New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday night signed a bill that automatically restores voting rights to formerly convicted felons in the state as soon as they are released from prison, even if they are on parole.
“I strongly believe that restoring the right to vote to people who have paid their debt to society strengthens our democracy, promotes successful reentry into the community, and makes New York a safer and fairer place to live,” Cuomo, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Cuomo previously said that minorities are disproportionately impacted by the voting prohibition and that restoring voting rights can help convicted felons reestablish ties to their communities as law-abiding citizens.
“Studies show that when people on parole know that they deserve to participate in government, they feel more connected to the community and are more likely to reintegrate into society successfully,” O’Donnell, a Democrat, said. “Together, we have helped New York realize a principle that our segregation-era laws have sought to deny: every citizen has equal worth and deserves the right to vote.”
Cuomo’s signing of the voting rights law this week follows similar action taken by Democrat-led states in recent months.
On April 7, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) signed into law a bill that restores voting rights to people who have served their prison sentence for felony convictions but may still be on parole and owe legal fees.
Republicans who opposed that measure argued that completing probation and fulfilling “legal financial obligations” should be met before the restoration of a person’s right to vote.
