AUBURN - A sudden decision by the state Board of Elections to make New York's voting machines compliant with federal regulations could cause problems this fall in Cayuga County. Election officials are cool on the call to install at least one new machine at all 65 polling locations in time for November elections.
After several years of pushing back deadlines, the state this week ordered county commissioners to order HAVA-compliant, handicap-accessible machines by Feb. 8. The choices are limited to three models, none of which use touch-screen technology that one county official would prefer.
“They're giving us no choice,” Republican Election Commissioner Cherl Heary said Friday. “Our hands are tied.”
The federal Help America Vote Act was passed in 2002 in an effort to avoid a repeat of the 2000 presidential election debacle in Florida. Most states have instituted the changes, but New York has lagged.
Now the state is operating on a court-ordered timetable to comply with HAVA. The state Board of Elections decision Thursday is a part of that.
Currently each county is required to have one handicap-accessible machine. This week's decision requires all 65 polling locations to have one by the next election.
The county will need about 100 to replace every machine. It's likely the county and state will convert to optical scan machines that tally votes on paper ballots.
Like many of her contemporaries, Heary is worried about privacy, security and logistical problems the machines could cause.
“There's going to be a lot of delays, a lot of ballots to use,” she said.
The optical scan method rejects incomplete ballots, which will add time to the process. More important to Heary, the machines can be tampered with more easily than their all-digital touch screen cousins.
“No matter what machines we end up with, it's unfortunate we're going to have to decide tomorrow,” Heary said.
The county's Democratic Commissioner Dennis Sedor was not available for comment Friday.
There are no specific details on how the machines, which run about $5,000 each, will be paid for. Even with the promise of federal funding, it adds frustration at the county level, Heary said.
As part of the timeline ordered by a federal judge, New York must decide how it will replace all of its machines by October and have updated apparatuses by fall 2009 elections.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
“They're giving us no choice,” Republican Election Commissioner Cherl Heary said Friday. “Our hands are tied.”
The federal Help America Vote Act was passed in 2002 in an effort to avoid a repeat of the 2000 presidential election debacle in Florida. Most states have instituted the changes, but New York has lagged.
Now the state is operating on a court-ordered timetable to comply with HAVA. The state Board of Elections decision Thursday is a part of that.
Currently each county is required to have one handicap-accessible machine. This week's decision requires all 65 polling locations to have one by the next election.
The county will need about 100 to replace every machine. It's likely the county and state will convert to optical scan machines that tally votes on paper ballots.
Like many of her contemporaries, Heary is worried about privacy, security and logistical problems the machines could cause.
“There's going to be a lot of delays, a lot of ballots to use,” she said.
The optical scan method rejects incomplete ballots, which will add time to the process. More important to Heary, the machines can be tampered with more easily than their all-digital touch screen cousins.
“No matter what machines we end up with, it's unfortunate we're going to have to decide tomorrow,” Heary said.
The county's Democratic Commissioner Dennis Sedor was not available for comment Friday.
There are no specific details on how the machines, which run about $5,000 each, will be paid for. Even with the promise of federal funding, it adds frustration at the county level, Heary said.
As part of the timeline ordered by a federal judge, New York must decide how it will replace all of its machines by October and have updated apparatuses by fall 2009 elections.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
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