State Sen. Kevin Parker is introducing a bill that would allow inmates the right to vote while in prison.

Under the bill, an inmate's vote would count towards the district they lived in before going to prison. Parker says the current law deprives mainly Black and Latino people of the right to vote, and that it is time for a change.

The bill has garnered support from the Alliance Of Families For Justice and the formerly incarcerated. However, the New York GOP is opposing the bill saying, "The Democrat Party is consumed with catering to criminals instead of law-abiding taxpayers. They are systematically eroding our system of justice in favor of criminals' rights, while the rights of crime victims and law-abiding citizens are completely disregarded."

The proposed bill requires the Department of Corrections and the state and county Boards of Election to establish a program that would allow inmate voter registration and voting.

In order for the bill to pass it needs to be approved in the state House and Senate. It also needs to be signed by the governor.