Free the Vote NY

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Working Group

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Free the Vote NY 〰️ Working Group 〰️

This working group focuses on protecting and expanding modern access to the right to vote for justice-involved citizens:

  1. Developing and advancing legislation to provide a modern voting program for eligible New Yorkers in jails who have not lost the right to vote, improving voter registration and ballot access for detained or confined citizens across the state (Democracy During Detention).

  2. Improving civic education for detained and incarcerated New Yorkers and raising awareness about eligibility criteria and key deadlines.

  3. Ending felony disenfranchisement and restoring full voting rights to incarcerated citizens.

Democracy During Detention Act

the problem

Thousands of citizens are held in New York jails who have not lost the right to vote, but their freedom to vote is limited at best or is outright denied.

46 of NYS counties have NO program for voter registration or voting in jails.

who is affected?

The Solution

Enact the Democracy During Detention Act (S440) to

  • Ensure fair and timely access to at least one secure voting method-such as absentee voting, early voting by mail, or in-person voting at polling sites-for detained citizens who still retain their right to vote.

  • Establish a statewide program to improve absentee balloting for eligible citizens held in jails.

  • Create a bipartisan election administration led by election officials to provide in-person voting options, including absentee ballot collection or the establishment of polling sites within jails.

  • Create a modern voter-centric policy with enhanced accountability, education, and improved access to civil rights.

Resources

Legislation

Op-Eds & Articles

Research