N.Y. Election Law § 15-118: Registration of voters

§ 15-118. Registration of voters. 1. In a village election conducted

by the board of elections pursuant to a resolution adopted as provided

in paragraph c of subdivision one of section 15-104 of this article or a

village which has adopted a resolution providing that there shall not be

any registration day for village elections pursuant to subdivision three

of this section, only those persons registered to vote with the board of

elections shall be eligible to vote. If such election is held on a date

other than the date of the general election, only those persons

registered to vote with the board of elections on the tenth day before

such election shall be eligible to vote.

2. In any other village election, those persons registered to vote

with the board of elections on the tenth day before such election and

those persons whose names are placed on the village register pursuant to

the provisions of subdivision seven of this section shall be eligible to

vote.

3. The board of trustees of a village may adopt a resolution providing

that there shall not be any village registration day for village

elections. Such resolution shall be effective for all elections in such

village which are held more than sixty days after such resolution is

adopted and shall remain in effect until the board of trustees adopts a

resolution providing that there shall be a village registration day for

village elections held more than sixty days after adoption of such a

resolution.

4. In villages in which there is a village registration day, the board

of trustees shall post in each election district and publish a

resolution at least ten days prior to registration day which resolution

shall be adopted at least twenty days before registration day which

shall designate:

(a) The dates prior to registration day on which the inspectors of

election shall meet to commence the preparation of the register.

(b) The place in each district where such meetings, registration and

election shall be held.

(c) The hours for such meetings, registration and election; but in no

event shall the hours for registration be less than the hours from noon

until five o'clock in the afternoon.

5. Registration day shall be held on the tenth day prior to the

general village election except in those villages which provide, by

resolution adopted at least thirty-seven days prior to the date of the

first election for which it shall be effective, for an additional day of

registration to be held on the twelfth day prior to the general village

election. Such resolution shall remain in effect for subsequent general

village elections unless amended, modified or repealed.

6. The board of trustees of any village, by resolution or ordinance,

subject to permissive referendum, may determine that personal

registration shall be required for village elections.

7. (a) The register for the general village election shall be prepared

in each village election district by the inspectors of election thereof

at the times and place designated by the resolution of the board of

trustees. Such register must be completed not later than the fourth day

before the village election. In preparing such register the inspectors

of election shall comply with the following procedure.

(b) In all villages wherein personal registration is not required,

they shall adopt, use or copy from, the registration lists certified and

supplied by the county board of elections the names appearing thereon of

all persons, residing in the village and qualified to vote at such

forthcoming general village election. In addition, if there is a village

registration day in the village, they shall add thereto the names of all

persons known to them who then are or who will at the time of such

election be qualified to vote and the names of all persons proven to

their satisfaction on the registration day to be then, or at the time of

such election, qualified to vote.

(c) In villages wherein personal registration is required, they shall

follow the same procedure set forth in paragraph (b) above, except that

no names shall be added to the register other than the names of persons

personally appearing before them on the registration day, if any, and

proving to their satisfaction to be then, or at the time of the

election, qualified to vote.

(d) The register for each village election district shall include, as

a minimum, space for the name of the voter, his address within the

village and a space for his or her signature to be signed by the voter

on election day. In villages wherein personal registration is required,

such register shall also contain a space for the signature of the voter

to be signed by such voter on registration day. The village clerk shall

furnish a printed certificate to be signed by a voter who appears

personally before the inspectors of election on registration day. Such

certificate shall contain a statement that the person possesses all the

necessary qualifications for voting in village elections. Such

certificate shall be accepted for all purposes as the equivalent of an

affidavit and if it contains a material false statement, shall subject

the person signing it to the same penalties as if he had been duly

sworn, and such provision shall be printed in bold type directly above

the signature line of the certificate.

8. The village clerk shall furnish the inspectors of election, at

village expense, with all necessary registration books, papers,

equipment and supplies. The village clerk shall also deliver to the

inspectors a list of all persons who have applied for early mail or

absentee ballots for the election for which the registration meeting is

being held.

9. Registration for special village elections for officers shall be

held in the same manner as is provided herein for general village

elections and the registration day therefor shall be the same as if said

special village election were a general village election.

10. The board of trustees of any village, if it determines that more

than one-half of the voters qualified to vote at a forthcoming village

election for village officers were personally registered at the last

preceding general election other than a village election for officers

and that taking the registration for such forthcoming election will be

accomplished more efficiently and economically thereby, may, in the

resolution required by subdivision seven of this section, provide that

for such election a single place and a single board of elections shall

be used for taking the registration of two or more village election

districts. If such action is taken the board of trustees shall, in the

same resolution, appoint a single board of inspectors of election to

conduct such registration for each such two or more village election

districts.