Signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends the ability to vote to individuals convicted of a felony who are currently paroled.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person who has been convicted of a felony and sentenced to a period of imprisonment for a felony to have the right to register for or vote at any election while he or she is incarcerated for a felony (Sec. 1-2).

• Requires, before accepting a defendant's plea of guilty to a count or counts of an indictment or superior court information charging a felony offense, the court to advise the defendant on the record that conviction will result in loss of the right to vote while the defendant is serving a felony sentence in a correctional facility and that the right to vote will be restored upon the defendant's release (Sec. 1-8).

• Requires an inmate to be notified in writing that his or her voting rights will be restored upon release (Sec. 1-§ 6).

• Requires a member or members as determined by the rules of the board to personally interview an inmate serving an indeterminate sentence and determine whether he or she should be paroled at the expiration of the minimum period or periods (Sec. 1-§ 7).

• Requires the presiding officer to advise the alleged violator in a written statement that revocation will result in loss of the right to vote while he or she is serving the remainder of his or her felony sentence in a correctional facility and that the right to vote will be restored upon his or her release (Sec. 1-§ 8).

• Authorizes a person to choose to either submit his or her completed application to the state board or county board where such person resides or have the department transmit it on his or her behalf (Sec. 1-§ 9).

• Requires a local correctional facility of any person convicted of a felony the chief administrative officer to notify such person verbally and in writing that his or her voting rights will be restored upon release and provide such person with a form of application for voter registration and a declination form, offer assistance in filling out the appropriate form, and provide such person written information distributed by the board of elections on the importance and the mechanics of voting (Sec. 1-§ 10).

• Specifies Where such person chooses to have the department transmit the application, the department transmits the completed application to the state board or county board where such person resides (Sec. 1-§ 11).

• Requires development and implementation of a program to educate attorneys, judges, election officials, corrections officials, including parole and probation officers, and members of the public regarding the requirements of this law (Sec. 1-§ 12).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that extends the ability to vote to individuals convicted of a felony who are currently paroled.

Highlights:

• Prohibits a person who has been convicted of a felony and sentenced to a period of imprisonment for a felony to have the right to register for or vote at any election while he or she is incarcerated for a felony (Sec. 1-2).

• Requires, before accepting a defendant's plea of guilty to a count or counts of an indictment or superior court information charging a felony offense, the court to advise the defendant on the record that conviction will result in loss of the right to vote while the defendant is serving a felony sentence in a correctional facility and that the right to vote will be restored upon the defendant's release (Sec. 1-8).

• Requires an inmate to be notified in writing that his or her voting rights will be restored upon release (Sec. 1-§ 6).

• Requires a member or members as determined by the rules of the board to personally interview an inmate serving an indeterminate sentence and determine whether he or she should be paroled at the expiration of the minimum period or periods (Sec. 1-§ 7).

• Requires the presiding officer to advise the alleged violator in a written statement that revocation will result in loss of the right to vote while he or she is serving the remainder of his or her felony sentence in a correctional facility and that the right to vote will be restored upon his or her release (Sec. 1-§ 8).

• Authorizes a person to choose to either submit his or her completed application to the state board or county board where such person resides or have the department transmit it on his or her behalf (Sec. 1-§ 9).

• Requires a local correctional facility of any person convicted of a felony the chief administrative officer to notify such person verbally and in writing that his or her voting rights will be restored upon release and provide such person with a form of application for voter registration and a declination form, offer assistance in filling out the appropriate form, and provide such person written information distributed by the board of elections on the importance and the mechanics of voting (Sec. 1-§ 10).

• Specifies Where such person chooses to have the department transmit the application, the department transmits the completed application to the state board or county board where such person resides (Sec. 1-§ 11).

• Requires development and implementation of a program to educate attorneys, judges, election officials, corrections officials, including parole and probation officers, and members of the public regarding the requirements of this law (Sec. 1-§ 12).

Full Bill Text