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S 5639

Requires any student graduating from a high school in New York state be provided with a voter registration form

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey

Requires New York high schools to provide a voter registration form to graduating seniors, boosting youth registration at graduation and standardizing access.

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
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Bill Summary · S 5639

Summary of S.5639 (New York) — Voter Registration Form for High School Graduates

Overview

  • Bill number: S.5639
  • Title: Requires any student graduating from a high school in New York state be provided with a voter registration form
  • Sponsor: Jamaal Bailey (primary)
  • Status: Referred to Elections (2/26/2025); Reported and Committed to Finance (5/6/2025)
  • Related bills: S.8827 (prior-session); A.6877 (companion)

Purpose and Intent

S.5639 would require New York state high schools to provide a voter registration form to students who are graduating. The aim is to facilitate and expand voter registration opportunities at a key transition point—high school graduation—by ensuring graduating students receive the form to register to vote.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title and status)

  • Obligation on high schools: Each graduating high school student in New York state would be provided with a voter registration form.
  • Point of delivery: The form would be distributed as part of the graduation process or at a related school event or activity, per the bill’s provisions (exact method to be specified in the statute text).
  • Information accompanying the form: Students would likely receive instructions on how to complete and submit the registration form (the exact accompanying guidance would be defined in the bill’s text).
  • Compliance and enforcement: The bill would establish responsibilities for school districts and schools to implement the distribution requirement and report compliance as part of standard reporting processes (details would be in the final bill language).
  • Relationship to elections: Aligns with ongoing efforts to improve voter access and registration among young voters.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Public and private high schools in New York State, and by extension, graduating students.
  • Secondary: School administrators, school district officials responsible for graduation activities, and local boards of elections that receive completed registration forms or data.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: February 26, 2025
  • Legislative actions:
    • February 26, 2025: Referred to Elections
    • May 6, 2025: Reported and committed to Finance
  • Current stage: The bill has moved from the Elections committee to the Finance committee, indicating consideration of fiscal impacts and budgeting implications.

Fiscal Implications

  • The designation “Reported and Committed to Finance” signals that the bill includes anticipated costs—such as printing, distribution of forms, staff time for implementation, and potential data handling—requiring a fiscal analysis and allocation of funds.
  • A formal fiscal note would accompany the bill as it moves through Finance to outline expected costs to school districts and state agencies, as well as any potential offsetting savings or administrative efficiencies.

Related Legislation

  • S.8827 (prior-session): A related Senate measure.
  • A.6877 (companion): Assembly counterpart to the Senate bill.

Potential Impact

  • Increased accessibility to voter registration for young voters at a critical life transition.
  • Greater consistency in providing registration opportunities across schools and districts.
  • Administrative considerations for schools to implement distribution without disrupting graduation activities.

Next Steps for Readers

  • Monitor for the release of a fiscal note from the Division of the Budget and the Committee on Finance.
  • Review the companion Assembly bill (A.6877) and related S.8827 to compare provisions and potential differences.
  • Await floor action or further committee hearings that would define the exact delivery method, timing, and any opt-out provisions for students.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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