Deal Struck On NY Redistricting Prisoner Count

Senate and Republican leaders have struck a deal to count 46,043 of the state's 58,000 prison inmates as potential voters back in their home neighborhoods for the purpose of redrawing election districts.

A court ruled earlier this month in a case brought by GOP senators that prisoners can be counted in their last home districts, mostly in Democratic New York City, rather than their prisons, most of which are in upstate Republican areas. But the impact wasn't clear until this deal.

The impact will be seen when state Senate and Assembly districts are drawn. The new count of prisoners will strengthen the Democratic voter advantage in some districts or potentially result in an added downstate or urban Democratic seat in the Legislature.

One of the goals of redistricting is to make sure districts with large racial minority populations are represented in the Legislature and Congress.

Congressional districts won't be affected.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote!

Michael H. Drucker
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