ALBANY -- A study by a good-government group is calling for scrapping the partisan, outdated election boards that govern state and New York City elections.

The Citizens Union is proposing an end to the system of one Democrat and one Republican in charge of monitoring and running elections. Group spokesman Dick Dadey says the overhaul is needed to end tied-vote gridlock under the state and city systems that he says have become patronage mills for both parties.

State Board of Elections Co-Chairman Douglas Kellner says the current system works because neither party can knock a candidate off a ballot or take other action without the approval of the other party's representatives.

The study shows others states changed their structure to embrace technology to encourage higher voter turnout.