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New York City Council
Procedures for early mail and absentee ballots for voters in department of correction custody
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff welcomes attendees to the Committee on Criminal Justice vote, asks everyone to silence electronic devices, and directs no one to approach the front desk. The chair is then invited to begin.
Chair Selvena N. Brooks-Powers opens the meeting, introduces herself, and lists committee members present. She announces votes on Int. 786-A, sponsored by herself, and Int. 797-A, sponsored by Public Advocate Williams.
Chair Brooks-Powers describes Int. 786-A, which would require the Department of Correction to review completed ballot affirmation envelopes for correctable errors before sending them to the Board of Elections. If a defect is found, the department must give the individual an opportunity and means to correct it before submission.
Chair Brooks-Powers explains Int. 797-A, which would strengthen annual reporting on voter registration and voting in city jails. It would require DOC to report registration forms collected, absentee ballots distributed by facility, and events held to promote voting, disaggregated by facility and demographics including race, age, gender, disability, and veteran status.
With the general election less than two weeks away, Chair Brooks-Powers says the vote is a timely reminder that voting rights must be protected for every eligible New Yorker, including people in city jails. She notes that while felony convictions bar voting under state law, people held pretrial or serving misdemeanor sentences remain eligible, and the presumption of innocence requires a meaningful opportunity to vote.
Chair Brooks-Powers says participation among eligible people in DOC custody has been extremely low. In the June 2024 primary, 364 people on Rikers Island requested absentee or early mail ballots, but only 155 were delivered and just 72 were returned and counted, illustrating barriers from requesting a ballot to correcting errors and ensuring it is counted.
Chair Brooks-Powers says the bills seek to improve accountability and identify persistent barriers by establishing ballot-envelope correction procedures and requiring more comprehensive reporting. She thanks policy and budget director Owen Brady, chief of staff Renee Taylor, committee counsel Jahari Frazier, policy analyst Chad Benjamin, the Public Advocate, and the Vote in New York City Jails Coalition.
Chair Brooks-Powers asks the clerk to call the roll. Committee Clerk William Martin notes both items are coupled and calls members: Chair Brooks-Powers votes aye; Feliz aye on all; Brewer aye; Narcisse aye; Salaam aye; and Morano votes aye on 797 but no on 786. Kaban is called but no vote is recorded.
The clerk announces that proposed Introduction 786-A has 5 affirmative votes, 1 negative vote, and no abstentions. The committee approves the measure.
The clerk announces that proposed Introduction 797-A has 6 affirmative votes, 0 negative votes, and no abstentions. The committee approves the measure.
The clerk announces that both proposed introductions have been approved by the Committee on Criminal Justice.
The vote remains open by request of the chair. The hearing is adjourned at 9:40.