Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA) Project
Helping Americans with disabilities vote, like everyone else.
February 2009 Update

This series of emails contains information on the current state of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) compliance in downstate New York, the progress of accessible voting options for people with disabilities and other items of interest concerning voting in New York. You may forward this email to any interested party. If you would like to be added to this email list or you have an item of interest that you would like to add, please contact Rima McCoy at rmccoy@cidny.org.

ACTIVITIES:

Long Island Center for Independent Living releases 2008 Nassau County Poll Site Accessibility Report
LICIL consumers and staff surveyed 36 polling sites during November 4, 2008 as “part of an ongoing initiative to improve overall voter accessibility for Nassau County residents with disabilities.” To read LICIL’s informative report click here.

As a downstate PAVA Partner, LICIL adapted CIDNY’s survey tool and training materials for their voting rights activities. If you are interested in working on access and equality for voters with disabilities in your area, please contact Rima McCoy at rmccoy@cidny.org.

CIDNY meets with NYCBOE HAVA Teams
CIDNY and the NYC Board of Elections’ Poll Site Accessibility Unit met last month to discuss the issues raised in CIDNY’s November 2008 Polling Site Accessibility Report. BOE staff shared steps they are taking to improve polling site access, including the roll out of new, large, and durable directional accessible entrance signs.

At another meeting in January, CIDNY met with the NYCBOE team responsible for training poll workers. They shared CIDNY’s frustration with overall poor poll worker performance in operating the new Ballot Marking Devices during the General Election and agreed that poll workers need more disability awareness training. We discussed collaborating to improve poll worker training, including developing a program for HAVA staff and Adjunct Trainers geared towards serving voters who are using the BMD.

NEWS:

Finale for lever machines, or will there be an encore?
The 2008 General Election was to be the last time New Yorkers pulled the giant red lever to cast a vote. New York State was on track to switch to a system based on paper ballots counted by optical scanners. But now there is uncertainty over the implementation of this new voting system because certification is several months behind schedule.

The Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) are not to be confused with optical scanners, since the BMDs are not used to count votes. BMDs have features to assist voters with disabilities to vote independently and privately by marking a paper ballot, which is then dropped into a box to be counted at the close of the polls. Since accessible voting machines are mandated by HAVA, BMDs will be part of the act whether New York State adopts a new voting system or keeps the old lever machines.

Governor Paterson asks Secretary of State for report on election reform
Governor Paterson asked Secretary of State Lorraine A. Cortés-Vázquez to submit a report that assesses the 2008 General Election, analyzes New York’s voting process and proposes practices to modernize voting and remove barriers to participation. Although the Governor expected the report to be ready within 60 days of his November 7, 2008 request, due to the budget crisis, it is not scheduled to be released until mid-February. To see the Governor’s letter to the Secretary of State go to: http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/press_1107082.html

PAVA partners tell Secretary of State about barriers for people with disabilities
To ensure that the Secretary’s report addresses issues faced by voters with disabilities, our upstate PAVA partner, the Catskill Center for Independence (CCFI), and CIDNY wrote a joint letter to Ms. Cortés-Vázquez.

New York City Council hearings on election reform resolutions
On November 25, 2008, the Governmental Operations Committee of the New York City Council held hearings on election reform resolutions. The resolutions call upon the United States Congress and the New York State Legislature to pass laws allowing early voting, no-excuse absentee ballots, same day registration and electronic voter registration. Among the sponsors of these resolutions were Council Members Simcha Felder and Daniel Garodnick, who have been vocal in demanding that the NYCBOE improve access to voting for people with disabilities.

At the hearing, CIDNY urged that election reform resolutions incorporate measures that ensure voting equality for everyone. This includes voter communication developed in all accessible formats and disseminated multiple times through a wide variety of outlets. CIDNY’s November 4th Individual Voter Survey found that 67 percent of respondents said they did not receive materials about BMDs before the election. Among those who said they received materials from the NYCBOE, 25 percent said it was not useful because it was not in an accessible format.

HAVA EXCHANGE:

Share your thoughts: What do you think we should tell our local BOEs about priorities for voter education and communication?
a.How much ahead of an election should the board of elections send voter material?
b.How often should voters receive materials?
c.What formats should be available to voters?
d.Would you like to see more demonstrations of the new machines in your area, and if so, at which locations?
e.What do poll workers need to know to accommodate people with disabilities?
f.Other???

Please reply to Rima McCoy at rmccoy@cidny.org. Your responses will be included in the next HAVA Update.

CIDNY’s Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA) Project:

Helping Americans with disabilities vote, like everyone else.



May 2009 Update



This series of emails contains information on the current state of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) compliance in downstate New York, the progress of accessible voting options for people with disabilities and other items of interest concerning voting in New York. You may forward this email to any interested party. If you have an item of interest that you would like to include, please contact Rima McCoy at rmccoy@cidny.org.



NEWS



Senate Elections Committee seeks public comment on election reforms

With the goal of promoting “dialogue between lawmakers and the public,” the Senate Elections Committee, Chaired by Senator Addabbo, is holding a series of public hearings throughout the State over the course of five months. The first set of hearings, on the topic of Voter Registration, took place last month in Buffalo and New York City. At the April 24th hearing in NYC, CIDNY made a case for using voter registration forms to facilitate requests for polling site accommodations and notices in alternative, accessible formats.



May’s hearings, to be held in Albany (May 11th) and Syracuse (May 14th), solicit public comment on proposed legislation about polling places and casting a ballot. Disability advocates have been working hard for the passage of two of the bills under consideration. Bill S1058A would require that all polling places be accessible to people with disabilities. Bill S1836A, would make it possible for election inspectors to work half day shifts.



State Board of Elections to avert Federal Court Action with Pilot Program Proposal

New York has a Federal Court Order to implement a new voting system by fall 2009, but certification of the voting systems will not be completed in time. Hoping to negotiate an extension of the timeline of the court order, the SBOE is brokering a pilot project that would involve a partial roll out of the new voting systems at certain polling places. According to the SBOE, substantial county participation would “show both the Court and DOJ good faith in moving toward HAVA implementation” and provide “invaluable hands on experience.” Over 40 counties agreed to participate. Citing impracticalities due to the upcoming mayoral elections, probable runoffs, and large turnout, the NYC BOE declined to get involved. In the downstate region, only Putnam County will participate in the pilot program, with plans to implement a full roll out at all polling sites.



HAVA Task Force member encourages public comment on Implementation Plan

The HAVA Task Force held meetings on April 3rd (click for meeting minutes) and April 14th (minutes not yet available) to make changes to the New York State Implementation Plan. Submission of the plan to the Federal government is necessary for NYS to be eligible for nearly $15 million in federal HAVA funds. According to Task Force member Brad Williams of the New York State Independent Living Council, “A good portion of these funds will address poll worker training and public education, among other topics.” Emphasizing the need for the Task Force to obtain public input, Williams said that the SBOE has reserved the first half hour before each meeting for public comment. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 13th. The public can also email comments to: HAVATF@elections.state.ny.us



ACTIVITIES



Bronx Independent Living Services (BILS) surveys poll sites for accessibility

During the April 21st Special Election to fill the Borough President seat vacated by Adolfo Carrion, BILS and CIDNY set out for poll sites with a level, measuring tape, camera and clip board. It was a hands-on lesson for BILS in using CIDNY’s survey tools. Reflecting on the experience, BILS Benefits Specialist, Diana Corujo, said the “poll site accessibility survey is a voice for people with disabilities to make sure they have a right to vote in a safe and accessible manner.” In the course of the day, poll workers talked about needing more training on the Ballot Marking Devices, including practice with “live people.” At one location, poll workers expressed frustration over the small size of the room, which was so crowded during the 2008 General Election, that it could not accommodate people using mobility devices.



HAVA EXCHANGE



Last month we asked if you have ever tried to obtain voter materials in alternative formats from your local Board of Elections. Karen Eisenstadt, member of the Greater New York Council of the Blind (chapter of the American Council of the Blind), said that years ago she tried very hard, without success, to get voter materials in Braille or audio cassette. She tried the library, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, the Board of Elections and the League of Women Voters. She spoke with Senators in Albany and was told that what she wanted should be available, but no one got back to her. She is particularly interested in sample ballots and candidate literature.



If you have comments on anything appearing in this Update, please contact Rima McCoy at rmccoy@cidny.org or call 646-442-4146.