New York expands access to voter registration forms

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has ordered state agencies to make voter registration forms available to the public and offer assistance in filling them out in an effort to boost participation in elections.

An executive order the governor signed Monday requires agencies to mail or provide electronic voter registration forms to any member of the public whose contact information is on file. Previously, only the state Department of Motor Vehicles and certain social service agencies provided voter registration forms.

The governor also created a State Agency Voter Registration Task Force to oversee administration of the program, in consultation with the state Board of Elections. Cuomo's counsel, his director of state operations and undisclosed agency heads will sit on the task force.

"It is our responsibility to make it as easy as possible for people to vote because that's what democracy looks like," Cuomo said in a statement. "As the federal government and foreign powers threaten the sanctity of America's democracy, I am exercising my executive power to expand the availability and opportunity for every New Yorker to register to vote."

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/7day-state/article/New-York-expands-access-to-voter-registration-11339742.php