QUESTION
What is the voting process for prisoners in Ryker's Island and what laws govern it?
4:19:28
·
127 sec
The Executive Director of the NYC Board of Elections explains the voting process for prisoners in Ryker's Island and the laws that govern it.
- The New York City charter requires the NYC Department of Corrections to conduct the voting program for prisoners.
- New York State law provides for absentee voting for people who are waived from their residences.
- The NYC Board of Elections abides by these laws for prisoners at Ryker's Island.
Gale A. Brewer
4:19:28
And then Raquel Island, or how do people there vote
Michael J.Ryan
4:19:33
So I anticipated that this question might come from a different member of the body, but I have a copy of the matter from November 1 2022 that we sent to the legal aid society, they have this coalition vote in NYC Jails.
4:19:52
I'm certainly happy to provide this copy of you guys, and I can email it to you.
4:19:57
The reality is this.
Gale A. Brewer
4:19:58
Go ahead.
Michael J.Ryan
4:19:58
In a nutshell, and you will get to other stuff.
4:20:02
The New York City charter requires the New York City Department of Corrections.
4:20:09
2
Gale A. Brewer
4:20:09
Correction.
4:20:10
No s.
Michael J.Ryan
4:20:10
Right.
4:20:10
Correction.
4:20:11
Right?
4:20:13
2 yes.
4:20:14
It's state correction, city correction.
4:20:16
Right?
4:20:16
So to to conduct the voting program for prisoners.
4:20:25
And the New York State law provides for absentee voting for people who are waived from their residents.
Gale A. Brewer
4:20:35
Okay.
Michael J.Ryan
4:20:35
Those are the two bodies of law that cover people who are currently being held as prisoners in Ryker's Island.
4:20:43
That's what we abide by.
4:20:45
We've given that information out to this group on multiple occasions they decided to do a protest in front of a building last week or 2 weeks ago when it's really I'm not trying to slough it off to someone else, but it's really city docks.
Gale A. Brewer
4:21:01
Can they put voting machines on the island?
4:21:06
I don't know.
4:21:06
I'm asking
Lincoln Restler
4:21:07
them.
Gale A. Brewer
4:21:07
I don't know.
Michael J.Ryan
4:21:07
I used to oversee the the jails in New York City at a different capacity years ago.
4:21:15
I would say that that would be a tall ask, but I no longer oversee them, and they have competent professionals both in the administration and the and the and the agency that
Lincoln Restler
4:21:27
we are under renovation.
Michael J.Ryan
4:21:28
Yes.
4:21:31
From what I could see, you have a a closer relationship with these folks.
Gale A. Brewer
4:21:35
Thanks.