Referred to: The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman

Roberts and Legislators Belfiglio, Donaldson, Lopez, Loughran, R. Parete and

Rodriguez)

Legislator Chris Allen offers the following:

 WHEREAS, voter participation rates and voter enrollment rates in New York

State among eligible voters are among the lowest in the Unites States, as data from

recent elections in 2015 and 2016 show that voter turnout among registered voters

was second lowest in the U.S. out of all states that hold primaries while voter turnout

in General Elections was 46th out of 50 states; and

WHEREAS, a primarily stated reason for not registering to vote among

eligible voters in New York State is the fear of being called up for jury duty from the

computer database of registered voters which is used as one of the sources by the

New York State, County and local municipal court systems with which to find

perspective jury members; and

WHEREAS, Democracy is best served when voters can feel free to register to

vote and participate in free elections when they are not fearful of voter intimidation

or other pressures such as the fear of being called up for jury duty; now, therefore be

it

RESOLVED, that the Ulster County Legislature urges the New York State

Assembly and New York State Senate to draft accompanying bills of legislation that

prohibit the usage of voter registration lists from the Board of Elections’ Databases

from being used as a source of perspective jurors to be potentially called up for jury

duty, and, be it further

 RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Ulster County Legislature shall forward

copies of this resolution to New York State Senators George A. Amedore, John J.

Bonacic, William J. Larkin, Jr. and James Seward, and New York State

Assemblymen Kevin A. Cahill, Frank K. Skartados, Brian D. Miller, and Peter

Lopez,

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

 AYES: NOES:

Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on _____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE