Senator Steve Saland and Assemblyman Marc Molinaro Offer Information Regarding the New Voting Machines

SENATOR STEVE SALAND AND ASSEMBLYMAN MARC MOLINARO OFFER INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW VOTING MACHINES

BEFORE ELECTION DAY, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE NEW VOTING MACHINES

Election Day is less than one week away.  For most, it will be a first opportunity to vote on new voting machines.  All States were required to meet specific criteria in the selection of new machines as a result of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA).  As a result, voters in Dutchess and Columbia Counties will cast their votes on the Image Cast Optical Scan Voting machine.

These new machines differ from our old lever style machine, requiring voters to fill in a circle indicating their voting selections and inserting the paper into a machine to be read electronically.  The new voting procedure allows the Board of Elections to maintain a copy of your paper ballot to be counted if there is a dispute on the recorded votes.  In addition, individuals with disabilities can be accommodated through special equipment which will aid those with physical disabilities as well as individuals with vision, cognitive or dexterity impairments.  Should you require additional assistance due to a disability, please notify a poll worker at your polling site.  

If you have not yet had an opportunity to vote on the Image Cast Optical Scan Voting machine or have not witnessed a demonstration of the new machines, we encourage you to view the materials posted online by state Board of Elections. The Board of Elections has a video which is easy to follow and will assist in your understanding of the new voting procedure. The video may be accessed at http://www.vote-ny.com/english/machine-sequoia.php

If you do not have access to a computer or if you have additional questions, we encourage you to please call your county board of elections to request a pamphlet describing the new voting machines.

Phone information for your county Board of Elections:

Columbia County Board of Elections:  (518) 828-3115

Dutchess County Board of Elections:  (845) 486-2473