§ 510 — Voting upon release

§ 510. Voting upon release. 1. Prior to the release from a local\ncorrectional facility of any person convicted of a felony the chief\nadministrative officer shall notify such person verbally and in writing\nthat his or her voting rights will be restored upon release and provide\nsuch person with a form of application for voter registration and a\ndeclination form, offer such person assistance in filling out the\nappropriate form, and provide such person written information\ndistributed by the board of elections on the importance and the\nmechanics of voting. Upon release, such person may choose to either\nsubmit his or her completed application to the state board or county\nboard where such person resides or have the department transmit it on\nhis or her behalf. Where such person chooses to have the department\ntransmit the application, the chief administrative officer shall\ntransmit the completed application upon such person's release to the\nstate board or county board where such person resides.\n 2. Upon discharge or release from the custody of a local correctional\nfacility, the chief administrative officer of such facility shall, in\nconsultation with the county board of elections, distribute to every\nperson eighteen years of age or older a written notice on the voting\nrights of such person in the state of New York, including information on\nthe importance and mechanics of voting, when such person is or may\nbecome eligible to vote, and offer to every such person a voter\nregistration form; provided that, if an individual declines to accept a\nvoter registration form, the chief administrative officer shall maintain\na written record of such declination. Notice is not required for those\nindividuals being transferred to a different local correctional\nfacility, individuals being transferred or released to the custody of a\nstate correctional facility or institution, or individuals being\nreleased to the custody of a hospital or mental health institution for\ntreatment.\n