File #: Int 0797-2026    Version: * Name: Requiring a report on voter registration in city jails.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Criminal Justice
On agenda: 3/26/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a report on voter registration and voting in city jails
Sponsors: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Selvena N. Brooks-Powers
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Correction to annually report on voter registration activities in city jails.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 797, 2. Int. No. 797, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. March 26, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 797

 

By the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Member Brooks-Powers

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring a report on voter registration and voting in city jails

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 9 of the administrative code is amended by adding a new section 9-177 to read as follows:

§ 9-177 Voter registration report. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Commissioner. The term “commissioner” means the commissioner of correction.

Department. The term “department” means the department of correction.

b. Report. No later than January 31, 2027, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the mayor, the speaker of the council, and the public advocate, and shall post conspicuously on the department’s website, an annual report regarding voter registration in city jails. Such report shall include the following information for the previous calendar year:

1. The number of events held to promote voter registration and voting;

2. The number of completed voter registration forms returned to the department from incarcerated individuals, in total and disaggregated by facility and by the race, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status and veteran status of such individual; and

3. The number of absentee ballots the department distributed to incarcerated individuals, in total and disaggregated by facility.

b. Privacy. The report required by this section must not contain personally identifiable information.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

JMF

LS # 4205

Int. 402-2024

3/23/26 12:49 PM