (e.g., identifying duplicates, movers, deceased voters).
- Privacy and security safeguards: Requires contractual and statutory protections such as data encryption, restricted personnel access, retention/destruction schedules, and prohibitions on selling or using data for non‑election commercial purposes.
- Oversight and transparency: May require reporting to the Legislature or public on membership, costs, types of data shared, data‑matching results, and remedial actions taken; could require voter notice or a means for individuals to correct errors.
- Cost and membership terms: Allows the state (or county boards) to pay membership fees and share costs; authorizes entering into multi‑state contracts and allocating costs among participating jurisdictions.
- Compliance with law: Requires conformity with state and federal privacy and election laws.
Who would be affected
- State Board of Elections and county boards of elections (administrative responsibilities, contracts, budget impacts).
- Registered voters (potentially more accurate voter rolls; concerns about privacy and data handling).
- Multistate organizations (subject to New York contract and oversight terms).
- Vendors and third‑party service providers involved in data processing and security.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Introduced 1/29/2025 and referred to Election Law.
- Amended and printed as A3649A and A3649B; committee actions continued in March–May 2025.
- Reported to Ways & Means and Rules; ordered to third reading on May 27, 2025.
- On May 27, 2025 A.3649 was substituted by S.1356A — meaning further consideration will proceed under the Senate companion’s text (S1356A).
Sponsors and related measures
- Primary sponsor: Al Taylor; many cosponsors including Angelo Santabarbara, Sarahana Shrestha, Gabriella Romero, and others (see bill header).
- Related/prior-session bill: A.7052. Companion: S.1356 (and S1356A as the substituting measure).
Note and recommendation
- The summary above describes the bill’s stated objective and the kinds of provisions such legislation typically contains. For precise legal language, obligations, and any specific limits or requirements (exact data fields to be shared, retention periods, fee amounts, reporting deadlines, opt‑out mechanisms, or enforcement provisions), consult the full bill text and the substituted companion S1356A.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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