NEW YORK – New Yorkers released from prison on parole will have their right to vote restored instead of waiting months or even years under a new law that Governor Cuomo signed on Wednesday.
Both the state Senate and the Assembly approved it last month. and it was sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who signed it, said State Senator Leroy Comrie and Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, sponsors of the legislation.
“Across our nation we see that voting rights are restricted and as New Yorkers we have to lead as that sends a signal to others on how we should make voting rights more accessible, more transparent and more available to all. “Comrie said in a statement.
Before the new law, people released on parole and community supervision for serious crimes would have to wait months or years to vote, until that supervision period ended. More than 30,000 New Yorkers were unable to vote at any time under state law until 2018, according to the advocacy group VOCAL-NY.
That year, Cuomo began using his power of pardon to restore the voting rights of people who were barred from voting under a 2018 executive order he signed. More than 60,000 New Yorkers under post-release supervision have been granted a conditional clemency that restores voting rights pursuant to this executive order.
Supporters say the new law eliminates any need for that process by restoring the right to vote for all those released from prison and protecting the right to vote should a future governor end the practice.
Individuals will also need to receive a notification that their voting rights have been restored, along with a voter registration form, per law.
The new law restores voting rights for all those released from prison.
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