Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that he has issued the first
set of conditional pardons restoring the right to vote to 24,086 people
under community supervision in New York State. Building on the
Governor's sweeping criminal justice reforms, this group of pardons
follows the Executive Order
signed on April 18 to improve civic engagement and reduce recidivism.
New York State Election law provides that a Governor's pardon restores
the right to vote to individuals who lose this right due to being on
parole for a felony that resulted in their incarceration.
"The
right to vote is fundamental and it is unconscionable to deny that basic
right of citizenship to New Yorkers who have paid their debt to
society," Governor Cuomo said. "Restoring a voice to
men and women reentering their communities will strengthen our
democracy, as well as the reentry process, which in-turn will help
reduce recidivism."
The Governor's action to grant these
conditional pardons reverses individual restrictions that have had a
disproportionate impact on New Yorkers of color. African Americans and
Hispanic New Yorkers comprise 71 percent of the population
disenfranchised due to their parole status.
Click here for the full announcement.
Source: The Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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