Voter Information for those involved with the Criminal Legal System

In the State of New York, you have the right to vote even if you have a criminal record depending on certain conditions. If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, you can still vote or register to vote. 

Are you currently serving a prison sentence for a felony conviction? 

• Yes → You do not yet have the right to vote.
• No → Are you currently on probation? Are you currently on parole? Read Sections "Are You Currently On Parole?" and "Are You Currently on Probation" for more information! 

Additional Voting Rights Resources

Restoring Voting Rights: Brennan Center Voting Rights Restoration 

Voting Rights Restoration Efforts in New York: Voting Rights Restoration in New York 

Voting Rights of New Yorkers with Felony Convictions: Voting With a Criminal Record 

You have the right to vote! If you are on parole and you are otherwise eligible to vote, you may now do so without seeking a conditional pardon as a result of a new State law. 

Individuals on parole for a felony conviction no longer need to receive a pardon through NY State Executive Order No. 181 or be issued a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or a Certificate of Good Conduct while on parole in order to register to vote. To check if you are registered, visit Board of Elections NYC.

You have the right to vote! If you have previously registered to vote, your voter should still be active. To check if you are registered, visit Board of Elections NYC. 

If this is your first time registering, view the pages to the right for instructions on how to register and how to vote by absentee ballot.

In primary and special elections for city offices, you can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference: your 1st choice candidate, your 2nd choice candidate, and so on up to your 5th choice candidate. More information can be found at NYC Ranked Choice Voting. 

You should have received a voter registration form in addition to this brochure as part of your discharge to the community from the Department’s custody. You can also download a voter registration form from the NYC Board of Elections website. 

Once you have completed the form and signed, mail it to: 

Board of Elections 

32 Broadway, 7 Fl 

New York, NY 10004-1609 

Your form must be delivered or mailed at least 25 days before the next election for it to be effective for that election. You can also register to vote in-person at one of the BOE offices. If you have a valid ID from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, you can register to vote online at NY DMV Voter Registration Application 

If you need to update your residence address, you should notify the NYC BOE as soon as possible by submitting another voter registration form. Your residence address determines the particular contests in which you are eligible to vote

Registered voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day may vote by absentee ballot. All registered voters can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them.

There are several ways to request your ballot:

• Request Absentee Ballot Online
• Email request form to Appy4Absentee@boe.nyc (Attach the PDF of completed, signed request form)
• Mail request form to your local borough BOE office
• Call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692)
• Fax request form to 212-487-5349

Once you have received and completed your absentee ballot, you can cast your absentee ballot by mail or by bring it to your local poll site or local borough BOE office. The ballot must be postmarked or dropped off at a poll site or local borough BOE office by Election Day. Find your poll site and Track your ballot. 

If you are visually impaired or have a disability, you may request an accessible absentee ballot that can be read by a screen reader. Request an Accessible Absentee Ballot.

All people on parole in New York State will be reviewed for a conditional pardon that restores their right to vote. The list of people on parole will be updated on a monthly basis. 

Talk to your parole officer.

No. Before you can cast your ballot to vote, you must also register to vote. If you were registered to vote before you were incarcerated, you still need to re-register. To vote in a specific election, you must register before the registration deadline.

If you're back home and not on parole, you can vote no matter your conviction. If you are on parole you can vote if: (1) you received a voting restoration pardonwhich almost everyone on parole and in good standing receives, OR (2) you have a certificate of relief or good conduct.

If you are in jail awaiting trial or serving time for a misdemeanor or violation, you may vote by mail with an absentee ballot. If you are in jail or prison for a felony conviction and do not have a certificate of relief for that conviction, you cannot vote until you come home.

You can register by mail by submitting a completed registration form or registering online. 

Voter Registration Resources

The registration deadline depends on the election. You must register 25 days before the next election in which you want to vote. 

A list of upcoming elections and registration deadlines

The registration form asks you to register for a political party. You are not required to select a specific party. If you enroll in a political party, you can vote in that party's primary election. If you do not register for a party, you cannot vote in the primaries.

The primary determines which candidates appear on the general election ballot. In the general election, you may vote for any candidate from any party.

Every vote matters. Some local elections are decided by a few hundred votes, so voter registration and turnout have a real impact.