NYNewsday.com

Despite glitch, 11,000 really can vote

BY DEBORAH BARFIELD BERRY

WASHINGTON BUREAU

October 26, 2004

WASHINGTON - After sending notices to 11,000 registered voters this month telling them they couldn't vote until seven days after Election Day, New York City election officials sent postcards yesterday notifying them that they can, in fact, vote next Tuesday.

"This will be, hopefully, a final reminder that they're clearly eligible to vote on Nov. 2," said John Ravitz, executive director of the New York City Board of Elections.

Ravitz blamed a computer error for letters mailed two weeks ago notifying registered voters that they could vote effective Nov. 9. Election officials mailed a second notice last week clarifying the date but yesterday followed up with the postcard, which highlighted the correct date and apologized.

The voters, among new and existing registrants, were immediately added to the registration rolls, Ravitz said.

Last week, the Manhattan-based NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund called on election officials to correct the problem. While officials quickly responded, Debo Adegbile, the group's associate director of litigation, said they also should publicize the clarification through the media and community groups.

Adegbile said the news is particularly alarming because of charges that voters in places such as Alabama have received misinformation about where and when to vote.

Adegbile's group is part of a national coalition of civil rights organizations that have set up a hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) for voters to call with complaints.

But Ravitz said those voters won't be disenfranchised. "The only way they wouldn't vote is if they don't show up," he said.

Ravitz said the computer error will serve as a lesson when election officials later review safety checks, including mechanical and human errors. "This won't happen again," he said.

For more information voters, can call 866-868-3692.

Copyright (c) 2004, Newsday, Inc.

FAIR USE NOTICE

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of political, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.