ALBANY — The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is continuing its effort to increase the number of New Yorkers signed up as potential organ donors. April is Donate Life Month, and DMV is urging those who have not yet registered to do so.

Last fall, New Yorkers hit a significant milestone as Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that, for the first time, more than 50% of eligible New Yorkers had registered to become organ and tissue donors through New York’s Organ Donor Registry.

That number has continued to grow with more than 8 million people, or 51.2%, of the eligible population now registered. More than 80% of the people who enroll in the registry do so through the DMV.

“We are proud to be the number-one way New Yorkers join the registry, and we worked alongside our friends and colleagues at Donate Life New York State and the state Department of Health to increase the number of registered donors,” DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said. “Still, there is much room to improve even further. Imagine if someone you loved needed a new heart, liver, kidney or other vital organ to live. You would be so grateful to anyone who made saving their life possible. So why not join the registry today? And if you already have, thank you for your kindness.”

There are now 7,917 New Yorkers awaiting an organ transplant, according to Donate Life New York State. Each year thousands of people die — including almost 500 New Yorkers – while awaiting a transplant because a suitable donor could not be found. New Yorkers make up 10% of the national organ transplant waiting list, according to the NYS Department of Health.

“At Donate Life New York State, we are proud to lead statewide efforts to achieve our mission of ensuring a life-changing organ transplant for every New Yorker in need,” said Aisha Tator, executive director of Donate Life New York State. “For over a decade, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with the Department of Motor Vehicles to raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation and increase registration rates.”

One organ donor can save eight lives and heal 75 more through eye and tissue donation.

Any New Yorker aged 16 and older is eligible to enroll in the registry. Donors can specify organs and tissues they want to give, and they can identify whether the donation is for transplant, research or both.

New Yorkers can enroll directly through the NYS Donate Life Registry or through:

¯ The New York state Department of Motor Vehicles (dmv.ny.gov/more-info/register-become-organ-eye-or-tissue-donor) or by completing the donation section on a driver’s license or non-driver ID application or when they renew their license or non-driver ID.

¯ A voter registration form or online voter registration.

¯ Various license or certification applications from the Department of State, as well as the Department of Health. Those seeking sporting licenses (hunting, fishing, and trapping) through the Department of Environmental Conservation online portal can join the registry as part of that process. People can also sign up through the Marketplace when they renew with NY State of Health.

The registry database is confidential, and individuals can access their registration at any time to make changes. Answers to frequently asked questions about organ donation and the registry online can be found at donatelife.ny.gov/faqs.

To learn more about organ donation, visit the Donate Life New York website at donatelife.ny.gov.