8. New York Editorials, News, Documents of 2006

Bo Lipari Reports for NYVV, 2006

Publications from NYVV

Bo Lipari's slide presentation for talks about optical scan. Includes a brief comparison of DREs and Paper Ballots/Optical Scanners, and has a brief action plan specific to NY.

Miami Dade Dumps DREs due to lost ballots in 6 elections and overrun costs.
Editorial Endorsements of paper ballots and optical scanners in NY state newspapers.
Acquisition costs, DRE versus Optical Scan, county-by-county.
Continuing costs, DRE versus Optical Scan.
States with Paper Ballots and Precinct-based Optical Scanners totally love them!
Paper ballot printing costs: 10 to 29 cents per ballot, not 75 cents or higher as DRE proponents have claimed.
How Many Paper Ballots Are Needed?
Sequoia got it wrong about the machines and the money. Here is the correct info.
Realistic questions to ask about DREs.
Advantages of Paper Ballots and Precinct-based Optical Scanners
Introduction to Precinct-Based Optical Scan Voting Systems.

Bo Lipari Reports, 2006

Bo Lipari Report, Jan. 6, 2006, Full Face Ballot scanner/ballot marker introduced in NY!
Machine Demonstrations on Jan. 5, 2006

Documents of 2006

Albany County Resolution in favor of PBOS
Albany County Resolution passed October 10, 2006 by a vote of 30 to 5, with one abstention.

Storage comparison, photos of DREs and OpScans in storage
Two photos, side by side. There is an optical scanner on each shelf that the man is pointing to.

Sequoia claims endorsement by Brennan Center -- Brennan Center says "No!"
These documents were obtained by WheresThePaper.org from the publicly-distributed Agenda of the weekly public meeting of the commissioners of the Board of Elections in New York City, Oct. 3, 2006.
Sequoia's Press Release
Brennan Center web page, later removed from their web site
Brennan Center Letter to Sequoia, dated Sept. 22, 2006

Scanner and DRE Voting Machines Problems Are Not Equal, New Yorkers for Verified Voting, September 25, 2006. "A problem encountered with the scanner component of a paper ballot system need not result in lost votes. If the marked ballots are correctly managed, retained and recounted, votes can still be counted in a number of different ways. But a DRE which fails may lose these votes forever."

Senators Propose Funds For Paper Ballots to Back Up Electronic Ones New York Times, September 26, 2006

Election Machine Manufacturers Have Not Yet Completed Certification Requirements The Post-Journal, September 25, 2006

The Big Gamble On Electronic Voting, New York Times, September 24, 2006

Officials Wary Of Electronic Voting Machines, New York Times, September 24, 2006

Ehrlich Wants Paper Ballots For Nov. Vote, Washington Post, Sept. 21, 2006

Map of NY counties and what accessible machine they will use in 2006
from the NYS Board of Elections. Also listed:
Draft Guidelines for counting the ballots marked by these machines
Authorization Test Results

What is a Hacking Test?

Bo Lipari's WebLog

Scanner Report
NYC Board of Elections, May 15, 2003, an old report but new to us.

Hearing in NY City Council
Testimony at Governmental Operations Committee Hearing, NY City Council, June 26, 2006.

Election Commissioners Convention
June 25 - 28, 2006 - ECA Summer Conference, Rivers Edge, Thousand Islands, NY Contact William Frucci for more information, 518-885-2249

After the Avante Machine Demo, NYC
A Chance to Mark the Ballot by Puffing Through a Straw New York Times, June 21, 2006

Machine Demo, Yates County
June 12 machine demo

Questions for Suffolk County
5/22/06, Eight Questions

Voter Registration Database
5/22/06 First Draft of database regulations

Public Officers' Law
Accountability of appointed officials

Questions
Questions For Democratic Candidates
Questions for Voter Participation Groups
Questions for Democrats
Questions for Republicans

57m e-voting system a 'dead duck', Irish Examiner, April 28, 2006. Ireland gives up on Liberty voting systems.

Testimony presented in NYC at hearing for Resolutions 131 and 228

There Is More To An Election Than Machines by Mark Yolles, Albany NY, April 22, 2006.

Ulster County Resolution for PBOS
Ulster County resolution for PBOS, passed April 11, 2006 by a bipartisan vote of 23-8.

Disability: Accessible Voting with Paper Ballots
new analysis from NYVV.org
one-page summary, disability access with PBOS
Survey: Disabled Prefer Absentee Ballots, Daily Star, Otsego NY, April 10, 2006.
Few Boards of Elections are evaluating timing and the number of DREs needed if all voters must vote on DREs. If disabled voters choose to vote in person, they may take accessible vans to the poll site, arriving as a group, rather than arriving individually. This would tie up all available DREs, forcing both disabled and abled voters to wait for potentially a long time. This is not an issue with PBOS systems, where voters with some disabilities and minority languages may need to wait to use the ballot marker, but other voters with and without disabilities would be able to vote without waiting.

Optical Scanners -- The MOVIE!!
5 minute video clip at NYVV.org, created by Bob Millman to counter some of the disinformation being spread by the DRE lobby.

Sequoia Press Release about their latest voting machine from JACO, April 6, 2006.

Current misinformation about optical scan systems is circulating in NY State.
1. They are flawed.
Answer: Much less than DREs, and the history of both shows it.
1a. The ballots jam when they go through the Optical Scanner.
Answer: Which jurisdictions have you talked to where scanners are used? What is the name of the election official who told you that? Or have you only heard that from DRE vendors? Did you know that in Florida, many Voter Activator Cards jammed in their DRE's in 2004?
2. They are not accessible to the disabled regardless of the AutoMARK.
Answer: The AutoMARK is more accessible than any DRE, and that is probably why it is so hard to get the AutoMARK to be demonstrated and shown in New York State. How many disabled have tried both DRE and AutoMARK systems? Have you?
3. The AutoMARK is currently being decertified in counties in Florida.
Answer: Do you have ANY documentation for this claim? Due to the political situation in Florida, the AutoMARK has never been certified there.
5. All ballots are preserved under the LAW.
Answer: With DRE systems, the legal ballot is an electronic image which neither the voter nor anyone else can even see. With Optical Scan systems, at least there is a physical real ballot marked directly by the voter whether by hand with a pen or by use of the AutoMARK.
6. An Optical Scan system SEGREGATES one community from another. The disabled community does not want to be segregated.
Answer: The Optical Scan system is the only one where no one can determine who marked which ballot. All paper ballots are equally a direct paper record of the voter's intent. With DRE systems, the computer can identify each voter by the DRIVER used for each accessible device, and can switch votes by language display as well as by accessible attachment.
7. What proof do you have that the Optical Scanner read the ballots properly? There is no verification of your voted ballot. At least a DRE will give the voter verification.
Answer: We assume that scanners will be subject to the same 3% automatic recount as DREs. At least with scanner problems you always can go back to the paper which has the voter's intent because the voter directly marked their own ballot. With DREs the voter's intent may not be reflected on the voter verified paper printout if the print size (10 point) is too small for the voter to see clearly, or if the design of the DRE places the tiny printout at at waist-level, where older voters many not be able to bend over and take a good look.

Frugal Voting Machine
Photo
Ballot
Explanation

New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC)
Letter against PBOS, March 13, 2006.
"All optical scan ballot markers we have tested require the insertion and removal of the ballot by hand, which eliminates anyone who has mobility or dexterity issues from being able to use the voting system independently."
What does it mean to "vote" independently? It means to secretly make your own marks on the ballot. The rest is logistics.
Two Points:
1. DREs require insertion of a ballot-access card. If a voter with manual dexterity disabilities cannot carry or insert a paper ballot, they also will need assistance with the DRE for someone to carry their ballot access card and insert it into the DRE. It has to be inserted properly, top-side up, front-edge forward. You cannot insert it upside down, for example, or wrong edge forward. Also, someone will have to eject it and return it to the poll workers after the disabled voter finishes voting.
2. HAVA requires a private and independent vote, meaning that a person's votes should not be seen or entered by an assistant unless the voter prefers an assistant. HAVA does not require that a voter can perform all tasks independently once they enter the poll site. For example, if the person cannot use their hands, a assistant will have to help them sign in or show their ID.

Beacon Passes PBOS Resolution
Text of Resolution that passed Monday, March 6, 2006

Voting Machine Demo sponsored by Albany County BOE, March 20-21, at HVCC
More info: Debora Banks, Albany County Board of Elections, 487-5063. 12noon-5PM, 12noon-7pm) for everyone in the Capital District. The following county BOEs will participate: Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga, Rensselaer, and Schoharie.
Materials for people who will question vendors at the demo
http://www.nyvv.org/demos.shtml
Being Pro-Active at Voting Machine Demonstrations: http://www.nyvv.org/proactdemos.shtml
Asking the Right Questions at Machine Demonstrations: http://www.nyvv.org/demoqueries.shtml
Can I enter votes for a sample ballot, and see how the machine works?
Where is the voter verified permanent paper record?
Where does the paper go after I cast my vote?
What happens if the printer runs out of ink or breaks?
Who is going to count the votes on paper?
What happens if the printer prints a different candidate than I voted for?
What happens if the computer malfunctions?

March 2, 2006
New York Is Sued by US on Delay of Vote System, New York Times, March 2, 2006.

March 1, 2006
New York State Sued For Failing To Meet New Voting Guidelines, New York Times, March 1, 2006.
DOJ Complaint.

February 28, 2006
Stopgap Accord Sought on Voting System, Commissioner Kellner stands up to the Dept. of Justice!

February 27, 2006
Oversight of the Process of Selecting New Voting Machines, Teresa Hommel's statement before the Governmental Operations Committee of the New York City Council.

NY -- take warning!
Maryland Gov. Ehrlich's letter to the State Board of Elections describes cost overruns of 1000% and chaos in the Maryland State Board of Elections.
letter posted at VoteTrustUSA.org

Dutchess Public Hearing, March 2, 2006

DOJ letter to Connecticut, Feb. 2, 2006, may be of interest to those unsure of DOJ's sentiments re Lever Machines.

Editorial Endorsements as of Feb. 6, 2006, NYVV.org.
As far as NYVV.org is aware, 19 newspapers have made editorial endorsements for optical scanners, and only one, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, has editorialized in favor of DREs.

"Hacking" and the Paper Ballot-Optical Scan Voting System, NYVV.org, Jan. 22, 2006.

Dead Last in Voting Reform, New York Times Editorial, Jan. 24, 2006. "The most promising solution is to use a system that is available, works well and provides paper for recounting, which is required so often in this state. That is the optical scanning machine, which is cheaper than other electronic machines. Most companies make them, even though some try to keep that hidden, probably so they can sell more expensive machines."

GOP Opposes Optical Scanning for Voting, North Country Gazette, Jan. 24, 2006, by State Senator Liz Krueger. State Senator Liz Krueger (D-26th) Testifies in Favor of Optical Scan, Sept. 23, 2005.

FBI: 87% of companies get hacked YahooNews, Jan. 20, 2006. Are Boards of Elections Immune?
FBI Press Release: 64% lost money, 44% had intrusions by insiders.

Organizations passing resolutions for PBOS
See more about this
ACORN, March 9, 2006.
ADA (NYC Americans for Democratic Action), March, 2006.
Astorians for Peace and Justice, March 23, 2006.
Bronx-Westchester Nation Discussion Group, Jan. 15, 2006.
Brooklyn Parents for Peace, March 22, 2006.
Brooklyn-Queens NOW, Feb. 13, 2006.
Center for the Women of New York, Feb. 28, 2006.
Citizen Action of New York, June 20, 2005.
DC 37, 2006.
Ethical Culture Society of Queens, March 28, 2006.
JPAC, March, 2006.
North Manhattan Neighbors for Peace and Justice and Washington Heights Political Action Group, Feb. 6, 2006.
Public Employees Federation (PEF), Sept. 21, 2005.
Sierra Club, Feb. 25, 2006.
Warbasse Social Action Group, A JPAC Unit, Feb. 23, 2006.
Working Families Party, March 6, 2006.

Suffolk County Cost Reports, January, 2006.

Putnam Hearing Focuses On Future Of Voting, Journal News, Jan. 13, 2006. Only one speaker ... advocated for touch-screen[s]... [Co-executive Director of the State Board of Elections] Koskinski, a Republican, said [those] remarks were the only ones he and his Democratic counterpart, Stanley Zalen, have heard supporting touch-screen voting technology over the course of the four hearings.

Bo Lipari Report, Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, Full-Face Scanner and Ballot-marker introduced in NY!
Nancy Bunn Report, These DREs are not ready for prime time! Several people ... said they prefer the paper ballot as they don't feel the DREs are trustworthy. Another observation is that the DREs take too long to vote, and if there's a problem, the lines will be out the door.
Machine Demonstrations, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006

Hearing Set for Thursday, Jan. 12 for New Voting Machine Regulations, The NY State Board of Elections announced an additional public hearing to accept comments on the draft voting machine regulations for voting machine approval in NY State. Thursday, Jan. 12, 2006, at 10:30 AM , The Putnam County TOPS Building, Donald B. Smith County Government Campus, 110 Old Route 6, Carmel, New York. Board will accept comments by mail or e-mail until the close of business on January 23, 2006, the end of the public hearing period. Comments may be mailed to the Board at 40 Steuben Street, Albany, New York 12207 or e-mailed to ldaghlian@elections.state.ny.us All comments received in a timely manner will be considered prior to publication of the final regulations.

December 2006

Legislature, Board of Elections Move to Intervene in Lawsuit on Voting Machines. The article explains the obstacles to changing New York State's voting systems by next September. Floral Park Dispatch, Dec. 29, 2006

Voting machine resistance, Nassau and Suffolk take aim at state's deadline to replace lever machines by September primaries. Newsday, Dec. 22, 2006

Vote of no confidence, Star-Gazette Editorial, Dec. 20, 2006

State to miss federal deadline, Times Union, Dec. 19, 2006

Editorial Endorsements as of 12/10/06
Editorial Endorsements of PBOS

Dec. 5, 2006: Revised schedule -- counties must choose new equipment by 3/6/07
State Board announcment, key lines are 106 (State Board will fax the list of certified machines to counties on Feb. 21, 2007) and 119 (State Board will create a list of counties that have not made their choices on March 7, 2007). One problem with this schedule is that vendors are still sending in changes to their software. In a professional environment this would mean that all tests must be re-run from the beginning.

Governor-elect Spitzer wants to hear about your ideas for bringing hope and opportunity back to New York. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on banning DREs, requiring PBOS, and requiring observers for all handling of the paper ballots.

NYVV's criticism of the current certification effort As of Dec. 14, 2006, all systems submitted for certification to NYS have failed some of their certification tests. NY state tests voting systems according to the federal Voluntary Voting System Guidelines of 2005 (VVSG 2005). We are the first state in the nation to require VVSG 2005 compliance. It appears that no system, DRE or scanner, is able to comply at this time. There is a high likelihood of further delays, which means that it is very unlikely NY State will be able to meet the requirement of our state election law and the Remedial Order issued by the US District Court to have new voting systems in 2007.

Touch Screen Voting Machines Feel Wrong to Many Flatbush Life, Dec. 6, 2006

Otsego County Resolution Passes, Dec. 6, 2006: Otsego Resolution

New York Times Editorial, Dec. 4, 2006: What's Wrong With My Voting Machine?, details some of the problems with the machines offered to New York. The only responsible choice is optical scanners, since at least the voter's intent will be secure on a paper ballot which can be hand-counted if all the computers fail!

November 2006

Editorial Endorsements as of 11/16/06
Editorial Endorsements of PBOS including recent ones from the Albany Times Union and Elmira Star Gazette.

Brennan Center for Justice endorses Paper Ballots, Optical Scanners
Press Conference Photos
Press Release
Brennan Center web site
Review of New Voting Machines, New York Times, Nov. 22, 2006.
Another Undecided Vote, New York Daily News, Nov. 22, 2006.
Vote Groups Screaming At Screens, New York Post, Nov. 22, 2006.
Advocacy Groups Fault Touch-screen Vote Machines, Staten Island Advance, Nov. 22, 2006.
New Voting Machine Endorsed, New York Metro, Nov. 22, 2006.
New Voting Machine Options Concern Citizens, New York 1 News, Nov. 21, 2006.

NYPIRG endorses Paper Ballots, Optical Scanners
Paper Ballots Better than Storing Votes on Computer Chip says NYPIRG
NYPIRG Press Release

Keep The Dinosaurs For One More Year, NY Daily News, Nov. 20, 2006

Pirro Wants Say In Voting Machines, Syracuse Post Standard, Nov. 19, 2006

Letters to the Editor, re Preserving Democracy, Vote By Vote, New York Times, Nov. 18, 2006.

Counting the Votes, Inside Albany, Nov. 17, 2006.

Counting the Vote, Badly, New York Times, Nov. 16, 2006.

Caution Urged On New Voting Machines, New York Times, Nov. 16, 2006.

City Elected Officials get Pay Raise, Nov. 15, 2006

Her Next Job: First Lady of New York All about Eliot Spitzer's wife and their relationship, New York Times, Nov. 10, 2006.

State Democratic Chairman Steps Down After Party's Sweep New York Times, Nov. 9, 2006.

Governor-elect Spitzer wants to hear about your ideas for bringing hope and opportunity back to New York. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on bringing jobs to our state, revitalizing our economy, providing our children with the best possible education and any other issues that are on your mind.

Disabled faced glitches Newsday, Nov. 8, 2006.

How to vote is the next major issue ahead Syracuse Post Standard, Nov. 7, 2006.

October 2006

McLaughlin Pleads Innocent to U.S. Charges, NY Sun, Oct. 18, 2006

Optical scan machines are preferable to expensive touch-screen systems, Times Union, Oct. 15, 2006

Levy fights on vs. new vote machines, Newsday, Oct. 6, 2006

Electronic voting opposed at budget hearing, Touch-screen machines "a disaster," says speaker at session on county fiscal plan. The Post-Standard, Oct. 5, 2006

Public hearing dominated by protest over voting machines, WCAX-TV, Oct. 5, 2006

State Board of Elections investigating year-old New Square voting irregularity, The Journal News, Oct. 5, 2006

Suffolk County Officials Announce Intent to File Suit Against State over Voting Machine Mandate, Press Release, Steve Levy, Suffolk County Executive Oct. 3, 2006
Suffolk Sues State Over Voting Machine Guidelines, Northender, Oct. 5, 2006

Time running out for New York voting-machine choices, Star-Gazette, Oct. 2, 2006

September 2006

The Big Gamble On Electronic Voting, New York Times, September 24, 2006

Officials Wary Of Electronic Voting Machines, New York Times, September 24, 2006

Levy won't pull lever voting booths, Newsday, September 16, 2006
Bo Lipari's Blog, why we can't keep lever voting machines, citing two major reasons:
1) New York State election law unambiguously declares that lever machines must be replaced by September 2007, and
2) The Department of Justice lawsuit settlement with the state of New York unambiguously declares that lever machines will be replaced by this same date.

August 2006

July 2006

New York City Council Stated Meeting of July 19, 2006, Gotham Gazette, July 20, 2006.

Bill Edelstein on current issues in NY, July 13, 2006.

Pork and Politics in the NYC Budget, Gotham Gazette, July 10, 2006.

June 2006

How much HAVA money each county will get
old chart
State Board letter to Counties, June 23, 2006

The Comptroller's Comments on the Fiscal Year 2007 Executive Budget, William C. Thompson, Jr., Comptroller, June 2006

City Council Fiscal Year 2007 Adopted Expense Budget, Adjustments Summary/Schedule C, June 29, 2006, by Christine Quinn, Speaker, David Weprin, Chair of the Finance Committee, and Michael Keogh, Director of the Council's Finance Division. This is a list of items that the council restored to the Mayor's proposed budget or added to it. It includes non-profit organizations or prorams that receive city funds, and the amount of each grant.

Analysis of the Mayor's Executive Budget for 2007 NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO), May, 2006

Interim Report of the NYC Campaign Finance Board on "Doing Business" Contributions, Campaign Finance Board, June 19, 2006

City's Payout for Lawsuits Continues to Rise Rapidly NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO), June 13, 2006

Race and Money in Brooklyn's 11th Congressional District, Who will replace Major Owens? Gotham Gazette, June 25, 2006

A Chance To Mark The Ballot By Puffing Through A Straw, New York Times, June 21, 2006

Reforming Public Authorities, Gotham Gazette, June 19, 2006

Voting System Sees Changes, Journal-Register, June 17, 2006

Charitable Sector Profile, NYC, from Charity Navigator, 2006

Comptrollers comments on NYC Budget for 2007, June, 2006

Salaries For Elected Officials in NYC, by Mark Berkey-Gerard, Citizens Union Gotham Gazette, June 12, 2006

Enabling Voters With Disabilities? by Amy Ngai, Citizens Union, June, 2006 "One definition of democracy is the ability of voters to cast a ballot in secret." This is an false definition. In fact, the secret ballot is a technique that is supposed to prevent coercion and vote-selling. Democracy is a system of government in which the people select their "officials" who make, interpret, and enforce law. Democracy does not require a secret ballot, it requires the people to vote and have their votes counted.

May 2006

Time Schedule for NYC Selection of Interim Accessible Voting Equipment
April 25 - Commissioners Meeting, demo of Populex and Avante systems, Public can observe
May 2 - No meeting, commissioners will be in Syracuse at the State meeting
May 9 - Commissioners Meeting, demo of ES&S AutoMARK and IVS Vote-By-Phone, Public can observe
May 12 - Staff will recommend a system for the NYC interim response using 4 criteria:
a. Voter ease-of-use
b. Poll worker ease-of-use (starting the system in the morning, maintaining it during the day, closing it out at night)
c. Integration with existing programs (CBIS(?), last-minute ballot changes, testing prior to the election)
d. Vendor Strength and Support (can they deliver their systems on time, can they train our staff)
May 16 - Selection of equipment for the interim response
May 22 - NYC BOE will tell the State BOE which equipment we will use for our interim response. By then the NYC BOE also hopes to know how many units we will need (may have this info on May 12).

N.Y. lagging in voter access, Most counties to have only one machine for disabled residents. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, May 30, 2006.

As State Parties Gather, Stage Is Set for Deal-Making and a Little Drama The New York Times, May 29, 2006.

Election Commissioners Ask Legislature for Funding, Weekly Beat, May 26, 2006

County Buys Device For Disabled Voters Syracuse Post-Standard, May 24, 2006

Voting machine failed Board of Elections finds, Troy Record, May 24, 2006

Elections Budget Shocks GOP Daily Freeman, May 23, 2006

Elections chiefs urge county to act More workers are needed, lawmakers told. Poughkeepsie Journal, May 23, 2006

Help, don't hinder, voting Poughkeepsie Journal, May 20, 2006

County to Choose Voting Technology Preference Weekly Beat, May 19, 2006

NYC compliance plan for 2006
Voting Machines for Disabled in New York City, By Michael Cooper, New York Times, May 17, 2006

Senator seeks $10M to aid disabled voters, Star-Gazette Albany Bureau, May 17, 2006

State, federal officials near voting-machine deal, Delaware, Otsego election officials say 'Plan B' not ideal for disabled. The Daily Star, May 17, 2006

SenatorGiveUsMoreVotingMachinesForDisabled, Newsday, May 16, 2006

Who runs school district elections?, WHEC TV 10, Rochester, May 16, 2006

Paper ballot use pushed, Lawmakers' support asked Poughkeepsie Journal, May 12, 2006

Journal Underestimates Importance Of Each Vote Poughkeepsie Journal, May 10, 2006

Disabled Say Voting Plan Isn't Enough Newsday, May 6, 2006

April 2006

Voting officials get look at new machines, Post Star, April 28, 2006.

New York election board sets machine standards, By MARC HUMBERT, AP Political Writer, Newsday, April 27, 2006

State BOE Makes A Decision, The Politicker, April 27, 2006. Interesting news article insofar as the title is snide, but the report is willing to accept without question all information from the State Board's press release. All reporting skills are used only for composing clever titles?

NY Slow to Pull the Lever, State Debates the Implementation of New Voting Machines. The New Paltz Oracle, April 27, 2006

Voting options on table in N.Y. would leave disabled out in cold, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, April 11, 2006.
Point:
There are two options, and Hilderbrant argues against one. The other option, the AutoMark, is the most accessible voting device now in existence. He never mentions it.

State files voting plan with court, Newsday, April 10, 2006.

Survey: Disabled Prefer Absentee Ballots, Daily Star, Otsego NY, April 10, 2006.

New York must do more to implement HAVA, Times Union, April 8, 2006.

N.Y. voting problem is blessing in disguise, Tonawanda News, April 7, 2006.

Elections Board Aims To Educate, The Citizen, Auburn, NY. April 7, 2006.

Don't Punish Counties, Syracuse Post Standard, April 5, 2006.

NY's New Voting System Must Be Accessible to the Disabled, PressConnects, Greater Binghamton, April 4, 2006.
Two points:
1. DREs require insertion of a Voter Access Card. If a voter with manual dexterity disabilities cannot carry or insert a paper ballot, they also will need assistance with the DRE for someone to carry this card and insert it into the DRE. It has to be inserted properly, top-side up, front-edge forward. You cannot insert it upside down, for example, or wrong edge forward. Also, someone will have to eject it and return it to the poll workers after the disabled voter finishes voting. Blind voters would need assistance also because there is no tactile features which would let the voter know the orientation of the card by touch alone.
2. HAVA requires a private and independent vote, meaning that a person's votes should not be seen or entered by an assistant unless the voter prefers an assistant. HAVA does not require that a voter can perform all tasks independently once they enter the poll site. For example, if the person cannot use their hands, a assistant will have to help them sign in or show their ID.

Residents wary of new voting styles , Electronic machines raise security concern. Poughkeepsie Journal, April 3, 2006.

NYS Must Produce New Voting Plan By April 10, North Country Gazette, April 1, 2006.

March 2006

More glitches trigger halt in testing of new county voting machines, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, March 30, 2006. These are the Sequoia voting systems that many NY counties are considering.

Mad Rush For New Voting Machines Is Mad Indeed, John Nonna and David Kogelman, Newsday, Mar. 28, 2006.

Disabled Voters Find More Options, The Citizen, Auburn, Mar. 25, 2006.
The problem with reports like this is that in many demonstrations the AutoMARK accessible ballot-marking machine is simply not shown. Reporters don't ask, "Why not?" It is true that SEQUOIA's optical scan "would not work well for people with disabilities" because Sequoia does not have an accessible ballot-marking product comparable to the Automark. Regarding Sequoia's claim that "long lines" would form at the optical scanners due to voters whose ballots are rejected, this is not the experience of any jurisdiction. Just how dumb does anyone think NY voters are? We can't fill in the bubble? "People who have to fill out another ballot may become discouraged" is pure fantasy. Regarding money, Sequoia's optical scans may cost $6,500, but ES&S's is $5000. The Automark is $5,500. Together, these would handle as many as 3000 voters in one day. Sequoia's DREs run $8,000 to $8,500 each, and handle approximately 200 voters in one election day. And Sequoia DREs are not yet even prototypes. The disabled man is reported to say that he was pleased with the DRE, particularly if a joystick capability is added. The reporter did not ask if Sequoia planned to add a joystick.

Win One Lose Another, Journal News, March 25, 2006.
Ballot Access Only Part Of The Issue, Journal News, April 12, 2006. Response by Margaret Yonco-Haines

Scandal? What Scandal?, Outer ripples of Abramoff corruption probe hit New York state, but cause little stir. By Rick Marshall, Metroland Magazine, March 23, 2006

State committed to implementing HAVA, preserving voters' rights, Times Union, Mar. 17, 2006. Lee Daghlian, Director of Public Information, and Robert Brehm, Deputy Director, Public Information, of the State Board of Elections, assert that the State Board will conduct a thorough and public scrutiny of new voting equipment.

Paper ballots were found in studies to be the most reliable voting system, Times Union, Mar. 13, 2006. by Wayne Stinson, Clifton Park

Now Is The Time To Break The Law, Ithaca Journal, Mar. 7, 2006.

Local Commissioner Joins Voting-Reform Suit, Daily Star, Mar. 7, 2006.

So Sue Us, Journal News, Mar. 6, 2006.

New York's New Motto: 'Dead Last and Defiant', PressConnects Albany Angle, Mar. 5, 2006.

We're Number 50, Star Gazette, Mar. 5, 2006.

Voting Reform Must Proceed, Poughkeepsie Journal, Mar. 5, 2006.

I'm Still Not Sure Why We Need New Voting Machines, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Mar. 5, 2006.

A Voting Machine Mess, New York Times, March 3, 2006.

Instant Incumbents, Citizen Union Gotham Gazette, March 1, 2006.

US DOJ Sues NY, USNewswire, March 1, 2006, DOJ press release.

February 2006

N.Y. won't get new election machines this year, Journal News, Feb. 28, 2006.

Look for same old voting machines, Too little time left to test, buy electronic type for 2006 elections. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Feb. 28, 2006.

New Chenango voting machines won't be ready by fall, Press Connects, Feb. 28, 2006.

Old voting machines to stay for 2006, Poughkeepsie Journal, Feb. 27, 2006.

It's Past Time For State Government To Get Serious About Voting Reform, Times Union, Feb. 26, 2006.

A vote for status quo, NY scraps updating voting machines, now faces scramble to save federal funds at risk after deadline passes. Newsday, Feb. 22, 2006.

No gold in sight; N.Y. takes voting spill, Syracuse Post-Standard, by Barbara Bartoletti, Feb. 21, 2006.

Election Mandate Could Boost Taxes, Finger Lakes Times, Feb. 10, 2006.

Voting Deadline May Be A Problem, The Leader, Feb. 6, 2006.

January 2006

Rockland Trying to Sort Through Election Reforms, The Journal News, Jan. 30, 2006.

Vote-Machine Bonanza, Lobby firms paid $1.5M by vendors, New York Daily News, by Frank Lombardi, Jan. 30, 2006.

Lax Oversight Found in Audit of Elections Board, (Erie County) Buffalo News, Jan. 30, 2006.

Two Outstanding Letters to the Editor responding to "State of Chaos" by John McBride and "Election reform must include state's disabled" by Barbara Murphy. Times Union, Jan. 30, 2006.

Update on Lobby Spending of Voting Machine Vendors, Common Cause, Jan. 26, 2006.

Extension, Please, Federal government should extend deadline for voting machines. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Jan. 23, 2006.

State of Chaos, Times Union, Jan. 17, 2006.
This opinion piece is propaganda -- "New York counties are in danger of not having enough time before the Sept. 12 primary election to buy new voting machines and get them to work properly."
--Timing is a problem with DREs, not PBOS which takes 2-4 months for transition.
Many good government advocates prefer optical scanning voting machines. Others favor touch-screen electronic machines known as DREs.
--Name any major group other than vendors that has examined the experience of other jurisdictions with DREs, and still advocates for them.
Lost in the argument is any acknowledgment that either technology will bring the state into compliance with the new voting law.
--PBOS is being used all over the United States for HAVA compliance.

Enough time to switch to accessible ballots, Times Union, Jan. 24, 2006. Teresa Hommel invites Brad Williams to join the many New Yorkers demanding accessible PBOS.
Election reform must include states disabled, Times Union, Jan. 15, 2006. Brad Williams suggests that the disabled should sell their voting rights for a tax reduction, claims that NY is in violation of HAVA which in fact will not happen until the first federal election this year, and makes the racist, sexist claim that the disabled have been waiting over two centuries to gain full access to their voting rights. In fact, in most states, only white male property-owners over 21 could vote until:
the 14th Amendment gave white male non-property-owners the vote in 1868
the 15th Amendment gave men the vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude in 1870
the 19th Amendment gave women the vote in 1920
the 26th Amendment gave 18-21 year olds the vote in 1971.

Quinn allies hear 500G lu-lu, New York Daily News, Jan. 19, 2006.

Principles of Council Reform, Citizen's Union discusses the NY City Council, January 2006.

Optical Is Optimal Paper ballot/optical scan is best choice for voting integrity, Syracuse Post Standard, Jan. 18, 2006, By Lenore Rapalski, League of Women Voters. Plus two letters to the Editor on the same subject.

County Wants To Update Voting, Auburnpub.com, The Citizen, Jan. 13, 2006. Cayuga County.

Feds Warn State Over Vote Systems, Times Union, Jan. 13, 2006.

Speak Now or ForeverQuestion YourVote, Metroland, Jan. 12, 2006.

Quinn Joins Union Chiefs In Pressing For Health Workers Wages, New York Times, Jan. 11, 2006.

Most Accurate Voting Measures Not Yet In Place, The Record, Jan. 11, 2006.

Election Flaws Must Be Fixed, Poughkeepsie Journal, Jan. 11, 2006.

Two Admit Voting Twice in 2004 -- for free beer and dinner, Rochester Democrat And Chronicle, Jan. 10, 2006.

Brooklyn Democrats Regain Some Clout After Scandals, New York Times, Jan. 8, 2006.

Political Agendas, 2006, inaugural addresses by Pataki, etc., Gotham Gazette, January 9, 2006

Needs Not Met, New Voting Machines Miss Mark, Disability Advocate Says, Fingerlake Times, Jan. 9, 2006.

Counties Scramble To Modernize Voting Machines, The Journal News, Jan. 8, 2006.

Wayne Officials Wary Of Voting Changes, Fingerlake Times, Jan. 6, 2006.

Voting's Future On Display, Jan. 6, 2006. Thousands tried out new machines.

Voting Machine Debate Needs More Facts, Jan. 6, 2006.

With Tributes, Hugs For Supporters, And A Few Tears, Christine Quinn Takes The Reins Of The City Council, New York Times, Jan. 5, 2006.

Arcadia Opts To Wait On Voting Machines, Fingerlake Times, Jan. 4, 2006.

Help Monroe Shop For New Voting Machines, Rochester Democrat And Chronicle, Jan. 4, 2006.

NY City Council Ready To Fill The Job Of Speaker, New York Times, Jan. 3, 2006.

No Decision Likely In Voting Debate, Times Union, Jan. 3, 2006.

Pataki as God, Bruno and Silver as Angels, Gotham Gazette, Jan. 2, 2006.

Greene Puts Off Ordering New Voting Machines, Blames State, Daily Freeman, Jan. 2, 2006.

A Work In Progress, The 2005 Mid-Term "Report Card on Reform" for NY State Government, Endorsed by: Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, NY Public Interest Research Group, The Brennan Center for Justice, January 2006.

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