Start Spreadin’ the News: New York Voting Blues

What’s the voting system like in your county? Do you still have punch-card or lever machines? Has voting in your area changed at all since the 2000 presidential election debacle?

New York sued

In New York, nothing’s changed in the voting booth -- literally. The lever voting machines have not budged and the state hasn’t come anywhere near the voter database required by the Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA).

On March 1, 2006, the Justice Department decided to sue New York for its non-compliance with the act, the first lawsuit of its kind. In their defense, New York counties claim that they’re waiting on the state for voting-machine guidelines; meanwhile, state legislators in Albany can’t agree on these guidelines or any plan to modernize the state’s aged election system.

What is HAVA?

Congress passed and President Bush signed the Help Americans Vote Act in 2002. The legislation is meant to fix the glitches in our voting system -- to prevent the Florida fiasco from ever happening again, in any state.

The bill authorized $3.9 billion dollars for election reforms like replacing those passé punch card and lever machines, training poll workers, and creating voter databases. And although Congress set some voting standards through HAVA, the majority left most of the responsibility for election reform to fall on the states.

Statewide Voter Registration Databases

HAVA’s requirements seem specific; the law says that a state’s voter registration database must be a "single, uniform, official, centralized, interactive computerized statewide voter registration list defined, maintained, and administered at the state level that contains the name and registration information of every legally registered voter in the state and assigns a unique identifier to each legally registered voter in the state."

But as it turns out, these directions are vague enough to produce very different databases from one state to another. And some states, like New York, can’t decide how to interpret and implement HAVA’s rules and guidelines and so haven’t even started the registration database.

What NY stands to lose

If it doesn’t get its act together, New York could lose some or all of the $49 million in federal funds it got for new voting machines. And, comparatively, that money may be small potatoes if there is a major controversy caused by faulty machines in an upcoming election.

The lawsuit requests that the court give the state just 30 days to come up with a plan to comply with HAVA in time for the fall elections. State officials admit that they have failed to comply, but doubt that they will be able to do so in the next eight months.

Possible compromise

State and federal negotiators are hoping to reach a compromise that may include a stopgap measure that would allow the lever voting machines to be used in the fall of 2006 as long as there are increased options for disabled voters. In the interim, state officials would work towards more permanent solutions.

Some New York voters worry that without a compromise, the lawsuit’s 30-day deadline may force state legislators to adopt a faulty plan. Others complain that the state should not be given an extension because it has had four years to comply.

Why this is important no matter where you live

Many states, including California, Connecticut, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, are struggling to carry out HAVA as well. Even states that are in compliance with the law are straining to get their new voting systems in order before the November 2006 elections.

For more on voting machines and new voter databases, click here.

Your input matters

Why is the most fundamental component of our democracy - voting - a seemingly low priority for most states? How do we reconcile Iraq’s voting system (which took considerable energy) with our own (which needs to be reenergized)? What’s going on in your voting district? Check out electionline.org for more information.

Your representatives in Congress DO care what you think. Especially now -- 2006 is an election year and many representatives will be looking to reconnect with their constituents. Let your congressmen and women know what you think! Give your senators a piece of your mind! To find your reps, click here.

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Update Posted on: 3/12/2006