Celia Wu
Statement in support of Resolution 131
before the
Governmental Operations Committee and the
Technology in Government Committee
of the New York City Council
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak here today.
PBOS, paper ballots with optical scanners, are much less expensive, easier to teach to poll workers, easier to maintain, technically simpler, and much more reliable. If anything goes wrong, we have the voter’s original ballot to look at.
We should not buy DREs after the disastrous results with these flawed machines that have been widely reported in election after election, starting with the midterm elections of 2002.
I am also concerned with the cost of DREs. DREs are very expensive compared to optical scan systems.
In addition to the initial cost, DREs must be replaced every 5 to 10 years and they require extensive training of poll workers and on-site technicians.
Our city does not have enough money for critical needs, and we should not waste money on DREs when we could buy better systems – paper ballot-optical scan systems – that are one-third the cost.
I urge you to consider all these reasons, and pass Resolution 131 out of committee for a vote by the entire City Council. By passing Resolution 131, you will be providing guidance to our own City Board of Elections, and leadership to our whole state and nation.
Thank you.