Addabbo Advances Election Reforms

New York State Senate Member

Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

15th District

District Office

159-53 102nd Street

Howard Beach , NY 11414

Press Release

For Immediate Release 

Contact:  Judy Close

718-738-1111

                   ADDABBO ADVANCES ELECTION REFORMS 

Queens, NY, March 10, 2010 -- At the last NYS Senate Elections Committee meeting, Chairman Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., moved several pieces of election reform legislation closer to passage. 

The Committee approved legislation designed to prevent a candidate from gaining an unfair advantage on Election Day by barring candidates and their families from serving as poll watchers where they are running, which could have enabled them to engage in electioneering and voter intimidation (S295).  In another bill (S1434), election commissioners and their deputies were barred from running for elective office, which could require them to engage in conduct that would be a conflict of interest, namely, determining any challenges to their own petitions.

“At this time in our history, when public confidence in our government and its elected officials needs to be improved, it is more important than ever that our voters know that their votes do matter and that there is a level playing field for all,” said Addabbo.  “Keeping candidates out of the polls on Election Day and keeping our election commissioners from engaging in self-serving behavior can only foster that goal.”

Senator Addabbo also advanced two bills that he sponsored, which seek to assure that smaller communities have enough accessible polling places (S5029) and that those running for judgeships are registered members of the party on whose line they seek to compete (S4245). 

“Naturally, having a sufficient number of accessible polling places is of overriding importance, and with the advent of new voting systems able to accommodate more voters in a single location, it is necessary that spaces be made available in larger buildings for the purpose of registering and voting,”  added Senator Addabbo.  “That’s why I have sponsored legislation that will make buildings that receive government benefits available for voting to more residents of the state.”

The senator stated that more election reform legislation is on its way. “These bills are just a down payment on the changes I plan to make in order to make it easier for our citizens to vote, increase their participation in the electoral process, while restoring their confidence that their votes matter and that our elections are fair and secure,” concluded Addabbo.

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