Civic Agendas NYC
Bills › Int 0786-2026
Int 0786-2026-A Bill Enacted (Mayor's Desk for Signature)

Procedures for early mail and absentee ballots for voters in department of correction custody.

Where it stands: Passed the Council on Oct 22, 2026 and is waiting for the Mayor’s signature.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee hearing
  3. Committee vote
  4. Council vote
  5. Mayor (current step)
  6. Law

Official summary

This bill would require the Commissioner of Correction to collaborate with the Board of Elections to create procedures for curing ballots for voters in the custody of the Department of Correction. The Commissioner would also be charged with helping incarcerated voters get new ballots when their previous ballot has an uncurable defect. Additionally, this bill would require the Department of Correction to report on statistics over the last five years regarding curing ballots for voters in their custody, such as how many cure affirmations were delivered to voters in their custody and how many cure affirmations were returned to the Board of Elections, as well as collaborating with the Department of Correction to determine how many ballots had uncurable defects and how many ballots were ultimately rejected and not counted.

Timeline

  1. Thu, Mar 26, 2026
    Introduced in the Council
    Formally read into the record at a Stated Meeting.
    City Council: “Introduced by Council”
  2. Thu, Mar 26, 2026
    Sent to committee
    Assigned to a committee, which must hold a hearing before any vote.
    City Council: “Referred to Comm by Council” · meeting
  3. Tue, Apr 14, 2026
    Public hearing: Criminal Justice
    Council members heard testimony from the public and city agencies.
    Committee on Criminal Justice: “Hearing Held by Committee” · meeting
  4. Tue, Apr 14, 2026
    Public hearing: Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation
    Council members heard testimony from the public and city agencies.
    Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation: “Hearing Held by Committee” · meeting
  5. Tue, Apr 14, 2026
    Criminal Justice postponed a decision
    No vote yet; the item can come back at a later meeting.
    Committee on Criminal Justice: “Laid Over by Committee” · meeting
  6. Tue, Apr 14, 2026
    Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation postponed a decision
    No vote yet; the item can come back at a later meeting.
    Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation: “Laid Over by Committee” · meeting
  7. Thu, Oct 22, 2026
    Public hearing: Criminal Justice
    Council members heard testimony from the public and city agencies.
    Committee on Criminal Justice: “Hearing Held by Committee” · meeting
  8. Thu, Oct 22, 2026
    Changes proposed
    A revised version was introduced in committee.
    Committee on Criminal Justice: “Amendment Proposed by Comm” · meeting
  9. Thu, Oct 22, 2026
    Text amended
    The committee adopted a new version (the letter after the bill number changes).
    Committee on Criminal Justice: “Amended by Committee” · meeting
  10. Thu, Oct 22, 2026 · version A
    Committee vote: approved
    Committee on Criminal Justice voted on it.
    Committee on Criminal Justice: “Approved by Committee” · meeting · roll call
  11. Thu, Oct 22, 2026 · version A
    Full Council vote: passed
    All 51 members could vote at a Stated Meeting.
    City Council: “Approved by Council” · meeting · roll call
  12. Thu, Oct 22, 2026 · version A
    Sent to the Mayor
    The Mayor has 30 days to sign or veto.
    City Council: “Sent to Mayor by Council”

How members voted

City Council · Thu, Oct 22, 2026 · Pass
42 yes7 no0 abstain2 absent / excused
Committee on Criminal Justice · Thu, Oct 22, 2026 · Pass
5 yes1 no0 abstain1 absent / excused