Parolees can Vote!

After some agitating by JUST members, the Broome County Board of Elections has now posted a note on its website  noting that parolees with new pardons by the Governor can vote.  Many County Boards of Election across the state incorrectly state that those convicted of felonies cannot vote while on parole.  This is untrue, and is repeated on the local newspaper’s guide to how to register to vote. Persons on parole in NY State should have received notes from their parole officers on how to re-register to vote if they are among the 24,000+ persons now permitted to vote. See this link for how to do this.  Some surrounding County Board of Elections still state on their websites that anyone on parole cannot vote (e.g. Tompkins County, which incorrectly states “You may not register or vote if you have been convicted of a felony and : you are currently incarcerated; or you are under parole supervision.”  http://tompkinscountyny.gov/boe/For_Voters/How_to_Register/Index_How_Do_I_Register).  We need more work on this.

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