What's happening
This bill clarifies that individuals whose maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired or who have been discharged from parole may vote by absentee ballot.
Why it matters
Clarifies and expands who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot. by specifying that people whose maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired, or who have been discharged from parole, are eligible—even if they have not received a formal pardon or certificate of relief. This removes ambiguity and potential administrative barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Standardizes voter eligibility language across multiple election-related laws. , ensuring that the same criteria apply to school district, town, and special district elections. This reduces confusion for both voters and election officials and helps prevent individuals from being wrongly denied the right to vote.
Addresses issues of reentry and reintegration for people with criminal convictions. by affirming their restored right to participate in the democratic process once their sentence is fully served. This could have broader social implications, supporting civic engagement and reducing the stigma attached to prior incarceration.
Immediate effect means quicker implementation and impact. , allowing eligible individuals to participate in upcoming elections without delay, which may increase voter turnout among populations historically excluded from voting due to criminal justice involvement.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Restore Voting After Prison
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to election law
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to election law
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 After Sentence
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Zellnor Myrie
Full text
5 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3984
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. AUBRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ABINANTI, COOK, CRESPO, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, PRETLOW, RAMOS, RODRIGUEZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the education law and the town law, in relation to clarifying that individuals have the ability to vote by absentee ballot where their maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph b of subdivision 5 of section 2018-a of the education law, as amended by section 8 of part LL of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
b. On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the following statement:
STATEMENT OF ABSENTEE VOTER
I do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, and will be at least eighteen years of age, on the date of the school district election; that I will have been a resident of this state and of the school district and school election district, if any, shown on the reverse side of this envelope for thirty days next preceding the said election and duly registered in the school district and school election district, if any, shown on the reverse side of this envelope and that I am or on such date will be, a qualified voter of said school district; that I will be unable to appear personally on the day of said school district election at the polling place of the said district in which I am or will be a qualified voter because of the reason stated on my application heretofore submitted; that I have not qualified, or do I intend to vote, elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I have not received or offered, do not expect to receive, have not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or prom-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08110-01-9
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ised to contribute to another to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing, as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at this school district election, and have not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such votes; that I have not made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this school district election; and that I have not been convicted of bribery or any infamous crime, or, if so convicted, that I have been pardoned or restored to all the rights of a citizen, without restriction as to the right of suffrage, or received a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct pursuant to article twenty-three of the correction law removing my disability to register and vote or my maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired or I have been discharged from parole.
I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I make any material false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Date.....................Signature of Voter ..........................
§ 2. Paragraph b of subdivision 6 of section 2018-b of the education law, as amended by section 9 of part LL of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
b. On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the following statement:
STATEMENT OF ABSENTEE VOTER
I do declare that I am a citizen of the United States, and will be at least eighteen years of age on the date of the school district election; that I will have been a resident of this state and of the school district and school election district, if any, shown on the reverse side of this envelope for thirty days next preceding the said election and that I am or on such date will be, a qualified voter of said school district; that I will be unable to appear personally on the day of said school district election at the polling place of the said district in which I am or will be a qualified voter because of the reason stated on my application heretofore submitted; that I have not qualified, or do I intend to vote, elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I have not received or offered, do not expect to receive, have not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute to another to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing, as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at this school district election, and have not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such votes; that I have not made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this school district election; and that I have not been convicted of bribery or any infamous crime, or, if so convicted, that I have been pardoned or restored to all the rights of a citizen, without restriction as to the right of suffrage, or have received a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct pursuant to article twenty-three of the correction law removing my disability to vote or my maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired or I have been discharged from parole.
A. 3984 3
I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I make any material false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Date....................Signature of Voter ...........................
§ 3. Paragraph b of subdivision 5 of section 84-a of the town law, as amended by section 10 of part LL of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
b. On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the following statement:
STATEMENT OF ABSENTEE VOTER
I do declare that I will have been a citizen of the United States for thirty days, and will be at least eighteen years of age, on the date of the special town election; that I will have been a resident of this state and of the town shown on the reverse side of this envelope for thirty days next preceding the said election; that I am or on such date will be, a registered voter of said town; that I will be unable to appear personally on the day of said special town election at the polling place of the election district in which I am or will be a qualified voter because of the reason stated on my application heretofore submitted; that I have not qualified, or do I intend to vote, elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I have not received or offered, do not expect to receive, have not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute to another to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing, as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at this special town election, and have not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such votes; that I have not made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this special town election; and that I have not been convicted of bribery or any infamous crime, or, if so convicted, that I have been pardoned or restored to all the rights of a citizen, without restriction as to the right of suffrage, or received a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct pursuant to article twenty-three of the correction law removing my disability to register and vote or my maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired or I have been discharged from parole.
I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I make any material false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Date.............. Signature of Voter..................
§ 4. Paragraph b of subdivision 5 of section 175-b of the town law, as amended by section 11 of part LL of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
b. On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the following statement:
STATEMENT OF ABSENTEE VOTER
I do declare that I will have been a citizen of the United States for thirty days, and will be at least eighteen years of age, on the date of the district election; that I will have been a resident of this state and of the district if any, shown on the reverse side of this envelope for thirty days next preceding the said election and that I am or on such date will be, a registered voter of said district; that I will be
A. 3984 4
unable to appear personally on the day of said district election at the polling place of the said district in which I am or will be a qualified voter because of the reason stated on my application heretofore submitted; that I have not qualified, or do I intend to vote, elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I have not received or offered, do not expect to receive, have not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute to another to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing, as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at this district election, and have not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such votes; that I have not made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this district election; and that I have not been convicted of bribery or any infamous crime, or, if so convicted, that I have been pardoned or restored to all the rights of a citizen, without restriction as to the right of suffrage, or received a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct pursuant to article twenty-three of the correction law removing my disability to register and vote or my maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired or I have been discharged from parole.
I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I make any material false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Date..............Signature of Voter..................
§ 5. Paragraph b of subdivision 5 of section 213-b of the town law, as amended by section 12 of part LL of chapter 56 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
b. On the reverse side of such envelope shall be printed the following statement:
STATEMENT OF ABSENTEE VOTER
I do declare that I will have been a citizen of the United States for thirty days, and will be at least eighteen years of age, on the date of the district election; that I will have been a resident of this state and of the district if any, shown on the reverse side of this envelope for thirty days next preceding the said election and that I am or on such date will be, a registered voter of said district; that I will be unable to appear personally on the day of said district election at the polling place of the said district in which I am or will be a qualified voter because of the reason stated on my application heretofore submitted; that I have not qualified, or do I intend to vote, elsewhere than as set forth on the reverse side of this envelope; that I have not received or offered, do not expect to receive, have not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute to another to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing, as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding of a vote at this district election, and have not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such votes; that I have not made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this district election; and that I have not been convicted of bribery or any infamous crime, or, if so convicted, that I have been pardoned or restored to all the rights of a citizen, without restriction as to the right of suffrage, or received a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct pursuant to article twenty-three of the correction law removing my disability to register and
A. 3984 5
vote or my maximum sentence of imprisonment has expired or I have been discharged from parole.
I hereby declare that the foregoing is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and belief, and I understand that if I make any material false statement in the foregoing statement of absentee voter, I shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Date............. Signature of Voter ..............................
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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