Reply #17: NY: 19 County Legislators Seek Voice on Voting Machines [View All]

[freedomfries]

Seeking a voice on voting machines
Carol DeMare
Times Union Albany, NY
August 25, 2006

19 county legislators sign letter asking that their views on new devices be heard by elections commissioners


ALBANY -- Nineteen county legislators have signed a letter to elections commissioners asking to be included in discussions on new voting machines to be purchased for next year's elections.
"We are simply asking, in a bipartisan way, for an opportunity to offer our opinion as representatives of the people of Albany County, as to which type of voting machine we prefer for Albany County," legislator Tim Nichols, a Latham Democrat, said in the letter hand-delivered earlier this month. "The Legislature should be fully engaged in this process that is at the root of our democracy. Any decision must include us."


County Democratic Elections Commissioner James Clancy said legislators would be included.

"There will definitely not be any decisions made in a vacuum," Clancy said.

For now, the matter is before the state Board of Elections, which must review and test machines and ensure they are in compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act.

"The state board has started taking applications from vendors," Clancy said.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=511409&category=ALBANY&BCCode=&newsdate=8/25/2006