RENSSELAER
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Updated January 22, 2010 THE LATEST NEWS... 2009 ELECTION: THANKS TO ALL VOLUNTEERS! It was a busy election season. Rensselaer League members produced voters guides, conducted candidates forums, and collected election night results. Many thanks to all who participated! (For a full listing of all who participated, see page 5 of the Dec.-Jan. "Voter" under "Newsletter" on this website). Special thanks to Margaret Story (oversight of voter services); Anne Burton (personnel for forums); Diane Bell, Jill Nagy and Margo Singer (moderators); Diane Bell, Margaret Story, Anne Burton and Caroline Leising (questions takers); Chris Salmon, Hazel Landa and David Wolcott (timers); Hazel Landa (voters guides); and David Wolcott and Jane Ducatt (election night reporting). Several issues arose in certain locations during the election season, including inappropriate handling of absentee ballots and lack of adherence to LWV guidelines for candidate forums. The RenCo LWB Board took initial steps to deal with these issues and is considering how to address them more effectively in future elections. NEW VOTING MACHINES: STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS (BOE) CERTIFIES NEW VOTING MACHINES Eight years after Congress ordered all states to modernize their voting machines, the NYS Board of Elections has signed off (Dec 15) on new optical scan machines that will eventually replace the old lever machines. Two types of machines were deemed reliable: one produced by the Dominion company and one by ES&S. Both survived a lengthy vetting process. The new machines allow voters to electronically mark a paper ballot which is then scanned and counted on a computing device. This style of machine differs from purely electronic counting machines in that it creates a paper trail of votes. The NYS League, and other groups who worked to ensure that the state selected reliable machines, all say they are satisfied. The next major milestone comes in 2010 when, in accordance with a federal court agreement, the state actually implements use of the machines on a broad scale. The NYS BOE conducted a pilot testing project in 11 counties comprising the 23rd Congressional District. Though not part of the state BOE project, other localities across the state also tried out the new machines. Rensselaer County had scanners available primarily for use by disabled voters. The state LWV plans to summarize results from a member survey of polling places around the state where voters tried out the new equipment. Senator Schumer received complaints from several counties about privacy in connection with the new scanners and has asked the State BOE to make sure voters have the same privacy with the new machines as they had with the old lever equipment. Some of the new machines have curtains, others have a partial barrier and some have sleeves that offer more protection, but none provide privacy on all sides. The Senator said: "Voting is one of the most sacred and private acts that an American can carry out and we must do everything we can to maximize voter privacy to ensure that every vote is confidential." FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES COMMITTEE HEARS 6 COMPLAINTS The Fair Campaign Practices Committee for the Capital Region (FCP) was founded by the leagues of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady counties and by the Interfaith Alliance of New York State to encourage candidates to conduct their campaigns fairly and openly. The committee developed a Fair Campaign Pledge and established procedures to accept candidates' charges of unfair campaign practices withing the Capital District. Two hundred candidates signed the pledge this year. Community representatives, including representatives from all recognized political parties, serve on hearing panels to determine the validity of camplaints. This year the FCP hearing panels heard and dealt with 6 complaints. |
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES.....2010
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