Skip to main content

Governor Cuomo Signs Bill to Ensure Orderly Administration of Village Elections

Albany, NY (February 28, 2011)Governor Cuomo has signed into law a measure that will allow villages that administer their own village elections to use lever voting machines, rather than the new optical scan voting systems, until the end of 2012. This law was needed to ensure that these villages can transition to the new voting systems in a fair and orderly manner.

In July 2010, New York enacted legislation implementing certain provisions of the federal Help America Vote Act ("HAVA"). The New York State law required that all elections, including village elections, must be conducted using the new optically scanned ballots. However, some villages that administer their own elections have faced several major obstacles to shifting over to the new technology.

Many of the village elections affected this year by the new requirement will be held on March 15, 2011, and certain villages have not had enough time to budget for, lease, program, and test the new optical scanners. In addition, the current costs of using the new voting systems pose significant challenges, particularly for small villages.

"We must ensure that there are orderly elections at all levels of government," Governor Cuomo said. "This measure makes sure that villages can properly carry out their local elections and gives them the extra time they need to transition to the new voting system."

The law reflects a narrowly tailored solution to immediate and significant problems faced by villages. Specifically, the law provides only a temporary exemption to Election Law § 15-114. The law does not apply to the administration of any federal elections covered by HAVA or to village elections administered by a county board of elections. In August 2010, an exemption allowing the use of lever machines was granted to school districts for their elections. The legislation was sponsored by Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel and Senator Jack Martins.

New York State Conference of Mayors Executive Director Peter Baynes said, "Governor Cuomo has demonstrated his commitment to efficiency in local government by approving legislation that allows villages to temporarily continue to use traditional lever style voting machines in village elections, similar to the authority granted to school districts. Enactment of this law will give villages the time they need to shift from past practices while ensuring that upcoming elections will be not be adversely affected. The New York State Conference of Mayors thanks the Governor for recognizing that these changes make sense for village voters as well as village taxpayers."
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

15 Gang Members Convicted on Conspiracy, Weapons Possession, Firearms Trafficking Charges Case Follows Recent Convictions of 137th Street Crew and East Harlem Narcotics Trafficking Organization

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced the results of the investigation and prosecution of one of Central Harlem’s most destructive criminal street gangs, referred to as “ONE TWENTY-NINE” or “GOODFELLAS/THE NEW DONS,” which terrorized the neighborhood surrounding West 129th Street between Lenox and Fifth Avenues. Thirteen members of the gang have previously pleaded guilty to importing, possessing, and using firearms over the course of the conspiracy.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Myth, The Matrix, and The Malpractice: Unpacking the Sophia Stewart Saga

The internet loves a good underdog story, especially one where a lone creator battles Hollywood giants. Few tales have captivated online forums and social media quite like that of Sophia Stewart, the woman who famously sued the creators of The Matrix and The Terminator, claiming they stole her work, "The Third Eye." Her story is a complex tapestry woven with claims of stolen genius, judicial conflicts, and attorney negligence. Let's untangle the legal facts from the compelling narrative and examine the heart of her claims. The Core Allegation: "The Third Eye" and the Blockbusters Sophia Stewart alleged that her copyrighted manuscript, "The Third Eye," conceived in 1981 and finalized in 1983, was the blueprint for two of the most iconic sci-fi franchises: The Terminator (first film 1984) and The Matrix (first film 1999). From her perspective, the similarities were undeniable. Stewart’s supporters often point to broad, impactful themes and ev...
3 comments
Read more

Charlie Kirk Was Right, and Charlie Kirk Was Wrong: The Enduring Legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative commentator, has argued that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was unnecessary, contending that the 14th Amendment should have been sufficient to guarantee equal rights. There's a compelling argument to be made for both sides of this statement. Let's break down where Kirk was right and, more importantly, where historical context reveals he was profoundly wrong. Where Charlie Kirk Was "Right" (In Theory) Kirk's theoretical point hinges on the idea that fundamental constitutional principles, if interpreted and enforced correctly, should have negated the need for additional legislation. And, in a perfect world, he would be correct. The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, explicitly states that "no State shall... deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." The intent was to ensure all citizens, particularly newly freed African Americans, were treated equally under the law. If this ...
Post a Comment
Read more