|
Right Number, But the Wrong Answer
A Survey of New York 's Local Boards of Elections' Answers
about New Identification Requirements for Voters
Background and Overview
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA), passed by Congress in October 2002, mandates a system of identification (ID) checks for many first time voters registering by mail. Starting in September 2004, many voters may be required to show ID at the polls in order to vote on machines.
According to HAVA, New Yorkers registering to vote for the first time in the state who submit their form through the mail and have failed to complete the ID portion of the voter registration card ( Box 9), must show valid ID at the poll on Election Day to be eligible to vote on a voting machine. HAVA specifies that the first-time voter can show a driver’s license, social security card, current and valid photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or another government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Voters who fail to meet HAVA's ID provisions are entitled to vote by affidavit ballot.
Pending state legislation might help answer some of these questions in time for this fall's elections. However, final authority over what ID will be accepted at the polls may likely be vested in local Boards of Elections. We have continuing concern that the coming implementation of HAVA will not be uniform around the state. We fear this could lead to confusion and inevitable disenfranchisement of voters.
This survey offers a picture of what New York's County Boards of Elections have been telling voters now about the law's new ID provisions. While changes in policy are likely before the September primary elections, we received troubling answers from the vast majority of Boards of Elections office we contacted.
Only 8 out of New York's 58 local Boards of Elections gave substantially complete and correct information to surveyors about what types of ID would be accepted at the polls.The potential for possible disenfranchisement and confusion by individuals seeking to register to vote needs to be immediately addressed. (Note: Because voters also have the option of providing a copy of an "acceptable" ID with their voter registration application, the question of how counties define valid IDs also impacts on the registration process itself, before Election Day.)
Twenty-four counties incorrectly identified only a driver's license, non-driver ID or social security card/numbers as being HAVA compliant forms of ID. (Under HAVA impacted voters can show a driver’s license, social security card, current and valid photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or another government document that shows the name and address of the voter.)
| 
