Bill > S00440

This bill, known as the "Democracy During Detention Act," comprehensively reforms voting access for incarcerated individuals in New York State. The legislation authorizes county boards of elections to establish polling places within correctional facilities during early voting periods, allowing detained or confined individuals who are eligible voters to register and vote more easily. The bill requires correctional facilities to provide inmates with voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications, and access to voting resources, and mandates that the state board of elections create non-partisan educational materials about voting rights for inclusion in inmate handbooks. The bill applies to both local and state correctional facilities, and extends to federal correctional facilities by requiring boards of elections to make "best efforts" to facilitate voter access. Additionally, the legislation ensures language assistance for limited English proficient individuals in correctional facilities, requires facilities to help inmates restore their voting rights upon release, and mandates that incarcerated individuals, including those in segregated housing, have opportunities to register and vote. The bill aims to remove barriers to voting for incarcerated people while maintaining facility security and operational integrity, reflecting a commitment to preserving voting rights for all eligible citizens regardless of their current detention status.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S440