Out of all of the nutty things to happen in 2018 – and there have been a lot of them – this one definitely takes the cake.
Sex offenders in New York will be allowed to vote at polling stations that take place at school. The only "safeguard" in place? It has to be done after 7 p.m, The New York Post reported. And Thursday's state elections will be the first time this is taking place.
The move comes after Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) issued an executive order back in May that gave criminals on probation the ability to vote.
State law prohibits sex offenders from being on school grounds. One exception is if the offender is participating in an "activity" on campus.
The New York Department of Corrections created a "special condition" that grants a sex offender on parole permission to vote at a school after receiving permission from his or her parole officer and a school administrator.
Some sheriffs in the state aren't happy about Cuomo's decision and threatened to arrest any sex offender who showed up on school grounds.
“We’re going to alert the public that Gov. Cuomo’s new policy will allow sexual predators in the schools after 7 p.m. on Election Day There are student activities in our school up until 9 p.m,” Chemung County Sheriff Chris Moss told The Post.
Moss and his staff are currently working to pull data on all Level 3 sex offenders – those considered to be the most violent and potentially dangerous – to see where their polling stations would be located. Moss will consult the county attorney on how to proceed.
Cumo's blanket pardon gives roughly 24,000 parolees the right to vote.
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