http://www.journal-register.com/local/local_story_167093708.html

June 16, 2006

 

Voting system sees changes

To comply with lawsuit, counties must quickly make adjustments

 

By Holly Weber

weberh@gnnewspaper.com

 

— ALBION — Better late than never.

 

Voting systems in the state will soon undergo a makeover to comply with the Help America Vote Act, but New York is hardly ahead of the curve.

 

“New York State is the last in the country to implement HAVA,” John Jennings of NTS Data Services said.

 

Congress passed HAVA to update voting equipment and registration processes in the wake of irregularities in the 2000 national elections.

 

The law requires states to make sure all counties implement the changes, which include the replacement of lever voting machines and creation of a statewide voter registration database.

 

Because of the state’s non-compliance with HAVA, the Department of Justice filed suit against the state Board of Elections and the state itself. After revising a plan, New York was given extended deadlines to comply with the law. In order to get Orleans County up-to-date, a new computer system for voter registration must be implemented.

 

Jennings and Mark Rossman gave the Orleans County Legislature a preview of what the system entails at its meeting Wednesday.

 

“Congress decided there was potential for voter fraud,” Jennings said. “(The new system) would pick up if someone is registered in two counties.”

 

The system possibly could have eliminated the controversy surrounding the Albion mayoral election in March, where accusations arose that people voted who lived outside the village. That case is still under investigation.

 

The new registration database would allow election officials to search for a voter by registration number, first or last name, address or other demographic information. Once the name comes up, the official can see where the voter is registered, where they live, when they registered and automatically place them in a voting district based on address. Because it’s statewide, the system can tell if someone is registered in different locations.

 

Jennings said the program needs to be implemented soon.

 

“They mandate this happens in a very short time frame,” he said.

 

Rossman said the new system would create “enhanced productivity in the office” by having all the information on one screen.

 

“The system incorporates a very sophisticated street code system and ZIP code finder,” he said.

 

Orleans County Election Commissioners Helen Zelazny and Dennis Piedimonte were also at the presentation. Jennings said the county officials have been productive with the resources they were given.

 

“They’ve been doing a good job, but they didn’t have all the tools that are required,” he said.

 

New York has been given an extension, to 2007, to fully comply with HAVA, but certain aspects, like the database, need to be in place sooner.

 

Contact Holly Weber at (585) 798-1400, Ext. 2225.

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