Cuomo OKs bill to keep lever machines

[hrmjustin]

By Anthony O’Reilly
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed a bill into law that would allow village, school and special districts throughout the state to use lever voting machines for elections until Dec. 31, 2015.

The law, which was proposed by state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) and state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola), also requires the state Board of Elections to conduct a review of village, school, library and special district elections and to propose new ways to conduct municipal elections in the future.

http://www.theislandnow.com/great_neck/cuomo-oks-bill-to-keep-lever-machines/article_36b958da-2946-11e4-a9de-001a4bcf887a.html

[merrily]

1. In 2004 Boston voted for President by paper ballot.

After that they brought in machines to assist as an option. I still use the paper ballot and a pencil, though.

Still, it's good news that the levers will be gone by the end of 2015.

[hrmjustin]

2. I like the lever machines but they need to be retired.

In most elections we use paper ballot and a scanner that reads it.

[merrily]

3. Boston does the same, but you can also fill out the paper ballot by machine.

The important thing is having a hard copy, if it comes to a recount. Although, I guess if people are really crooked, they can make sure it doesn't boil down to recount level.

[hrmjustin]

4. Buy ny law 3 percent of the ballots have to be recounted after the first and official counts.

[merrily]

5. Interesting. Do you know what the thinking behind that was?

Do you know if the law also specifies where the 3% must be from? In other words, I assume all 3% in a Presidential cannot be all from one district.

I don't know what Mass law says. Since I have been here, Democrats win almost everything in the state but the Governorship--and the legislature has always been over 90% Democrat. Romney vetoed all the time and the legislature overrode his veto every single time. Scott Brown was a huge exception. So, I seldom worry about our election laws or process.

I fear that is changing, though. As I walk in commercial areas of my neighborhood, I see placards in store windows for Republican candidates. Ten years ago, that would never have happened.

[hrmjustin]

6. I think in part out of laziness and to make it look like our elevtions are fair.

[merrily]

7. LOL! No wonder the logic did not leap out to me.

As much as I think I am a cynic about politics--and I do think I am now--I can still be very naive, too.

[hrmjustin]

8. Well I am sure they have some legal logic but I think it is about doing less work.