Expanding Voter Protection Services for Formerly Incarcerated People

the new york city council passed a trio of bills this month to protect the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people and persons sentenced to probation. the full package includes:

introduction 367, sponsored by council member rafael salamanca, jr.

this bill requires the nyc department of probation to distribute written notices on the voting rights of persons sentenced to probation, during the intake process, for any person sentenced to probation. such written notice is to be developed in consultation with the voter assistance advisory committee.

introduction 514-a, sponsored by council member rory lancman

this bill requires the doc to provide written notice regarding the voting rights of formerly incarcerated persons in the state of new york to individuals upon release of doc custody, along with voter registration forms. 

it also requires the doc to make verbal reference to such written materials upon distribution and mandates yearly trainings for all relevant doc staff on, at minimum, voting laws, voter registration procedures, absentee voting, and determining eligibility to vote. 

additionally, the bill requires the nyc campaign finance board, with assistance from the voter assistance advisory committee, to include incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons in activities they undertake aimed at encouraging and facilitating voter registration.

introduction 1115-a, sponsored by council member fernando cabrera

this bill requires the voter assistance advisory committee to develop and distribute guidance for agencies covered by the agency based voter registration law on the voting rights of formerly incarcerated persons. 

such covered agencies will also be required, when feasible and when requested to by an applicant currently on parole, to check publicly available information to inform such applicant if a restoration of their right to vote has been granted.  

"the issue of mass incarceration in our nation largely affects our black and brown communities, and with the pervasive misunderstanding of who can and can't vote, it's on us to educate and improve voter turnout," said council member salamanca.

"but having the right and knowing how to use it are two different things. my bill will bring those poles closer together and as a consequence make our city more democratic, more engaged and even more safe," said council member lancman.