What's happening
This bill restores voting rights to individuals convicted of felonies by removing felony convictions as a basis for voter disqualification in New York.
Why it matters
Restores political participation for formerly incarcerated individuals. , increasing their ability to influence policies affecting re-entry, criminal justice, and their communities.
Reduces administrative burdens on election officials. by eliminating the need to track and verify felony status as a reason for voter disqualification, potentially making voter roll management more streamlined.
Addresses racial and socioeconomic disparities. , as felony disenfranchisement has historically impacted communities of color and low-income populations at disproportionately high rates.
Signals a shift in New York’s approach to criminal justice and civic inclusion. , aligning the state with a growing national trend toward restoring civil rights post-incarceration and promoting rehabilitation over ongoing punishment.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Restore Voting Rights to Felons
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Restore Voting Rights Post-Felony
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Latrice Walker
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3284
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2, 3, 4 and 5 of section 5-106 of the election law are REPEALED and subdivision 6 is renumbered subdivision 2.
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 5-400 of the election law, as amended by section 20 of chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, paragraph (a) as amended by section 21 of chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
1. A voter's registration, including the registration of a voter in inactive status, shall be cancelled if, since the time of his or her last registration, he or she:
(a) Moved his or her residence outside the city or county in which he or she is registered.
(b) [Was convicted of a felony disqualifying him from voting pursuant to the provisions of section 5-106 of this article.
(c)] Has been adjudicated an incompetent.
[(d)] (c) Refused to take a challenge oath.
[(e)] (d) Has died.
[(f)] (e) Did not vote in any election conducted by the board of elections during the period ending with the second general election at which candidates for federal office are on the ballot after his or her name was placed in inactive status and for whom the board of elections did not, during such period, in any other way, receive any information that such voter still resides in the same county or city.
[(g)] (f) Personally requested to have his or her name removed from the list of registered voters.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06172-01-7
S. 3284 2
[(h)] (g) For any other reason, is no longer qualified to vote as provided in this chapter.
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 5-708 of the election law is REPEALED and subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, subdivision 3 as renumbered by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, are renumbered subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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
2015-16: S.1210/A.6320 - Referred to Elections 2013-14: S.2631 - Referred to Elections 2011-12: S.1732/A.4647 - Referred to Elections 2009-10: S.2287/A.2116 - Referred to Elections/Referred to Election Law 2007-08: S.3782/A.6281 - Referred to Elections 2005-06: S.1355/A.6183 - Referred to Elections
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.