NY Voting Rights Presentation_Looping

VOTING RIGHTS OF PEOPLE IN NEW YORK WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS Created by the Legal Action Center for the NYS Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (DPCA) October 2008

SECTION I:
Who Can Vote?

General Requirements
To vote in New York, you must have registered to vote and:
Be at least 18 years old by the date of the election you want to vote in
Be a citizen of the United States
Be a resident of New York State
Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election

You May Be Able to Vote If You Have a Criminal Record

You CAN Vote If:
You have been adjudicated (found to be) a Youthful Offender.

You CAN Vote If:
▪ YOU HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR – even if you are still in jail.
(Voting in jail is done by absentee ballot)

You CAN Vote If:
You are on probation or conditional discharge, even for a felony conviction.
But if you are serving jail time for a felony as part of probation or conditional discharge, you need a certificate of relief from disabilities.

You CAN Vote If:
You are on local conditional release.
But if you are on local conditional release for a felony , you need a certificate of relief from disabilities.

You CAN Vote If:
You are convicted of a felony and have served your maximum sentence of imprisonment (maxed out).

You CAN Vote If:
You have been discharged from parole.

You CAN Vote If:
You are on parole and have:
a certificate of relief from disabilities or
a certificate of good conduct.

To Find Out if You Are Eligible for a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or a Certificate of Good Conduct
Call the Legal Action Center at 212-243-1313 or visit their website at www.lac.org
Visit LawHelp at www.lawhelp.org/ny , or
Ask your probation or parole officer.

You CAN Vote If:
You have been pardoned.

You CAN Vote If You Are in Jail If:
▪ You are awaiting trial, or
▪ You have been convicted of a violation or a misdemeanor, or
You are in jail for a felony (and not going to prison) and you have a certificate of relief from disabilities.
(You cannot vote if you are in prison or in jail and on your way to prison.)

If You Are in Jail and Eligible to Vote:
You must vote by absentee ballot.

To Obtain an Application for an Absentee Ballot:
Visit the New York State Board of Elections Website at:
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/

Voter Registration
It is necessary that you be registered to vote.
You may need to register again to vote if you have been in prison or jail for a felony.
To find out if you are registered, visit the New York State Board of Elections Website at:
http:// www.elections.state.ny.us /

Now Let’s Review:
Do you know the answers?

Q: Can a person on probation vote in New York? A: Yes , even if convicted of a felony. But if a person is in jail (not prison) as part of a felony probation sentence, he or she needs a certificate of relief from disabilities. (Voting in jail is done by absentee ballot)

Q: Can a person on conditional discharge vote in New York? A: Yes , even if convicted of a felony. But if a person is in jail (not prison) as part of a conditional discharge for a felony, he or she needs a certificate of relief from disabilities. (Voting in jail is done by absentee ballot)

Q: Can a person convicted of a misdemeanor vote in New York?
A: Yes. Anyone convicted of a misdemeanor can vote in New York; if she or he is in jail, this can occur by absentee ballot.

Q: Can a person no longer on parole vote in New York?
A: Yes.

Q: Can a person on parole vote in New York?
A: Yes, but only if he or she gets a certificate of relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct.

Q: Can a person on local conditional release vote in New York?
A: Yes, but if on local conditional release for a felony , only if he or she gets a certificate of relief from disabilities.

Q: Can a person vote in New York if she or he is in jail?
A: Maybe. A person in jail may vote by absentee ballot if:
convicted of a violation or misdemeanor, or
awaiting trial, or
in jail for a felony (and not going to prison) and he or she has a certificate of relief from disabilities.

Q: Can a person vote in New York if she or he is in prison?
A: No. A person in prison or in jail convicted of a felony and on the way to prison cannot vote.

SECTION II:
Why Vote?

Why Do You Need to Know This Information?
Because, in 2006, a survey by the Brennan Center found 1 in 3 election boards in New York did not allow eligible voters to vote because they had a felony record.
If you know your rights, you can protect yourself.

Why Your Vote Matters
Voting gives you a voice on issues like employment, housing, health care, and your children’s education.
By voting, you support your community and can better ensure those living in your community and your community’s interests are represented.

Why Your Vote Matters “ We know that Americans of good will have learned that no nation can long continue to flourish or to find its way to a better society while it allows any one of its citizens...to be denied the right to participate in the most fundamental of all privileges of democracy - the right to vote.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (“Civil Rights No. 1: The Right to Vote,” The New York Times, March 14, 1965.)

SECTION III:
How to Register to Vote

Which Documents Do I Need to Bring to Register to Vote?
You do NOT need to bring any documents to register to vote.

Where Can I Register to Vote?
At your local county Board of Elections
By calling 1-800-FOR-VOTE to request an application
Download the form or complete it online at www.elections.state.ny.us , print it and mail it to your local Board of Elections
At the DMV, CUNY and SUNY campuses, VESID, Department of Health and other government agencies

How to Contact Your Local Board of Elections in New York City
Manhattan: 200 Varick St., 10 Fl New York, NY 10014 Tel: (212) 886-2100
Bronx: 1780 Grand Concourse, 5 Fl Bronx, NY 10457 Tel: (718) 299-9017
Queens: 126-06 Queens Boulevard Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Tel: (718) 730-6730
Staten Island 1 Edgewater Plaza, 4 Fl Staten Island, NY 10305 Tel: (718) 876-0079
Brooklyn: 345 Adams Street, 4 Fl Brooklyn, NY 11201 Tel: (718) 797-8800

SECTION IV:
What Can I Do If I Have Problems Registering to Vote?

If You Are Denied the Right to Register to Vote in New York City, Please Contact One of the Organizations Listed Below:
Legal Action Center (212)243-1313
Voter Enfranchisement Project at Bronx Defenders (718)838-7878
Election Protection Hotline
1-866-OUR-VOTE
Brennan Center (212)998-6730

Who to Contact if You Are Denied the Right to Register Outside New York City
Center for Law and Justice – Albany, NY (518)427-8351
Legal Action Center (212)243-1313
Election Protection Hotline
1-866-OUR-VOTE
Brennan Center (212)998-6730

NY Voting Rights Presentation_Looping

by Legal Action Center on Mar 08, 2010

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