VOTING IN NEW YORK CITY JAILS

The Department has staff dedicated to civic engagement work and collaborates with a coalition of external partners for voter education and registration assistance. The coalition meets monthly and provides tangible input into engagement initiatives and provides volunteers on a regular basis for voter registration drives. With the help of the coalition, DOC provides non-partisan information related to voting and upcoming elections and ensures that people in its custody can register to vote and cast a ballot if they so choose. Staff from the Department’s Programs and Community Partnerships Division (PCPD) oversee this work year-round and leverage existing partnerships and technology to aid in these efforts. The Department makes voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications readily available in all jails. People in custody can access registration forms via registration drives that are conducted in partnership with coalition volunteers, at law libraries, and upon discharge. Forms can also be requested at any time via tablets that are distributed to the population after the new admission process. Upon request, the Department also provides voter forms in various languages, as well as assistance with filling out forms.

Click one of the icons below for more information on the Department’s Action Plan. 

VOTING INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE

EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO VOTE