What's happening
This bill requires local jails to inform released individuals of their voting rights and provide voter registration materials.
Why it matters
Empowers individuals re-entering society. by ensuring they are aware of their restored voting rights, which can strengthen civic engagement and aid successful reintegration after release from incarceration.
Addresses confusion and misinformation. that often lead to eligible individuals not voting due to uncertainty about their rights post-release, potentially increasing voter participation among formerly incarcerated populations.
Makes the process of re-registering to vote more accessible. by directly providing voter registration forms and clear, official information on how to vote, reducing logistical barriers for those leaving local jails.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Tell Jail Releasees About Voting
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.453
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.417
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
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.
Inform Jail Releases of Voting
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2160
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to providing notice of voting rights to persons released from local jails
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 510 to read as follows:
§ 510. Notice of voting rights. Upon discharge from a local correctional facility of any person eighteen years of age or over, the chief administrative officer shall notify such person of his or her right to vote and provide such person with a form of application for voter registration together with written information distributed by the board of elections on the importance and the mechanics of voting.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01141-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to providing notice of voting rights to persons released from local jails
Purpose or general idea of bill
Provides notice upon release from a local correctional facility of the right to vote
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the correction law by adding a new section 510.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Many people, including state and local officials, are confused as to whether a person who has been through the criminal justice system has lost the right to vote and, if so, when he or she regains voting rights.
Simply put, anyone who is not incarcerated for a felony conviction or on parole for a felony conviction retains the right to vote. People arrested have not lost the right to vote. Persons detained, in jails pre-trial have not lost the right to vote and can even vote by absentee ballot while they are in jail. Persons convicted of misdemeanors never lose their right to vote whether they are in jail, on probation or have completed their supervision. In fact, anyone on probation is eligible to vote. Even felons who have completed their parole supervision are eligi- ble to vote. It is only persons incarcerated for a felony or on parole for the conviction of a felony who have lost their right to vote.
This bill would require local correctional facilities to provide notice of voting rights to persons being released so that such persons will know whether and when they are eligible to vote, how to register to vote, and. have information about the mechanics and importance of voting.
Prior legislation
2017-18: Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
Minimal
Effective date
This act shall take effect in ninety days.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.