BRUNO NAMES PANEL TO EASE VOTING; PROMOTE FAIR ELECTIONS

Special Senate Task Force to Seek Ways to Simplify Voting

Wednesday, November 29, 2000

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno today named a Special Task Force of the Majority conference to study ways to improve and simplify voting in New York State, make elections more fair and enhance public confidence in voting results.

Senator Nicholas A. Spano was named Chair of the Special Task Force on Voter Participation. Senator Bruno also appointed an Executive Committee to the Special Task Force to include Senate Elections Committee Chairman Serphin Maltese (R-C, Queens), and Sens. Michael Balboni (R-C, Mineola), Thomas Libous (R-C, Binghamton), and George Maziarz (R-C, Tonawanda). All other Majority Senators will be members of the Special Task Force, which will conduct hearings and forums to gather testimony from experts, officials and citizens in communities throughout the state.

"The 'right to vote' is among the most sacred privileges enjoyed by citizens of a democracy. It is up to each of us to not only protect that right, but also ensure that our voting processes are as accessible, fair and accurate as possible," Senator Bruno said.

"The post-election events in Florida provide an excellent opportunity to highlight continuing and systemic challenges to fair elections here in our own state," said Senator Spano (R, Westchester). "This Special Task Force will look at all aspects of our voting processes that have limited the ability of voters to participate and fulfill their responsibilities as members of our state and nation."

"Today, too many voters face obstacles to voting, including inadequate numbers of elections inspectors who often are not well-trained, machines that are antiquated or don't work, and confusing paper ballots that leave many voters disillusioned, frustrated and angry," Senator Spano said. "Elections are about fairness, and we must do all we can to achieve that goal, while also making voting as simple as possible in New York State."

Senator Bruno said that, among other issues relating to New York's voting systems, he expects the Special Task Force to examine:

* the condition and effectiveness of voting machines currently used in New York, many of which were first placed in use more than 30 years ago;

* levels of compensation and training for elections inspectors, and efforts to ensure adequate numbers of inspectors to ensure voting runs smoothly throughout the state;

* improving "paper ballots" used by military, absentee voters and in emergencies when regular voting machines break down, to make them simpler and less prone to error;

* the use of "punch card" ballots by several municipalities in the state, and the possibility of adopting statewide or uniform ballot standards across the state;

* accessibility of voting places for the handicapped, elderly and others;

* pre-voting registration, updating of voter rolls and possible use of statewide rolls to simplify and enhance accuracy of voter registration, and reduce reliance on "affidavit ballots";

* voting methods utilized by other states and other new technology including Internet and mail voting, as well as the extended process used in Texas;

* enhanced voter education, and

* the state's Electoral College procedures.

"It is government's responsibility to make sure that elections are run smoothly and fairly, so that citizens can be assured that their vote counts and we can avoid the type of uncertainty and division that can be created as a result of voter confusion," said Senator Bruno.

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