ALBANY — Schools are generally off-limits for sex offenders, but not when it comes times to vote.
A carveout in the state’s criminal trespass laws allows sex offenders to enter a school for the specific purpose of voting, including school district votes and other government elections, where the school is the polling site.
The issue has jumped into the public’s consciousness as the result of outcry by some Republicans about conditional pardons recently issued by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that could speed up the restoration of voting rights for sex offenders on parole.
“Registered sex offenders who have been released are allowed to vote,” Albany County Board of Elections Republican Commissioner Rachel Bledi said. “Obviously you have a problem when the polling place is at a school. … We’ve never really had this issue raised.”
To: David.Lombardo@timesunion.com
Dear Mr. Lombardo,
I am writing to express my feelings about sex offenders being able to vote at a school. I realize you are just reporting on what the critics say but your article is biased against a group of people who hardly ever commit another sex crime.
1. 95+% of registered sex offenders never commit another sex crime.
2. That means that 95+% of NEW sex crimes are committed by parents, teachers, coaches, clergy, and ones who are known by the victim, not those who are on the registry or by strangers.
3. There was no mention in your article (except a link to another article) that other types of people (murderers, weapons charges, violence, or drugs, etc.) can vote at schools and the public isn’t concerned about them.
4. Has there ever been a sex crime at a school during voting that was committed by a registered sex offender?
Again, I realize you are just “reporting” but why not tell the whole story?
Regards,
[me]
P.S. I can provide credible references to back up my statements if you like to see them.
The theater of the absurd continues.
Stupid, stupid people. What a vapid bunch. Don’t they have anything significant to worry about? I suppose they feel that if their big governments will keep “$EX offenders” out of schools then no one has to supervise any children there. They will all be so much safer. Stupid, stupid people.
And people with brains do have to wonder why these same geniuses want people who have shot children with guns to be in schools. America grows dumber by the day.
While only referencing the title of article, by definition doesn’t a pardon represent rehabilitation. At what point do they just say, “fuck it, nothing we say or do will give you relief.”
Gotta admit the lengths they’re going to at this point are funny lol. They know it’s just more votes for the democrats.
We hear everyday that teachers and coaches molest children from their schools. When are they going to stop teachers from having contact with children? Shouldn’t parents demand that children be taught through TV monitors or have adults separated from kids by fences, bars or windows?
This is nothing but the new Jim Crow law. When there is polling at schools there is no access to the students. They still haven’t come up with any solution whatsoever to prevent people from walking onto campus with a gun, which is becoming a regular occurrence, but I’ll guarantee there has never been a single incidence of a RSO reoffending while going to vote. These people are just so sadly pathetic, all they do is try to come up with something to justify their jobs and their salary. Remember, when your appeal rating drops just shout “I’ll protect the children.”