Prison‐Based Gerrymandering

Dale Ho
Assistant Counsel
Political Participation Group
NAACP Legal Defense & 
Educational Fund, Inc.
(with slides courtesy of the 
Prison Policy Initiative)
 Prisoners Should Not Be Counted
Where They are Incarcerated
Prisoners Are Not Legal Residents
Where They Are Held

Article II, Section 4 of the New York State Constitution

provides that,

“[f]or the purpose of voting, no person shall be deemed

to have gained or lost a residence, by reason of his or
her presence or absence . . . while confined in any
public prison.”
Prison-Based Gerrymandering’s Effects
on NY’s Communities of Color
New York’s Prison Population
 Racial Disparities
State population Prison population

30% African-American 77% African-American and

and Latino Latino
Vote Dilution
Vote Dilution
Vote Dilution
Vote Dilution
 Racial Disparities

New York’s 114th State Assembly District

6.99% of the
“constituents” are
actually prisoners.

Of the 5,594 African

Americans who are
counted as “constituents,”
82.6% are incarcerated –
legal residents of other
districts who have been
imported.
Racial Disparities
Malapportionment
 Racial Disparities
Senate Reported Percentage
Senator Prisoners Shortfall
District Population White

45 Betty Little 299,603 12,989 -6.36% 92%

47 Joseph Griffo 291,303 3,563 -5.99% 91%

Daniel
48 290,925 5,291 -6.68% 92%
Aubertine

49 David Valesky 291,303 2,881 -5.77% 82%

51 James Seward 291,482 3,108 -5.78% 95%

Michael
54 291,303 3,551 -5.99% 92%
Nozzolio

59 Dale Volker 294,256 8,951 -6.79% 94%

 Prisoners Should Not Be Counted
Where They are Incarcerated
Prisoners Cannot Build Enduring Ties to the
Communities Where They Are Held

• Not there by choice. Can be moved at any time.

• Cannot interact with the surrounding community.

• Cannot utilize services such as parks and libraries.

• Cannot vote in the districts where they are held.

• Are released to their home communities.

• Interests are not represented by local politicians

 Not Just and Urban / Rural Issue

• Violates the one-person, one vote

principle

• Because of prison-based
gerrymandering, a person’s vote counts
more if that person lives near a prison.
 Not Just and Urban / Rural Issue
Thirteen New York Counties Reject Prison-
Based Gerrymandering

Cayuga County Orange County
Chemung County Orleans County
Clinton County Schoharie County
Dutchess County Sullivan County
Essex County Washington County
Franklin County Wyoming County
Greene County
 Contact Information
Dale Ho
Assistant Counsel
Political Participation Group

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
99 Hudson Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10013
1‐212‐965‐2200
1‐800‐221‐2200
http://www.naacpldf.org/
vote@naacpldf.org
dho@naacpldf.org
No portion of this presentation constitutes legal advice or the provision of legal services