S 440 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals

Summary

Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals; authorizes polling places to be available at correctional facilities and local facilities; requires such facilities to provide persons detained or confined in such facilities access to register to vote or apply for an absentee ballot; requires voting information to be included in the inmate handbook.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S440 → S440A · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the list of sponsoring senators and update its procedural status. Substantively, the text changed 'residents' to 'incarcerated individuals' to clarify that the voting provisions apply to people currently held in custody rather than those living in the facilities. The bill also updated the specific election law section references and added requirements for using electronic tablets for voter registration in New York City.

Scope change

The bill's scope was clarified to explicitly target 'incarcerated individuals' rather than 'residents' of correctional facilities, ensuring the voting access rules apply to people currently detained.

DEFINITION

Changed the term 'residents' to 'incarcerated individuals' to clarify that the voting provisions apply to people currently held in custody.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the specific section numbers in the Election Law that govern absentee balloting and early voting procedures.

Added a requirement for the New York City Board of Elections to use electronic tablets and digital resources for voter registration at correctional facilities, resorting to paper only when necessary.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of sponsoring senators and updated the bill's procedural history to reflect committee reports and amendments.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 440A

upper

Jun 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION

upper

Apr 21, 2026

Committee

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION

upper

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

upper

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

upper

1 primary · 20 co-sponsors