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Right Number, But the Wrong Answer
A Survey of New York 's Local Boards of Elections' Answers
about New Identification Requirements for Voters
Conclusions and Recommendations
Unfortunately, the State Board of Elections has played a far from constructive role in ensuring that voters are given accurate information from local boards. They have provided far too little meaningful guidance to county election officials seeking to implement these new provisions. While we are dismayed at the responses received from local Boards of Elections, the fault lies with the State Board for failing to properly train and guide them. Additionally, the HAVA Implementation Task Force (headed by Deputy Executive Director of the State Board Peter Kosinski) that was convened by Governor Pataki last year was widely criticized as unrepresentative and for offering no meaningful guidance or discussion of these issues.
This failure means that voters in Buffalo, Binghamton and the Bronx all might face different ID requirements, unequal treatment and possible discrimination at the polls on Election Day. To minimize the potential for voter disenfranchisement this fall we make the following recommendations:
- The State Board of Elections should swiftly issue guidelines ensuring that local Boards of Elections do not misinform and potentially disenfranchise voters. Such guidelines are needed to ensure counties follow HAVA's minimal voter rights guarantees (model guidelines drafted by the Citizens Coalition on HAVA Implementation are attached).
- The State Legislature should quickly establish a conference committee to agree on HAVA implementation legislation. Such legislation should include an expansive list of acceptable IDs designed to minimize potential disenfranchisement at the polls. (See attached list.)
- Pending legislative action, the State Board of Elections should help minimize potential confusion by publicly detailing a wide range of acceptable IDs and educating voters about which forms of ID will be accepted. (See attached list.)
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