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History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides for the re-enfranchisement of voters with felony convictions; repealer
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Michael Benjamin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to qualifications of voters convicted of a felony; and repealing certain provisions of such law relating thereto
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide re-enfranchisement for voters with felony convictions.
Summary of specific provisions
Eliminates conviction for a felony as grounds for disqualification from voting.
Justification
Voting is a right, not a privilege, possessed by every American citizen 18 years and older, and protected by the constitution of the United States. The constitution denies voting rights only to non-citizens and individuals convicted of treason, although the tenth amendment allows states to set other reasonable standards of disqualification.
Beginning in the 1870s, felony disqualification was used by states to deny voting rights to newly freed slaves. Along with the Black Codes and extra legal obstacles, this practice denied an entire class of Americans the free exercise of their right to vote. Numerous Supreme Court decisions and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 allowed African-Americans to fully realize their rights to vote. Consequently, black political representation multiplied all across America, from city halls to state legislatures to the United States Congress.
Today, felony disenfranchisement remains a stain on the fabric of American democracy. Felony offenders; serving prison sentences are under the care, custody and control of state and federal corrections officials. In New York state, over 124,000 citizens are currently denied their voting rights. Disenfranchisement falls particularly heavily on minorities; Latinos make up 33% of the disenfranchised while only making up 10.46% of the citizen voting age population. Moreover, due to disenfranchisement policy, it is estimated that over 15,000 veterans in New York state are currently banned from exercising their right to vote. Amnesty International has issued reports criticizing the American prison system. The State Assembly has held hearings on the conditions in state correctional facilities.
Restoration of voting rights to felony offenders will confer a sense of dignity and citizenship to persons we seek to punish for their crime and rehabilitate to rejoin society. Enhancing every American's right to vote is the true duty of patriotism.
Prior legislative history
2006: S.1355; 2007: S.3782
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.