ALBANY, N.Y. — State Republicans thought it was a bad policy move when Governor Cuomo issued a conditional pardon to more than 24,000 parolees last month, restoring their ability to vote. 

"This didn't need to be an issue," said State Senator Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda. "He didn't need to do this. He went out of his way to try and certainly appeal, I think, particularly to downstate to the minority population in the Democratic primary."

After crosschecking the state parolee database against the sex offender registry, Ortt said he's even more concerned.

"We did the research. We found 26 (Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders) that we know of in my district."

That's an issue, he said, because as the primary and general election seasons approach, many polling place across New York are located in schools and much of the voting will be done while children are there.

"The governor, you could argue, is actually encouraging these folks to go to these schools to exercise their right which he has granted them with the pardon," Ortt said.

The Republican said parents and school staff deserve to know about this. He said Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders are among the most likely to re-offend when they reenter society.

"I'm not going to get into all the details that stipulate Level 3 offenses but it's nothing good and quite frankly it's disgusting," he said. "These are folks that are absolutely a threat to children and should not be around children."

It became a campaign issue Wednesday with gubernatorial candidate Marc Molianaro and U.S. Senate candidate Chele Farley both issuing statements condemning the pardons. The governor's office deferred to the Department of Corrections, which pointed out that of the roughly 40,000 people on the state sex offender registry, only about 4,000 are on parole.

"Appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that these parolees abide by the conditions of their parole while exercising their right to vote, as parolees do in 18 other states  and Washington DC," DOCCS Director of Public Information Tom Mailey said.

Ortt said there should be no more pardons until Cuomo explains how children are being protected.