N.Y. Election Law Section 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 § 15-104 (General village election)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.

Source: Section 15-118 — Registration of voters, (updated Jan. 5, 2024; accessed Mar. 1, 2025).

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Accessed:
Mar. 1, 2025

Last modified:
Jan. 5, 2024

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