Can New York felons vote?
NEW YORK (PIX11)—Are you a registered voter in New York but have a past felony or misdemeanor conviction?
Even with a criminal record, you can vote in New York.
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"A law passed in 2021 restores the right to vote for a person convicted of a felony upon release from incarceration, regardless of if they are on parole or have a term of post-release supervision. If a convicted felon is not incarcerated, they are eligible to register to vote," according to the New York State Board of Elections . "Prior to enactment of this law, a convicted felon was not legally allowed to register to vote until they were discharged from parole or any post-release supervision."
Thanks to a law signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021, past convicted felons can vote and do not require any special documentation to register to vote. According to the New York Civil Liberties Union , the only New Yorkers who are unable to vote are currently incarcerated individuals.
Who can vote?
New Yorkers lose their right to vote while imprisoned for a felony conviction. However, according to the New York Courts website , convicted felons can vote once released.
Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here .
