Several NY Counties Interested in Joining Proposed Litigation Declaring ERMA Unconstitutional

Columbia County Government Round-Up

By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

Sunday, January 31, 2010

HUDSON — The following is a collection of news briefs from recent Columbia County Board of Supervisors and committee meetings.

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Democratic Commissioner of Elections Virginia Martin and Republican Commissioner Jason Nastke presented documentation on the State’s required impending switch to optical scanners and ballot marking devices at the January County Government Committee meeting Jan. 26.

Martin said that several counties, including Nassau County in Long Island, are interested in joining proposed litigation to declare the state Election Reform and Modernization Act of 2005 (ERMA) unconstitutional. Supervisors on the committee were in general agreement that Columbia County’s involvement in the litigation was the right move.

All counties in New York are expected to use optical scanners for the 2010 primary and general elections. Nastke told the committee that just to print the paper ballots from BMDs — ballot marking devices — and optical scanners, it would cost the county $100,000 per year. “The county could put that towards a bridge!” he said. “There’s nothing for us to lose by joining in this lawsuit.”

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Optical scanners were certified by the State Board of Elections in December, and ERMA would require the discontinuing of lever machines. “There’s a difference with what the federal government asked, and what the state wants us to do,” said Supervisor Leo Pulcher, R-Stockport.

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 does not require states to replace their lever voting machines.

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http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2010/01/31/news/doc4b64e648235f5128304327.txt

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