Hopefully by the time you read this Gov. Andrew Cuomo has already signed into law a bill proposed by state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel (D-Great Neck) and state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) that would extend the use of lever-voting machines for village, school board and special district elections throughout the state until Dec. 31, 2015.
Unless the extension becomes law, municipalities will be forced to use paper ballots or electronic voting machines for elections after Dec. 31, 2014.
The state Board of Elections doesn’t like the use of the lever machines. This is the same board that introduced the ballot scanners which use pencils and paper to take a giant step backwards in the voting process.
The system requires twice as many poll workers on voting day and magnifying lenses for the elderly who can’t read the paper ballot. The process is more expense, slower and no more reliable than the lever machines.
In the age of the smart phone we went back to paper on Election Day.
Why not create a system that would allow voters to a use smart phone, pad or computer to vote from the comfort of their homes?
There will still be some people who prefer to come to a voting place, but that number will steadily decrease.
A high-tech online voting system designed for the 21st century could include links that would explain the position and qualifications of the candidates running for that office.
This would increase voter participation in local elections, such as school boards, where turnout is traditionally very low.
How many times do ordinary voters pull a lever or fill out a paper ballot without a clue about whom or what they are voting for?
In the information age, we can do better.
In the interim we hope the governor will sign this bill and save the lever until there is something more cost efficient to take its place.
