Bill > S01016

This bill lowers the voting age from 18 to 16 years old in New York State and introduces comprehensive measures to support youth civic engagement. The legislation modifies the election law to allow 16-year-olds to register and vote, and mandates that high schools distribute voter registration forms to eligible students during a specific timeframe in January each year. Schools will be required to help students complete registration forms, with administrators filling out most of the form except for citizenship status, party affiliation, signature, and date. Students will also receive a "Voter Registration Opt-Out Form" if they choose not to register. Additionally, the bill requires schools to provide at least eight full class periods of civic education in grades 9-12, focusing on topics like patriotism, citizenship, diversity, human rights, and historical events such as genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust. The goal is to prepare young people for active citizenship by providing them with educational resources and the opportunity to participate in the democratic process at an earlier age. The bill's implementation is contingent upon a concurrent constitutional amendment addressing the voting age.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1016