http://www.syracuse.com/articles/opinion/index.ssf?/base/opinion-3/1196416752279460.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
The Post-Standard
Friday, November 30, 2007
To the Editor:
The reported process for replacing Onondaga County's
Democratic election commissioner (Nov. 27) reveals why New York's election
system tends to be dysfunctional from top to bottom. Instead of starting a
search for those qualified to be election officials, party affiliation is
treated as the most important criterion.
Is it any surprise that our state Board of Elections is so
divided along party lines that the federal government threatens to take over
implementation of new voting equipment in New York?
In our state, election commissioners are party appointees,
nominated by committees of the two major parties and usually rubber-stamped by
county legislatures. Often the chair of the county party also becomes the
election commissioner.
Because only members of the two major parties can apply,
minority party members and unaffiliated voters have no opportunity to serve as
election workers or officials. In addition, our system sometimes requires the
hiring of two people when one is needed, since both major parties must have
equal representation.
Leadership in a political party does not qualify one to run
modern elections. Programs should be instituted at community and/or state
colleges to prepare people for certification in election science and
management.
Training in managing databases and voting technologies, as
well as in relevant managerial skills and in the principles of election
integrity, should be required to prepare for positions in our Boards of
Elections. While some county Boards of Elections function well, in many cases
cronyism, nepotism, and political partisanship trump expertise.
Onondaga County should be wary if the best known applicant
for this position already is talking about electronic voting. Viable candidates
should know that the National Institute of Science and Technology has said that
direct recording electronic voting machines (DREs) cannot be made secure.
They also should know that most of the country now has
chosen the more reliable, cost effective and accessible paper ballot scanner
system.
Wanda Warren Berry
Board of directors, New Yorkers for Verified Voting
Hamilton
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To the Editor:
With the announcement of Democratic Election Commissioner Ed
Szczesniak's retirement, it is our hope that Democratic Party leaders and
county Legislators will fill the post with an individual who will ensure the
integrity of the election process.
New York state has failed miserably to implement a new
voting system. Unable to make a decision, our state legislators have given the
authority to purchase new equipment to the appointed election commissioners of
our 62 counties. Now the Department of Justice has ordered that the state be
fully compliant by the September 2008 primary. If not, the courts will decide
what equipment New Yorkers will vote on in this crucial presidential primary.
There are two systems under consideration, Direct Recording
Electronic Systems (DRE's) or Paper Ballot/Optical Scan Systems (PB/OP). We
have all heard of the problems with DRE touch screen systems and many
municipalities around the country who purchased these machines are now turning
to optical scan systems.
Good government groups have long advocated for a paper
ballot scanner system with ballot marking devices for persons with special
needs as the only reliable, accessible, transparent, secure and verifiable
voting system. PB/OP systems are also less expensive to purchase, maintain and
obtain technical support.
We have studied and followed the issue for over two years.
We believe the choice of a new commissioner will be one of the most important
decisions party leaders and legislators will make this year. We trust they will
select a new commissioner who will ensure the integrity of every vote. The
convenience of a touch screen system is not valid criteria for selecting a new
voting system!
Joan F. Johnson, president Syracuse Metro League of Women
Voters;
Lenore Rapalski, advocacy director, Syracuse Metro League of
Women Voters;
Gerald Lotierzo, Alliance for Retired Americans;
Jan Markarian, CNY NOW
Linda DeStephano, Sierra Club.