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PRESS RELEASE
February 6, 2008
BOE Commissioners to Give Update on Voting Machines
The two commissioners of the Rensselaer County Board of Elections have been invited to give an update to county legislators and members of the public on requirements facing counties to install new voting machines at tonight’s monthly public forum at 6 p.m.
The presentation by Commissioners Larry Bugbee and Edward McDonough will include updates on recent orders by the state Board of Election to counties requiring a choice on new voting machines this month and recent court action by manufacturers of voting machines. The presentation will not include any examples of voting machines.
The update will take place as members of the Republican majority restate their concern over the handling of the voting machine issue. Counties are being given little choice over what types of voting machines can be purchased and even less time to make a decision.
Much of the reason for the compressed time frame is due to a federal court order compelling the state to comply with the federal Help America Vote Act. That order has resulted in the counties being order to select machines as early as February 8. Legislators are concerned about the possible impacts of a rushed decision and the cost to county taxpayers.
“Counties are being given very little role in determining what voting machines are used, and the rush to comply with the federal court order may result in some costly mistakes being made. We have already seen some counties junk the machines they purchased for HAVA compliance,” said Legislator Martin Reid, chairman of the Legislature’s Local Government.
“We are trying our best to get a handle on this fast-changing situation, which changes sometimes by the day with new directives and court actions. Hopefully, the commissioners can give us some helpful information,” added Reid.
The public forum at 6 p.m. will be held in the chambers of the County Legislature, located on the third floor of the County Office Building, 1600 7th Avenue, downtown Troy.
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