Last Chance for Paper Ballots from the NY Legislature

[Bill Bored]

Received From New Yorkers for Verified Voting:

Subject: Paper Ballots for NY - Call the HAVA conference committee (one more time)
Date: 5/1/2005, 8:49 PM
From: Bo Lipari <[e-mail] >

Organization: New Yorkers for Verified Voting

After four weeks of inaction, the HAVA conference committee has finally
agreed to meet again. Last week, the Senate signed the certificate
reauthorizing the conference committee, and they are expected to meet early
this week to resolve the outstanding issues - voter verification and voting
machines.

Even with strong support for Paper Ballots/Optical Scan (PBOS) system among
many members, the HAVA conference committee seems reluctant to call for
outright adoption of this highly reliable, auditable, accessible, and cost
effective voting system. But by not requiring it now, the committee will
essentially punt the voting machine decision to the State Board of
Elections. And if that happens, we're facing many more months of fighting to
keep touch screen voting machines out of our polling places.

So, I'm asking you to call each of the ten members of the conference
committee early this week and tell them that New Yorkers want to vote on
paper ballots and precinct based optical scanners.

Call them and tell them to adopt PBOS, saving New York over 116 million
dollars in acquisition costs.

Call them and tell them to adopt PBOS, so that we have paper ballots for
recounts, and won't have to rely on flawed, unauditable touch screen
machines.

Call them and tell them to adopt PBOS, so that NY will have a proven voting
system that is used in 30% of the counties in the US, and will last 15+
years without need for replacement.

Even if you've called or written before, please do so again. Call as early
in the week as you can, as a decision may be reached within the next few
days.

We're going to continue our fight for reliable voting equipment no matter
what happens, but right now, for the HAVA conference committee and our Paper
Ballots for NY campaign this is our last chance, last dance.

Phone numbers are below. Please call today.

Thanks,
Bo Lipari


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The Senate Members:
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John J. Flanagan, Chair, Senate Elections Committee
518-455-2071

Nicholas Spano
518-455-2231

Serphin Maltese
518-455-3281

Martin Dilan
518-455-2177

George Maziarz
Phone: [phone]

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The Assembly Members:
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Keith Wright, Chair, Assembly Election Law Committee
518-455-4793

RoAnn Destito
518-455-5454

Kevin Cahill
518-455-4436

Helene Weinstein
518-455-5462

Fred W. Thiele Jr.
518-455-5997