Stuart A. Thompson | June 4, 2023
“If you read an article that says that these voting machines are coming in, and people’s concerns about these issues are very similar to those of the Stop the Steal movement, then it makes it very hard for Democrats to work on this issue,” Ms. Friesdat said. “And it has nothing to do with that. It has nothing to do with the Stop the Steal movement.”
Read the full article at the NY Times website
New York elections are at a dangerous crossroads. New types of voting machines, called “all-in-one” and “universal-use”, are attempting to flood the state. These systems do not allow you to vote with a pen and paper. They will radically change the way we vote, increase costs, and likely increase wait times, especially in communities of color. Experts say:elections conducted on these systems cannot be confirmed by audits.
One of these new voting systems also wraps your vote in a barcode. The barcode is what's counted, not the text you see. There is no way for you to verify who you are voting for.
New Yorkers have been voting with either a pen and paper or a ballot-marking device for over 10 years. That system works. Voters can vote in the way that they prefer.
There is proposed legislation to ensure that we continue to have that choice, but powerful vendors doing business with the state are blocking it.
Time is running out. The NY legislature is only in session through June 8th.
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New York elections are at a dangerous crossroads. New types of voting machines, called “all-in-one” or “universal-use”, are attempting to flood the state.
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YOUR VOTE IS UNDER ATTACK
New York elections are at a dangerous crossroads. New types of voting machines, called “all-in-one” and “universal-use”, are attempting to flood the state.
Both of these designs often use a computerized ATM-style voting machine that does not allow you to use a hand-marked paper ballot. Both types of voting machines are in the process of being approved by the New York State Board of Elections.
These voting machines have other worrisome features, such as counting votes with barcodes. Experts say that using barcodes to count votes makes it “impossible for the voter to verify who they voted for.”
Experts and good government groups say these machines will change New York’s entire way of voting, undermine confidence, and vastly increase election budgets, because these voting machines are the most expensive on the market. They warn of longer lines to vote, because they say that when everyone votes on a computerized ballot-marker … everyone waits longer.
Experts and good government groups recommend lawmakers take action to protect New York voters by immediately passing two bills updating New York’s election security laws, which have not had an overhaul since 2005.
The recommended bills are VIVA NY A5934A /S6169A and (The Discretion Bill) A3993 / S6708.
You can write or call your legislator and ask them to co-sponsor VIVA NY & The Discretion Bill and to pass both bills immediately.
Find your Assembly Member. Find your Senator.
Suggested Script: Please pass VIVA New York immediately. We want to make sure voters have the option to vote with both a hand-marked paper ballot and a ballot marking device in all NY polling places. This is how we’ve been voting and it works great. New voting machines are coming into the state that will eliminate hand-marked paper ballots wherever they are used if we don’t pass this bill. Please pass this bill immediately. Thank you!
Write or call the NY Governor and ask her to reach out to the legislature and support VIVA NY & The Discretion Bill
You and groups you work with can join the coalition fighting to preserve our way of voting in New York.
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