Democracy During Detention Act - Clyanna Lightbourn

The 2026 election year is possibly the most important election federally and locally. Clyanna Lightbourn, of the The League of Women Voters of New York, is leading the campaign for the Democracy During Detention Act. Hudson Mohawk Magazine's Andrea Cunliffe discusses how this act codifies the right to vote for detained citizens who remain eligible, and guarantees timely, effective access to at least one secure method of voter registration and balloting. This bipartisan election administration bill seeks to establish a statewide program for those who are detained but have not been convicted of a felony. DDDA seeks to improve the absentee balloting system for eligible citizens detained in jails. Due to a lack of cross agency collaboration to monitor voter participation and implement voter assistance programs, voter participation among individuals detained in local jails is low to nonexistent. This bill puts the Boards of Elections in charge of voting in jails the same way they run elections everywhere else in New York.