The gulf is wide between State Sen. Marty Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, Gravesend) and the two Democrats – Ross Barkan and Andrew Gounardes – looking to unseat him this year when it comes to Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s controversial decsion last week to issue an executive order restoring the voting rights of of up to 35,000 convicted felons on parole.
According to the mandate, beginning May 1, the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections will submit a monthly record of individuals who have been released from prison onto parole supervision in the prior month. Each individual on the eligible list will be reviewed to determine whether he or she will be granted a pardon that will restore voting rights. The measure is set to restore the right to vote upon release from incarceration and reverse disenfranchisement for up to 35,000 convicted felons on parole.
“Astonishingly, Governor Cuomo has circumvented the legislative process by issuing an executive order restoring voting privileges to convicted felons out on parole, who by definition, are still serving the terms of their sentencing. I also vehemently oppose that this also applies to convicted rapists and murderers who should never have their right to vote restored. They relinquished that right when they decided to commit crimes against their innocent victims,” Golden wrote in a statement.
Golden, who has previously voted against measures to restore the voting rights to felons, reiterated his opposition to the plan and said that what Cuomo did would cause more harm than good.
“My colleagues and I in the state senate rejected the governor’s ridiculous proposal during the budget process and we will continue to fight against the governor’s liberal justice system policies. Once again, the Governor has proven he is more concerned with the rights of criminals who inflict harm on innocent people than the concerns of law-abiding citizens living in New York State,” he said.
But Gournardes agrees with Cuomo’s decsion, saying voting right should be extended to all citizens.
“I believe in every citizen’s fundamental right to vote. The men and women affected by Governor Cuomo’s executive order have served their time and the parole board has determined that they are no longer a threat and are eligible to re-enter society. They should not be treated as second class citizens through disenfranchisement,” said Gounardes.
Barkan also sided with Cuomo, saying those who have paid their debt to society deserve a chance to re-enter the political process.
“I support Gov. Cuomo’s executive order. If we want to give parolees the chance to reintegrate into society, we need to give them the opportunity to vote and be real stakeholders,” Barkan said, “Voting rights should not be denied to those trying to rehabilitate themselves after serving their time.”
