State Senator: NYS Motor Voter System Leaves Door Open to Fraud

New York’s voter registration process relies too heavily on self-certification of citizenship and should require stronger verification safeguards.

New York’s Motor Voter system is drawing renewed scrutiny after New Jersey disclosed that approximately 6,600 noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote through its motor vehicle agency, prompting renewed questions about whether similar vulnerabilities could exist in New York.

New York has offered voter registration through the Department of Motor Vehicles since the federal National Voter Registration Act of 1993—commonly known as the “Motor Voter” law—took effect in 1995. The state expanded the program in 2020 by adopting automatic voter registration, allowing voter data collected during DMV transactions to be electronically transmitted to local boards of elections for eligible applicants unless they decline.

Applicants must state that they are U.S. citizens, but they generally are not required to present documentary proof of citizenship as part of the voter registration process at the DMV. Instead, the system relies on the applicant’s signed affirmation of eligibility, with county boards of elections making the final determination on whether the individual is added to the voter rolls.

State Sen. Dean Murray said New York’s Motor Voter program relies too heavily on the honor system, arguing that the combination of the state’s Green Light Law and voter registration process creates opportunities for ineligible registrations.

“The numbers are probably much higher here because of the Green Light bill,” Murray said, comparing New York to the 6,800 uncovered in New Jersey. “We allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses, and when they get them, they are automatically registered to vote unless they take action to say no.”

Murray said even a small number of ineligible ballots can undermine confidence in elections because close races are often decided by only a handful of votes.

“Any voter fraud is a big deal. If it’s one, it’s a big deal,” he said. “Every vote counts. We can’t tell voters that every vote counts and every vote matters, and then when we catch there being voter fraud, we say, ‘Oh, it’s not a big deal.’”

Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano has called for requiring proof of citizenship and voter identification before ballots are cast.

“New Yorkers deserve elections where every legal vote is counted and every illegal vote is prevented,” DeStefano said. “Verifying eligibility before someone is added to the voter rolls is a common-sense safeguard that strengthens confidence in our elections.”

Desiree Glock, a political commentator from Centereach, said the current system is too easy to exploit.

“The truth is that illegal immigrants easily register to vote by checking a box at the DMV,” Glock said. “It’s an honor system that doesn’t work.”

She called on the Republican leadership in Congress to approve the SAVE Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration.

“It’s a broken system that allows the Democrats to cheat on elections,” Glock charged. “The SAVE Act would be a giant step toward fixing it.”