Legal Aid Society

News

Incarcerated New Yorkers Need Greater Voting Access Immediately

The Legal Aid Society, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, People’s Coalition for Manhattan DA Accountability, local elected officials, advocates, impacted New Yorkers and others held a press conference earlier this afternoon demanding greater access to voting for people incarcerated at local jails, reports AMNY.

This press conference comes after Legal Aid and 35 other organizations, along with mayoral candidates, released a public letter to the Board of Elections, Board of Correction, and Mayor’s Office outlining specific steps that should be taken to ensure that eligible voters in City jails have prompt and secure ballot access without being hindered, including setting up and announcing poll sites, hiring outside volunteers to provide voter education and assist people with filling out voting forms, and ensuring that absentee ballots are delivered to the BOE, among other demands.