COMING UP: VOTING IS THE MOST DEMOCRACY BUT OUR SYSTEM FOR ENSURING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IS UNDER THREAT WHAT'S BEING DONE AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL TO MAKE SURE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE REMAINS THE STANDARD OF THE LAND WE'LL TAKE UP THAT QUESTION AND MORE, NEXT ON CONNECT NY WELCOME TO CONNECT NEW YORK I'M DAVIED CHANATRY, FROM UTICA COLLEGE.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, IN WAYS PERHAPS UNIMAGINABLE IN THE RECENT PAST, OUR SYSTEM FOR CHOOSING ELECTED LEADERS IN AMERICA HAS COME UNDER ATTACK VOTING MAY BE FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY, BUT EXTREME POLARIZATION HAS LED TO SHARP PARTISAN DIFFERENCES AS TO WHAT CONSTITUTES A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

RAZOR-THIN MARGINS IN SOME ELECTIONS HAVE REVEALED SIGNIFICANT FLAWS IN THE WAYS WE ADMINISTER THE VOTE.

HOW CAN WE RESTORE TRUST IN OUR ELECTIONS?

HOW CAN OUR ELECTIONS BE PROTECTED FROM CYBER-ATTACK?

AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE ENTITLED TO VOTE GETS A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO CAST A BALLOT?

WE'LL TAKE UP THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE WITH OUR GUESTS.. JENNIFER WILSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW YORK STATE.

DUSTIN CZARNY, THE DEMOCRATIC ELECTION COMMISSIONER AT THE ONONDAGA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS MARY EGGER, ELECTIONS COMMISSIONER AT MADISON COUNTY, AND OCESA KEATON, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GREATER SYRACUSE HOPE, AN ANTI-POVERTY ORGANIZATION LET'S START WITH THE NOTION OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AND SIMPLY COUNTING VOTES HOW CAN WE BE SURE WHEN WE CAST OUR BALLOTS AND THE VOTES ARE COUNTED, THAT WE'VE ACTUALLY COUNTED CORRECTLY AND DETERMINED THE PROPER WINNER?

WE HAD INCREDIBLY CLOSE ELECTION IN ONE OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, NY 22, WHICH REVEALED A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS THAT WE'LL DISCUSS IN SOME DETAIL LATER IN THE PROGRAM BUT FIRST, LET'S TURN TO THE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS ON THE PANEL DUSTIN AND MARY, HOW DO YOU ENSURE IN YOUR OFFICES THAT THE COUNT IS ACCURATE?

DUSTIN, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE THIS GREAT PAPER BALLOT SYSTEM IN NEW YORK.

SO EVERYTHING WE DO AT THE ELECTION LEVEL, AT EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE OR ON ELECTION DAY, IS TRACKABLE THROUGH THE PAPER BALLOTS AND SO THE MACHINES THAT SCAN THE BALLOTS ARE NEVER CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

AND WE DOUBLE CHECK THOSE COUNTS THROUGH A HAND COUNT AUDIT OF 3% OF THE MACHINES AFTER THE ELECTION AND THEN IN SUPER CLOSE RACES, WE DO A HAND COUNT OF ALL THE BALLOTS IN THE RACE.

AND THAT SHOWS US THE ACCURACY THE OUR SYSTEM AND AS WELL AS ENSURES THAT EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED PROPERLY.

>> SO MAYBE WE SHOULD GET RID OF THOSE MACHINES ALL TOGETHER AND JUST RELY ON-- >> WELL, NOT IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ELECTION RESULTS ON ELECTION NIGHT.

IT TAKES QUITE A BIT TO DO HAND COUNTING PROPERLY.

IT WOULD TAKE WEEKS TO GET ELECTION RESULTS.

AND IN MY COUNTY, WHEN WE HAD A 45-MINUTE DELAY BECAUSE OF A TECHNICAL ERROR ON OUR WEBSITE, PEOPLE WENT NUTS.

SO WE DO-- I DO BELIEVE THE SCANNING MACHINES WORK, THEY'RE SECURE, THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET AND THEN THE RESULTS ARE VERIFIABLE THROUGH THE PAPER BALLOT.

>> AND MARY, WHAT ABOUT IN MADISON COUNTY, WHICH IS PART OF THE 22nd.

WAS THAT VOTE, EVERY RACE EVERY VOTE HAD TO BE COUNTED WITH THE AUDIT WITH THE PAPER SOME.

>> WELL, I THINK SPECIFICALLY IT WAS THE ABSENTEES THAT WERE IN QUESTION FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE MACHINES WE DID, WE VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS A 3% AUDIT.

BUT AN IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS WE GIVE EACH POLL SITE SO MANY PIECES OF PAPER AND WE DO.

WE SAY, OKAY, THIS MANY PEOPLE VOTED, THIS MANY BALLOTS WERE SPOILED AND WE HAVE TO VERIFY THAT THEY'RE STILL-- IT TOTALS 500.

THE BIG THING WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WAS THE ABSENTEES THAT WERE THE RECANVASSING.

>> AND WE'LL DID I GO INTO THAT -- WE'LL DIG INTO THAT, THE DISTRICT IN A BIT.

HAS THE PANDEMIC, DID THE PANDEMIC CHANGE THE WAY YOU OPERATE AT ALL?

>> IT CHANGED EVERYTHING ABOUT THE WAY WE OPERATE.

NEW YORK IS TRADITIONALLY AN IN-PERSON VOTING STATE.

BEFORE 2020, WE HAD LIMITED AMOUNT OF MAIL-IN BALLOTING OR ABSENTEES.

YOU HAD TO HAVE AN EXCUSE.

YOU HAD TO BE OUT OF THE COUNTY OR SICK OR UNABLE TO GO TO THE POLLS.

AND WE WOULD SEE ABOUT, TWO TO 3% OF OUR ACTUAL BALLOTS COUNTED BY ABSENTEE.

THAT GREW TO 25% IN THE HIGHEST TURNOUT ELECTION EVER IN NEW YORK CITY IN 2020.

WE HAD OVER 60,000 ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN ONONDAGA COUNTY COMPARED TO 3,000 THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO THE WAY WE PROCESS ABSENTEE CHANGED.

SANITIZING, MASK, POLLING STATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUR POLL WORKERS SAFE, AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC, THAT CHANGED GREATLY.

AND, OF COURSE, KEEPING UP WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS LAST YEAR WAS A SPORT IN AND OF ITSELF.

SO WE HAD TO BE VERY NIMBLE.

AND I THINK WE WERE.

>> THE GROUND WAS CHANGING.

JENNIFER, LET HE TURN TO YOU.

FROM YOUR PERCH IN THE POSITION AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN NEW YORK STATE, DOES NEW YORK DO A GOOD JOB ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS?

>> I THINK THAT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY HERE IN NEW YORK STATE EVEN FROM FIVE YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF ADVANCEMENTS AND THROWN A LOT OF THINGS AT COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS AND FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEM, THEY'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF ADJUSTING TO EARLY VOTING AND MORE ABSENTEE VOTING, MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOTER REGISTRATION COPPING SOON.

SO I DO THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB.

WE ARE NOT THE BEST IN THE NATION.

BUT WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION SINCE A LOT OF THESE PROGRESSIVE REFORMS HAVE PASSED.

>> AND SO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES IN YOUR VIEW, THAT MOST NEED TO BE ADDRESSED?

>> I THINK NEW YORK STATE AS A WHOLE HAS A BIG ISSUE WITH LACK OF FUNDING FOR OUR ELECTIONS.

IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UNDERFUNDED SERVICES IF YOU WANTED TO CALL IT THAT, OUT OF THE ENTIRE STATE.

AND AS A RESULT, WE DON'T AS MANY POLL SITES AS WE PROBABLY NEED.

WE DON'T HAVE BALLOT ON DEMAND IN MOST PLACES.

WE DON'T HAVE ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS IN MOST PLACES AND A LOT OF OUR COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ARE UNDERSTAFFED.

>> WEIGH NEED MORE MONEY AND I BET YOU GUYS WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

>> DEFINITELY.

I THINK AGAIN, LAST YEAR WITH THE INCREASE ON ABSENTEE VOTERS, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE COVERING ALL OF THE ENDS.

>> WAS THE LEVEL OF FUNDING INCREASED WITH THE THINGS YOU HAD TO DO, JUST TO PROTECT FROM COVID-19?

>> I THINK THERE WERE PEOPLE IN SUPPORT OF IT IN SUPPORT OF US AS A BOARD AND SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TELL US WHAT YOU NEED AND WE WILL SUPPORT YOU.

THE DIFFICULT PART ABOUT LAST YEAR IS, AGAIN, THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS THROWN AT US AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU NEEDED AND WHEN WITHOUT HAVING IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU BECAUSE WE WERE STUFFING BALLOTS AND WE WERE SENDING THEM OUT AND WE WERE TRYING TO MANIPULATE A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE ARE TIMELINES.

EVENTUALLY ELECTION DAY DOES HAPPEN AND THEN IT'S TOO LATE.

>> I DO THINK THAT THE PANDEMIC POINTED OUT A BIG PROBLEM IN DISPARITY, IN THE WAY WE FUND OUR ELECTION IN NEW YORK.

ELECTIONS ARE FUNDED ON A COUNTY BY COUNTY BASIS.

THEY'RE PART OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AND MANY TIMES THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT MAY NOT BE FRIENDLY TO THE ELECTIONS BOARD BECAUSE WE ARE AN INDEPENDENT BOARD.

WE HIRE OUR OWN PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T CONTROL OUR OPERATIONS.

AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE OUTRIGHT HOSTILE TO THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS AND WAS WE SEE IS A DISPARATE LEVEL OF SERVICE IS GOING FROM COUNTY TO COUNTY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STATEWIDE MINIMUMS IN FUNDING, IN STAFFING, AND RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED, AND THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE ARGUMENT THAT I'VE BEEN MAKING IN ALBANY IS THAT YES, WE NEED REFORM OF THE BOARDS BUT WE ALSO NEED REFORMS OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING US WITH THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF FUNDING TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO GO FROM THE PEOPLE ADMINISTERING ELECTIONS TO PEOPLE ACTUALLY VOTING AND I WANT TO BRING YOU IN, YOU ARE A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST IN SYRACUSE.

YOU WORK EVERY DAY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT TYPICALLY PART OF THEY ELITE POWER STRUCTURE THAT MAKES THE RULES IN TERMS OF ELECTIONS AND SO DO THEY FEEL THE SYSTEM TREATS THEM FAIRLY; THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE AS OTHERS?

>> WELL, TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION TRUTHFULLY, I WOULD SAY NO, THEY DON'T FEEL THE SYSTEM TREATS THEM FAIRLY.

I THINK THERE IS STILL A LOT OF DISTRUST IN GOING TO CAST YOUR VOTE, BELIEVING THAT EACH VOTE WILL BE COUNTED FAIRLY.

SOME OF THIS IS ACCURATE BUT A LOT OF IT IS BASED OFF OF HISTORICAL THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED AND PEOPLE RECOUNTING THOSE HISTORICAL EVENTS TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS AND SO FORTH.

I WOULD SAY THAT BEING THAT I HAVE WORKED SO CLOSELY WITH DUSTIN, THAT THERE HAS BEEN MEASURES OR ARE MEASURES PUT IN PLACE TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO THE POLLING SITES BUT IT CAN BE VERY INDIM TATING, ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS JUST GIVEN OUR HISTORY WITH THE VOTE IN THIS COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE TO MOVE AROUND FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND SOMETIMES THEY GET CONFUSED ABOUT WHERE THEIR POLLING LOCATIONS.

AND THAT CAN BE DISCOURAGING TO THEM AS WELL, JUST UNDERSTANDING THE INS AND OUTS OF THE WHOLE VOTING PROCESS.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GO TO THE WRONG POLLING PLACE AND THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYBODY, RIGHT?

SOMETIMES I WONDER WHERE WHERE WE ARE VOTING THIS TIME BECAUSE IT DOES CHANGE.

IF SOMEONE SHOWS UP AT THE WRONG POLLING PLACE, WHAT HAPPENS THEN?

>> WELL, HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IS THAT A VOLUNTEER HELPS REDIRECT THEM TO WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO GO.

I HAVE BEEN TOLD OF INSTANCES WHERE THEY WERE JUST TOLD YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT SOMETHING IN THE MAIL AND THEN THAT'S IT.

INDIVIDUALS DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO ONLINE AND LOOK IT UP BUT THEN THAT BRINGS INTO QUESTION THE OTHER ISSUE WE HAVE: ACCESS.

HOW MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO GETTING ON THE INTERNET IN THAT PARTICULAR ON THE SPOT.

TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEIR POLLING LOCATION IS, PARTICULARLY I'M THINKING OF SENIOR CITIZENS.

THAT WOULD BE A DAUNTING TASK FOR A SENIOR TO DO.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT PERHAPS MANY OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME WAY FOR EVERYBODY.

ONE THING WE SEE MORE OF THESE DAYS ARE LONG LINES AT POLLING PLACES.

NOT EVERYWHERE BUT YOU THE DOES SEEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT LONGER TO CAST THEIR BALLOT TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT.

WHAT IS GOING ON IS THAT AN ISSUE I GUESS ONONDAGA COUNTY WOULD BE MOST LIKELY PLACE.

>> WE EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY LONG LINES DURING EARLY VOTING LAST YEAR IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

AND AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO LEVELS OF RESOURCES.

THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE WOULD NOT DO MORE THAN THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF EARLY VOTING SITES EVEN IN A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR AND THAT DIRECTLY RESULTED IN LONG LINES HERE IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED WITH THE NEXT BILL.

THERE IS A BILL THAT IS GOING TO BE SIGNED WITH THE GOVERNOR THAT IS GOING TO MANDATE EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING STATEWIDE.

I THINK IT IS NECESSARY WE HAVE DONE IT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW AND WE WILL SEE AN EXPANSION OF THE NUMBER OF EARLY VOTING SITES THROUGHOUT STATE AND EVEN DOWNSTATE WHEN WHERE THEY HAD MORE THAN THE MINIMUM ABOUT THE THE MINIMUM WAS TOO LOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE SITES AND THAT SHOULD RELIEVE THE LINES.

WHAT WILL ALSO RELIEVE THE LINES IS NO FAULT ABSENTEE IF THAT IS IMPLEMENTED BY THE VOTERS THIS YEAR.

YOU WILL SEE MORE VOTERS STAYING HOME AND VOTING BY MAIL WHICH WILL ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE LINES AS WELL.

>> THERE ARE NO STANDARDS AT THIS POINT BUT THERE COULD SOON BE STATEWIDE STANDARDS.

>> THERE IS A MINIMUM STANDARD BUT IT'S NOT HIGH ENOUGH AND IT WILL GET BETTER NEXT YEAR.

>> WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK WITH EARLY VOTING FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS, OR GOVERNOR YEARS, IT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE LOCAL YEARS, SO DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO HAVE AN ACROSS THE BOARD LIKE OUR SWITCH TO THE HIGHEST MUNICIPALITY VERSE HAVING THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OR, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER PERSON DECIDE OKAY, THIS IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE VOTERS IN THE COUNTY WITH US MOVING TO THE HIGHEST MUNICIPALITY, IT KIND OF PUTS OUR POLL SITE IN THE NORTHERN WEST PORTION OF THE COUNTY AND WHERE IT WAS BEFORE WAS OUR COUNTY SEAT WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT MORE CENTRALIZED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW WHERE IT IS BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THE D.M.V.

IS.

IT'S WHERE OUR BOARD OF ELECTIONS SITE IS SO THE LAW THAT SAYS, OKAY, LET'S MOVE TO THE HIGHEST MUNICIPALITY, I FEEL WE FEEL IN OUR COUNTY, WASN'T AS BENEFICIAL TO OUR VOTERS; SO TO HAVE THAT BE KIND OF A GENERAL BLANKET, I THINK, CAN BE DIFFICULT IN SAYING LIKE EARLY VOTING NUMBERS HAVE TO INCREASE FOR EVERY ELECTION BECAUSE THERE ARE PRIMARIES THAT WE HAD 200 VOTERS AT FOR THE WHOLE NINE DAYS.

>> SO WE SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE AUDIENCE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH MADISON COUNTY AND ONONDAGA COUNTY, ONONDAGA COUNTY IS WHERE SYRACUSE IS AND IT'S AN URBAN COUNTY.

MADISON COUNTY IS QUITE A RURAL COUNTY, ONE OF THE MOST RURAL COUNTIES IN THE STATE, ALTHOUGH THE TWO BORDER EACH OTHER, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> WE ARE NEIGHBORS.

>> NOW JENNIFER, WHENEVER I GO TO VOTE, THE PLACE IS ALWAYS STAFFED BY SOME VERY NICE ELDERLY PEOPLE I GUESS THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY VOLUNTEERS.

THEY GET SOME COMPENSATION FOR THAT, BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE-- I MEAN BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE ALL THESE POLLING PLACES BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE POLLING PEOPLE IN THERE TO MAN THEM, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?

SO WHAT CAN BE ONTO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY PEOPLE?

>> YEAH, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY, IT GOES BACK TO FUNDING BUT I THINK MORE THAN THAT, THIS SORT OF IDEA OF CIVILITY THAT OLDER NEW YORKERS HAVE THAT MAYBE YOUNGER NEW YORKERS DON'T AS MUCH.

I DON'T THINK THE POLL WORKER RECRUITMENT ACROSS THE STATE IS AS ROBUST AS IT COULD BE.

AND ALSO THE IDEA OF WORKING THE SHIFT, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH EARLY VOTING, THEY'RE OFTEN EXPECTED TO WORK THE ENTIRE EARLY VOTING WEEK PLUS ELECTION DAY AND THE ENTIRE DAY OF ELECTION DAY WHICH IS LIKE A 12-HOUR DAY.

-- >> 17 HOUR DAY.

>> THAT DOESN'T SOUND VERY ENTICING.

AND I THINK THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPLIT SHIFTS FOR POLL WORKERS WHERE MAYBE YOU COULD WORK A HALF DAY AND SOMEONE COULD COME IN AND COVER YOU OR WORKING WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MORE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ACT AS POLL WORKERS, TOO, IN ALLOWING THEM TO ACT AS POLL WORKERS COULD HELP WITH THAT BUT YES, I DO THINK IN NEW YORK STATE WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RECRUITING AND RETAINING POLL WORKERS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE YOUNGER PEOPLE DO IT ONCE THAT 17-HOUR DAY AND NEVER AGAIN.

I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

>> BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, ADMINISTRATIVE WISE, IT GETS REALLY HARD.

I'VE TRIED TO SPLIT SHIFTS.

I'VE TRIED TO RECRUIT YOUNGER WORKERS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO SHOW UP AT 5:00 A.M.

THIS IS-- IT IS A TOUGHER JOB BUT ALSO PART OF THE PROBLEM, IT GOES BACK TO FUNDING.

AND PAY A LOT OF THE COUNTIES PAY BEAR MINIMUM WAGE FOR PAY POLL WORKERS AND DON'T WANT TO PAY TO TRAIN THEM AS WELL AND THAT IS GOING INTO THE PROBLEM THERE.

SO IF WE HAVEY, AGAIN, MORE ADEQUATE FUNDING, MORE ABILITY TO RECRUIT, I THINK WE CAN RECRUIT THE POLL WORKERS.

BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES WHAT SOUNDS GOOD IN THEORY, IN PRACTICE ENDS UP NOT WORKING FOR THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE HOLES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

>> OKAY.

NOW OF COURSE THE MOST RECENT ELECTION 2020 VOTE CAN A YEAR AGO FEATURED MILLIONS OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS AFTER STATES LOOSENED THE RULES BECAUSE OF COVID PANDEMIC.

NEW YORK CURRENTLY IS ONE OF 16 STATES THAT HAS RESTRICTIONS WHEN YOU CAN USE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT, YOU HAVE TO BE OUT OF TOWN OR SICK OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES TO BE DECIDED ON BALLOT THIS FALL.

BALLOT NUMBER 4.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO SEE PEOPLE IN THE STATE VOTE ON THAT?

>> I THINK THAT PASSAGE OF THAT REFERENDUM WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE STATE.

JUST SO THE VOTING LANDSCAPE IN GENERAL BECAUSE IT WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.

IT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO MINORITIES THAT LIVE IN LOW TRANSPORTATION AREAS.

AND YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE OFTEN OVERLOOK IS THE DIFFICULTIES THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DISABILITIES SOMETIMES HAVE GETTING TO THE POLLS.

I JUST USE MYSELF AS AN ETCH.

I HAVE A CRON-- AN EXAMPLE.

I HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS, LUPUS ARTHRITIS AND FLARE-UPS CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE.

I WOULD BE DEVASTATED IF GOD FORBID I HAD A FLARE-UP AROUND THE TIME OF VOTING AND WAS UNABLE TO CAST MY VOTE.

A NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE BALLOT WOULD BASICALLY ELIMINATE THAT POSSIBILITY FOR PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF.

>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED THAT EVEN IN THE LAST ELECTION, THAT THE NUMBER OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS IS SORT OF AN INVITATION TO FRAUD.

THAT IT IS EASIER TO CHEAT.

IS THAT SOMETHING, MARY, THAT IS A CONCERN TO YOU?

>> IT IS A CONCERN ESPECIALLY GOING THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LAST YEAR.

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP WITH THE AMOUNT THAT WE WERE BEING ASKED TO DO WITH THE STAFF THAT WE HAD.

THE OTHER PIECE TO THAT IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT ISSUING ABSENTEE AND GOING TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

WITH ALL THESE REFORMS, IT'S JUST TREEING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WILL BE IN PLACE SO THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

SO IF ALL THESE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING QUICKLY, IT CAN BE DIFFICULT SO IT HAS TO KIND OF GO IN STEPS VERSUS JUST SAYING, OKAY, LET'S GO AND WE'LL DO NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE FOR ANYBODY.

I KIND OF FEEL THAT'S WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR WITH COVID.

IT OPENED THE FLOOD GATES.

LOTS OF PEOPLE DID THAT AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HAVING THE CHECKS AND BALANCES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ELECTION.

>> WELL, IF I CAN POINT-- I THINK I HAVE A DIFFERING OPINION.

>> TAKE IT AWAY.

>> BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS CONCERN FOR FRAUD.

WE DO A CHECK OF THE SIGNATURES ON THE ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

WE DID 60,000 SIGNATURE CHECKS IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

I KNOW I STILL SEE THEM IN MY SLEEP.

WE DID THE WORK BECAUSE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

WE SCALE UP AND WE GET THE JOB DONE WHEN IT'S PRESENTED TO US.

I DO UNDERSTAND CONCERN THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND TIME TO IMPLEMENT REFORMS.

SOME OF MY ISSUES I HAVE WITH THE LEGISLATURE IS THEY PASS A BILL AND THEN WAIT SIX MONTHS FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN IT AND THEN IT TAKES TIME FOR THE STATE BOARD TO COME UP WITH REGULATIONS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE IMPLEMENTING IT WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO GET THE FUNDING NEEDED TO BUY THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT.

THAT BEING SAID, ELECTRONIC POLL BOOKS, ABSENTEE BALLOT SORTING MACHINES, SCANNERS AND, YOU KNOW, ALSO JUST PURE STAFFING UP AROUND ELECTION TIME TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS CAN ALLEVIATE THE FRAUD CONCERNS AND LET'S FACE IT.

THERE IS NO MASS IN PERSON VOTER FRAUD.

THAT IS A MYTH BROUGHT ABOUT BY PARTISAN ACTORS THAT WANT TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, BUT PUT THE SYSTEM IN QUESTION BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION AND THAT'S UNFAIR.

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH DUSTIN ON THAT ISSUE ABOUT THE MYTH OF MASS VOTER FRAUD.

I MEAN RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE BRITAIN CENTER OF JUSTICE JUST ISSUED A VERY THOROUGH REPORT THE MYTH OF VOTER FRAUD WHERE IT SHOWS IT IS LESS THAN 1% OF VOTER FRAUD HAS BEEN PROVEN AND DOCUMENTED.

AND THE HERITAGE CENTER, WHICH IS A CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK ALSO HAD THE RESULTS THAT STATES WITH A HIGH RATE OF ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTERS HAS ABOUT THE SAME RATE OF VOTER FRAUD OR PERCEIVED VOTER FRAUD AS THOSE STATES THAT HAVE A LOW RATE OF ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTING.

>> NOW RAITIONS IN NEW YORK, A LOT-- RACES IN NEW YORK, THE ACCUSATIONS OF FRAUD TEND TO BE IN NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND IN BATTLE GROUND STATES WHICH OF COURSE NEW YORK IS NO.

IT'S A VERY DEMOCRATIC STATE.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS DON'T COME UP HERE BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE OFTEN HEAR DUSTIN IS DEAD PEOPLE ARE VOTING.

SO HERE IS THE QUESTION.

ARE DEAD PEOPLE VOTING?

>> NO, THEY'RE NOT.

COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS SCAN COUNTY HEALTH RECORDS FOR NOTICES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEASED.

WE COMPARE THEM TO OUR VOTER REGISTRATION ROLLS.

WE SCAN IN OBITUARIES.

AND WE ALSO HAVE ANNUAL MAIL CHECK CARTS THAT GO OUT TO EVERY VOTER IN THE COUNTY TO ASK, ARE YOU STILL THERE?

IF THOSE COME BACK, IRED HAVING MOVED OR DECEASED OR WHATEVER, THEY GET PUT INTO INACTIVE STATUS AND THEY HAVE TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, FILL OUT AN AFFIDAVIT BALLOT WHEN THEY GO TO THE POLLS.

AND WE DO SIGNATURE MATCHES ON THOSE AS WELL.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S REALISTIC.

IT'S, AGAIN, AN ONGOING MYTH THAT HAPPENS NOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO SAY THINGS DON'T HAPPEN.

WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE INSTANCES IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE PEOPLE WERE VOTING FOR THEIR DEAD RECENTLY DECEASED RELATIVES.

BUT WE SEE THOSE INSTANCES BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING CAUGHT.

AND THEY'RE GETTING PROSECUTED.

IT'S SO EASY TO GET CAUGHT IF YOU ARE DOING VOTER FRAUD.

DON'T DO IT BECAUSE YOU WILL GET CAUGHT.

IT IS SO EASY TO GET CAUGHT.

THE BENEFIT-- THE RISK OUTWEIGHS THE BENEFIT.

AND BELIEVE ME, I COME FROM THE BACKGROUND OF G.O.

TV.

I WAS A CAMPAIGN ACTIVIST BEFORE I BECAME A COMMISSIONER.

IF I HAD 20 PEOPLE WILLING TO COMMIT VOTER FRAUD, I WOULD RATHER GET THEM OUT THE DOORS AND GET 200 PEOPLE IN.

>> THERE IS THE QUESTION OF SCALE EVEN IF COULD YOU DO IT, IN ORDER TO DO IT AT A LEVEL IN ORDER TO AFFECT ANYTHING.

BACK TO THE ABSENTEE BALLOT VOTING.

GENERAL JENNIFER, WHY DO WE HAVE THE RESTRICTION WE HAVE IN NEW YORK STATE?

WHY ARE WE BEHIND THE CURVE ON THAT?

>> IT'S AN OLD SCHOOL THING WE HAVE IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

THERE ARE SOME STATES WHO STILL HAVE THIS CURRENTLY OR RECENTLY GOT RID OF IT OR GOT RID OF IT LONG AGO BUT HERE IN NEW YORK STATE, WE'VE JUST CONTINUED IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY, MAYBE TO DOES TIP'S APPOINT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T VOTE ABSENTEE AND PARTIALLY FOR THIS REASON.

IT'S 2021.

THERE ARE STATES ENTIRELY MAIL-IN VOTING SYSTEMS.

NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE THE BEAR MINIMUM OPPORTUNITY.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO TELL THE GOVERNMENT THAT I'M GOING TO BE AWAY FROM MY HOUSE IF I WANT ABSENTEE BALLOT.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY GIVE ME AN ABSENTEE BALLOT AND THAT SHOULD BE THE END OF THE CONVERSATION.

>> THERE IS A DIFFERENCE HEY, GIVE ME AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BALLOT AND JUST GIVING YOU AN ABSENTEE BALLOT RIGHT?

MASS MAILING OUT BALLOTS TO EVERYBODY?

THAT WAS AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP THIS YEAR?

>> SURE THERE ARE STATES THAT HAVE ENTIRELY VOTE BY MAIL SYSTEMS, WASHINGTON STATE HAS WON, AND IT ACTUALLY WORKS GREAT AND IT SAVES THEM A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR POLL WORKERS IN THE POLL SITE AT ELECTION DAY.

EVERYBODY GETS THE BALLOT, MAIL IT IN, DROP IT OFF AND SAVE LOTS OF MONEY.

>> AND IT IS MORE EFFICIENT TO HAVE A MAIL-IN BALLOTING SYSTEM.

BUT NEW YORK NEEDS TO DO WORK ON THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE YET.

WE ARE NOT QUITE THERE SO MOVING TO NO FAULT ABSENTEE NEXT YEAR AND IMPLEMENTING ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION AND AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION AND LETTING THAT PROCESS PLAY OUT.

I CAN SEE NEW YORK GOING TO A MORE MAIL-IN SYSTEM WHERE WE ARE MAILING BALLOTS TO VOTERS IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BUT WE ARE NOT QUITE THERE YET AND TO MARY'S POINT, WE NEED TO TAKE TIME TO GET THERE.

>> YES, I TOTALLY AGREE.

AND IT MAKES WORKING IN ELECTION, IT IS CHECKS AND BALANCES AND WITH WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO THE CHECKS AND BALANCES, THAT'S WHEN THINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS GOING TO BE ISSUES THAT COME UP THROUGH ELECTIONS.

>> ALL THOSE POINTS THAT DUSTIN WAS MAKING ABOUT THE CHECKS ON DEATH CERTIFICATES OR SIGNATURES, THE 60,000 SIGNATURES THAT YOU ARE STILL DREAMING ABOUT, YOU HAVE TO DO THOSE IN YOUR OFFICE.

YOU ARE THE PEOPLE THAT DO THAT.

>> YES.

>> THAT'S YOUR JOB.

>> YES.

>> IT'S A HARD JOB.

>> LET'S JUST SAY RIGHT HERE, YOU GUYSES HAVE A HARD JOB.

>> SPEAKING OF DEAD PEOPLE, WE DID THROUGH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 22 HAVE ONE DECEASED PERSON VOTE AND THAT IS BECAUSE THEY VOTED AND THEN THEY DIED.

NOT BECAUSE THERE WAS ANY FRAUD.

IT JUST UNFORTUNATELY HAPPENED.

SO WE RECEIVED THEIR BALLOT AND IT WAS A LEGIT BALLOT.

WE COULDN'T COUNT IT BECAUSE ON ELECTION DAY THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS DECEASED.

SO.

>> IF WE GO TO MORE AND MORE EARLY VOTING THAT COULD HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY.

>> IT COULD.

>> LET'S CONSIDER THE OTHER RELEVANT BALLOT INITIATIVES THIS FALL.

NUMBER 3 SEEMS LIKE A COUSIN TO NUMBER 4.

NUMBER 3 ASKS NEW YORKERS TO VOTE TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT YOU MUST REGISTER 10 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION.

IF IT PASSES PRESUMABLY THE LEGISLATURE WOULD THEN PASS A LAW TO ALLOW SAME DAY REGISTRATION OR AT LEAST MOVE THE DEADLINE CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY.

JENNIFER.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> OH YEAH IT IS KIND OF FUNNY BECAUSE IN NEW YORK STATE WE DO STILL HAVE A 25-DAY REGISTRATION DEADLINE.

SO EVEN IF WE PASS THIS, WE'LL STILL HAVE TO REGISTER 25 DAYS IN ADVANCE.

BUT EVENTUALLY, WE COULD HAVE EARLY VOTING REGISTRATION OR SAME DAY REGISTRATION.

>> I'M CONFUSED.

HELP ME OUT HERE.

CLARIFY FOR ME.

IF THIS PASSES, WE WON'T HAVE SAME-DAY REGISTRATION.

>> NO.

>> WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE OLD-- WE JUST GOT RID OF THE 10 DAY BUT IN ADDITION TO THE 10-DAY THERE IS A 25-DAY.

>> IN THE 80s OR 90S THEY ADDED THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS REQUESTED THE LEGISLATURE ADD SOME DAYS BECAUSE WE WERE MOVING TO COMPUTER SYSTEM.

IT WAS HARDER TO PROCESS THE PAPER INTO THE COMPUTER AND THEN PRINT THE BOOKS.

IT WAS HARDER FOR THEM.

THEY NEEDED MORE TIME AND I DON'T THINK THEY NEED THAT MUCH TIME ANYMORE.

THERE IS ACTUALLY A LAWSUIT WERE THIS TO RESTRICT THE 25-DAY OR 10-DAY WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL BE NULL AND VOID AND WE WON'T HAVE TO SUE ANYMORE.

BUT YEAH, IT'S A VERY FAR OUT DEADLINE 25 DAYS.

10 DAYS IS BETTER.

BUT NO DAYS IS BEST.

>> MANY OF THE AFTER AFFIDAVIT BALLOTS ARE THROWN OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE THOUGHT PROPERLY REGISTERED.

WE WOULD JUST REGISTER THEM AND COUNT THE VOTES.

THAT COULD BE THE FIRST INITIAL PHASES OF SAME-DAY REGISTRATION.

AND IT'S THE INITIAL PHASES I RECOMMEND IF WE GO TO THIS.

BECAUSE IT WILL STILL ALLOW THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS TO DO THEIR BIPARTISAN CHECKS, MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROPERLY REGISTERED NOT CASTING A VOTE IN ANOTHER COUNTY AND THEN CAST THOSE VOTES.

BUT TO JENNIFER'S POINT ABOUT A 25-DAY WINDOW TO PROCESS RES ARE REGISTRATIONS BUT OUR ELECTIONS START EARLIER NOW, THEY START AT THE 10-DAY MARK SO IN MANY WAYS WE ONLY HAVE A 15-DAY ONE DOUGH TO GET ALL THE-- WINDOW TO GET THE REGISTRATIONS PROPERLY ENTERED INTO THE POLL BOOKS.

THERE IS TIME THAT WE NEED TO GET THINGS DONE AND NOT SET UP THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS FOR FAILURE.

SO WHEN WE IMPLEMENT SAME DAY REGISTRATION, IF THE VOTERS PASS IT, I HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTANDS SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS THAT SOME BOARDS ARE WORKING WITH AND ALLOW US TO SCALE UP OVER TIME AND THEN GO TO LIVE PROCESSING LATER.

>> WE HAVE A 10-DAY AND-- THIS IS A VERY NEW YORK THING.

>> IT IS.

>> ALL OF THESE CHANGES YOU WOULD SAY, IMPROVEMENTS, TO EXCUSE ABSENTEE, SAME-DAY REGISTRATION, THEY MAKE VOTING EASIER.

THEY MAKE IT EASIER, MORE ACCESSIBLE.

YOU MENTIONED ACCESS.

SO A COUNTER POINT TO ALL THAT MIGHT BE, AND I'LL JUST THROW THIS OUT THERE, IS ANYTHING TO THE IDEA OF MAKING VOTING TOO EASY?

>> I THINK IT'S EASY TO VOTE.

>> EXCUSE ME.

>> IT'S EASY TO VOTE.

YES, I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS COME UP, BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ABSENTEES AND IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON BEING OUT, THEN YOU ALIE FOR ABSENTEE AND WE MAIL YOU A BALLOT.

THERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES THROUGHOUT THAT.

WE NOW HAVE EARLY VOTING SO THERE IS NINE DAYS, TELL ME SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO BE AROUND NINE DAYS PRIOR TO AN ELECTION AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE APPLYING ABSENTEE.

I THINK IT'S VERY EASY TO VOTE THESE DAYS.

>> WELL, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THAT.

IT'S WORKED FOR THESE MANY YEARS >> WHAT I WILL SAY IS WHAT IT COMES COUNSEL TO THE DIFFERENCE OF THINKING OF VOTING AS A RIGHT AND VOTING AS A RESPONSIBILITY.

IF YOU THINK OF VOTING AS A RESPONSIBILITY YOU ARE OKAY WITH RESTRICTIONS, YOU ARE OKAY WITH PUTTING IT ON THE PERSON TO MAKE TIME TO VOTE.

IF YOU THINK VOTING AS A RIGHT, THEM THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO AT THE LAST MINUTE BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THAT RIGHT BECAUSE IT IS INNATE TO THEM.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M ALL FOR MAKING IT EASIER TO VOTE BECAUSE IT IS A RIGHT.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY CITIZEN IS BORN WITH THAT RIGHT TO VOTE.

SO MAKING IT EASIER TO REGISTER, MAKE CAN IT EASIER TO VOTE AND MAKING IT EASIER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEMOCRACY.

>> CAN WE MAKE IT SO EASY THAT IT ALMOST DIMINISHES THE VALUE OF THE VOTE IN THE SENSE THAT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE PREPARE FOR AND LOOK FORWARD TO BUT ALMOST FLIPPANTLY SHOW UP.

>> I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE THE VALUE INCREASES WITH SCALE.

IF WE MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE THEN MORE OF OUR CITIZENS PARTNERSHIP IN THE VOTE AND IF WE GET MORE CITIZENS PARTICIPATING IN THE VOTE THEN WE GET OWNERSHIP OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO ADDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES TO THE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY SELECTED AND OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS BETTER.

I THINK OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS LESS WELL WHEN LESS PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND I THINK YOU SEE THAT WITH THE ANGER OUT THERE SOME IN SOME COMMUNITIES.

>> I GUESS MY QUESTION THEN IS WHY DO THEY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.

IF THEY'RE PREPARED TO VOTE, I MEAN EVERYTHING IN LIFE-- WHEN I WAS ASKED TO DO THIS, I THINK I HAVE TO GET MY DIRECTIONS READY.

YOU HAVE TO DO PREPARATION.

AND SO IF PEOPLE, THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT'S NOT IDEAL.

I MEAN I THINK WE AGREE WITH THAT.

IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I WOULD PUT THE POLL SITE RIGHT DEAD CENTER OF LIKE THE COUNTY.

THAT WOULD BE IDEAL BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN GET TO THOSE LOCATIONS BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT SO WE HAVE TO KIND OF JUST-- I GUESS THERE IS A PROCESS AND I FEEL LIKE TAKING AWAY SOME OF THESE GUIDELINES DEFINITELY LOOSE EP THE STRINGS-- LOOSEN THE STRINGS AND IT JUST IS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT PROCESS DOWN BEFORE.

>> I MEAN I DEFINITELY-- ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME PERSONALLY KNOWS THAT I'M ALL ABOUT PROCESS AND PROCEDURE.

BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, I THINK THERE WAS A FEW ASSUMPTIONS BEING MADE, RIGHT, LIKE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO PLAN.

LIKE IN THE EXAMPLE I GAVE EARLIER ABOUT MYSELF.

I CAN'T PLAN A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

DOES THAT MEAN I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FALL IF THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME LIKE IF I HAVE A FLARE-UP, IT CAN LAST LONGER THAN NINE DAYS.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND ALSO LET'S SAY YOU ARE WORKING AND HAVE YOU TO TAKE TWO OR THREE TO GET TO THE POLLING SITE AND THE BUS IS LATE AND THEN THE POLLING SITE IS CLOSED, SHOULD YOU NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT LIKE DUSTIN SAID.

IT'S A RIGHT AND WHEN WE THINK ABOUT DEMOCRACY, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE GREEK ORIGIN OF THE WORD IS ALL.

IT HAS THE WORD ALL IN IT AND SO HOW CAN WE BE ALL INCLUSIVE TO GET THE BEST REPRESENTATION OF THE VOTE TO SQUASH OUT SOME OF THE ANGER THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING RECENTLY AMONGST CITIZENS.

>> THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE VOTE COUNTS SELDOM AS CRITICAL AS IT WAS IN THE 2020 ELECTION IN NEW YORK'S 22nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT TOOK THREE MONTHS AND A COURT BATTLE FOR CLAUDE CAWED CLAUDIA TENNEY TO BE DECLARED THE WINNER THERE WERE EGREGIOUS ERRORS FROM THE BLOCS.

SUSAN BITTER SPOKE WITH CLAUDIA TENNEY AND HER OPPONENT ANTHONY BRINDISI ABOUT WHAT WENT WRONG IN THAT RACE.

>> FEBRUARY AND WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE 22nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, THE VOTE WAS ALL THE WAY BACK IN NOVEMBER.

STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGE RULED IN FAIF OF REPUBLICAN CLAUDIA TENNEY.

, WHY.

>> ON ELECTION NIGHT WHEN I WAS UP 28,422 VOTES, WE KNEW THAT THERE WERE GOING TO BE A LOT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS COMING IN.

SO WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO LOSE SOME.

WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE AS CLOSE AS IT WAS.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT WAS NERVE RACKING EVERY DAY WE WERE IN VIRTUAL COURT.

>> TO GO FOR THREE MONTHS AND TO HAVE THE VOTE COUNT, THE TALLY CHANGE ALMOST ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS, AND TO BE BATTLING OVER EACH BALLOT INDIVIDUALLY, IT WAS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING FOR MYSELF.

I'M SURE MSTENNE YE.

>> IT WAS A VERY CLOSE RACE AND THAT WAS THE OPERATIVE FACT.

>> THE TENNEY CAMPAIGN WAS THE FIRST TO FILE FOR JUDICIAL INTERVENTION.

WE FILED SUIT BECAUSE WE FELT THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE A FAIR AND ORDERLY PROCESS OVER THE COUNTING OF BALLOTS.

>> BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUAL NATURE OF THE PANDEMIC ELECTION AND THE LAWS THAT WERE CHANGED, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITH THE VOTE COUNT.

>> IF THERE IS DISPUTES, IF THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT CANNOT EASILY BE RESOLVED, IT DOES MAKE A CERTAIN SENSE TO BRING AN OUTSIDE IMPARTIAL INDIVIDUAL THAT IS A JUDGE TO AJUDE ADJUDICATE THE CASE.

>> WE HEARD FROM NUMEROUS PEOPLE AT VOTING STATIONS AROUND THE DISTRICT THAT THERE WERE IRREGULARITIES, THERE WERE PROBLEMS.

>> IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT WHEN IT COMES TO CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS BECAUSE ESPECIALLY IF A LOCALITY OF THE OFFICE COVER MULTIPLE COUNTIES.

IN THE CASE OF C.D.

22, EIGHT COUNTIES ARE COVERED THERE AND OUR ELECTIONS ARE ADMINISTERED AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

>> IT BECAME APPARENT RIGHT AWAY THAT THERE WERE IMPROPRIETIES IN A NUMBER OF BOARDS OF ELECTIONS IN PARTICULAR IN ONEIDA COUNTY, ONE OF THE EIGHT COUNTIES IN THE DISTRICT AND THE LARGEST BY POPULATION.

>> STARTING WITH A NUMBER OF VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS WERE NOT COUNTED THAT CAME IN ON TIME AND SO VOTERS COULDN'T VOTE BECAUSE THEIR VOTER REGISTRATION WAS NOT PROCESS SCWHRD WE'LL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE TURNED AWAY AND NEVER VOTED BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T REGISTERED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD TAKEN THE TIME AND THE EFFORT TO FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AT THE D.M.V.

AND TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THE VOTES WEREN'T COUNTED.

THERE WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.

COMPLETE MISINFORMATION COMING FROM A PARTISAN AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHO MOVED IN AND FORCED ONEIDA COUNTY INTO A CONSENT ORDER WHICH THEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SIGN.

>> WHEN THE PROBLEMS REACHED THE LEVEL OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, YOU KNOW THERE WERE SOME REAL PROBLEMS.

>> IN ADDITION, THERE WERE OTHER IRREGULARITIES IN TERMS OF HOW THEY MARKED BALLOTS, TABULATED THEM.

THEY USED POST-IT NOTES FOR CERTAIN DISPUTED BALLOTS.

>> AS WELL AS BALLOTS THAT WERE LOST AND FOUND AFTER A CERTAIN DATE AND WERE NOT COUNTED BECAUSE THE COUNTY DECIDED THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COUNT THEM.

>> HOW ARE YOU FINDING BALLOTS AFTER ELECTION DAY?

THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME BUT THAT HAPPENED IN MANY COUNTIES ACROSS THE DISTRICT WHERE THEY WERE FINDING BALLOTS EVEN UP TO THE DAY THE COURT ORDERED THE VOTE TO BE CERTIFIED.

>> WE HAD A RECORD TURNOUT ON THESE ABSENTEE BALLOTS WHICH CAUSED A LOST ISSUES IN OUR RACE.

SO THAT BEING SAID, A LOT OF OUR BOARDS WERE UNABLE TO PROCESS THIS ACCURATELY AND PARTICULARLY ONEIDA COUNTY, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD 100 DAYS ALMOST OF COUNTING.

>> THEY DIDN'T RECOUNTED ALL OF THE VOTES THAT WERE CAST.

THEY RECOUNTED VOTES OR EXAMINED PROVISIONAL BALLOTS OR QUESTIONABLE BALLOTS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED OR NOT AND EACH SIDE WAS ALLOWED TO OFFER CHALLENGES TO CERTAIN BALLOTS.

>> THERE WERE HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BALLOTS THAT WERE NOT COUNTED THAT WE FELT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COUNTED.

MANY OF WHICH COULD HAVE SHIFTED THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION.

BUT WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

>> IN THE END, A JUDGE, WHO IS A DEMOCRAT, AN ELECTED DEMOCRATICALLY ACTUALLY MADE SURE EVERY LEGAL VOTE COUNTED AND WE WENT THROUGH AN EXHAUSTIST PROCESS.

>> I FELT AT THAT POINT IN TIME AND MADE A DIDDY SIGNIFICANTS IT WAS BEST TO CONCEDE BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN THROUGH THREE MONTHS OF NOT HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENT THE 22nd DISTRICT.

>> EVERY DAY WAS A NEW TWIST AND TURN.

BUT I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE PROCESS THAT WAY AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, I'M DRIVEN TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY HAS TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.

>> I'M JUST HOPEFUL THAT REFORMS WILL BE PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF THING FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, NEW YORK STATE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF HAVING AN ELECTIONS PROCESS THAT IS NOT UP TO DATE; THAT IS DOMINATED BY POLITICAL APPOINTEES, NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED NEUTRAL EXPERTS.

>> I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN MY RACE SHOWS PEOPLE THAT WE REALLY NEED A VERIFICATION PROCESS.

WE MUST HAVE A VALID WAY TO IDENTIFY VOTERS AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE ONE PERSON ONE VOTE AND THAT EVERY LEGAL VOTE IS COUNTED.

>> WAS WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS THE GREATEST POSSIBLE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF VOTERS SO NO ONE'S VOTE IS DISQUALIFIED IF IT SHOULDN'T BE AND NO ONE'S REGISTRATION IS THROWN IN THE GARBAGE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

>> PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE FAITH IN THEIR ELECTIONS.

THEY WANT TO HAVE FAITH IN THEIR DEMOCRACY.

AND WHEN YOU SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED AND THE VIOLATIONS OF STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS THAT TOOK PLACE DURING OUR ELECTION, IT'S HARD TO HAVE FAITSD BUT WE MUST HAVE FAITH.

>> MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IS EXPRESSING YOURSELF IN A SELF GOVERNING TYPE OF SYSTEM IS TO VOTE.

>> THERE WERE EGREGIOUS VIOLATION OF STATE ELECTION LAW IN ONEIDA COUNTY DURING THAT ELECTION USING STICKY NOTES AND WRITING ON BALLOTS BUT THERE WERE ALSO PROBLEMS IN SIX OF THE OTHER COUNTIES IN THE 22nd DISTRICT.

WE LEARNED ABOUT ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THE ELECTION WAS SO CLOSE.

BUT THAT DOES BEG THE QUESTION, HOW UNUSUAL WAS IT?

THE PUBLIC ASSUMES EVERYTHING WORKS SMOOTHLY BUT GENERAL FER, MAYBE NOT.

WAS THIS JUST A PERFECT FORM OF BAD SITUATION?

>> I LIKE TO GIVE THE COUNTIES THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BECAUSE I KNOW THEY WORK UNBELIEVABLY HARD AND THIS WAS A PANDEMIC, THIS WAS A MAJOR, MAJOR ELECTION YEAR.

I DON'T THINK THESE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS HAPPEN OFTEN.

I THINK IT WAS THE PERFECT STORM OF TERRIBLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN BUT THE ISSUES THAT DID HAPPEN WERE UNACCEPTABLE.

I WILL NOT BUDGE ON THAT.

I WILL GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT IT WAS A BAD SITUATION BUT THE FACT THAT IT HAPPENED WAS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

>> I AGREE.

I AM NOT NEW YORK 22 BUT IN THE MAJOR MEDIA MARKET, THAT'S ALL WE HEARD ABOUT AND OF COURSE THEN THEY WOULD SAY WHAT ABOUT ONONDAGA.

ARE YOU DOING THIS?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE THREE ISSUES THAT REALLY CAME TO A HEAD.

THE LARGE AMOUNT OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS THAT CAME IN THAT WE WERE NOT PREPARED FOR BECAUSE WE HAD NOT SCALED UP FUNDING WISE AND LOGISTIC WISE FOR DOING THAT BUT ALSO SOME OF OUR ANTIQUATED ELECTION LAWS THAT ALLOWED FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO BE COUNTED AFTER ELECTION DAY INSTEAD OF BEFORE ELECTION DAY, WHICH PUTS A HYPER SCRUTINY ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND ALLOWS PARTISANS TO COME IN AND CHALLENGE THOSE BALLOTS INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE BOARDS OF ELECTIONS EXPERTS, HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE NEXT YEAR BUT THEN OF COURSE, WHAT HAPPENED IN ONEIDA COUNTY NEEDS TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES IN NEW YORK 22 BECAUSE THE OTHER COUNTIES IN NEW YORK 22 WHO HAD SMALL ERRORS, THOSE ERRORS CAME TO LIGHT BECAUSE THEY BROUGHT THEM TO LIGHT.

THEY FOUND THE BALLOTS.

THAT'S PART OF OUR CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

TO GO THROUGH EVERY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, MAKE SURE THE INSPECTORS DIDN'T MAKE ANY MISTAKES AND THEN FUNCTION THOSE MISTAKES IF THEY DO-- FIX THOSE MISTAKES.

IN ONEIDA COUNTY, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IT SEEMS THEY PURPOSEFULLY WENT TO EITHER PRETEND THE MISTAKES DIDN'T HAPPEN OR OUTRIGHT NOT BRING THOSE... >> IN ONEIDA COUNTY, BIG PROBLEM WAS THAT THE APPLICATIONS TO REGISTER TO VOTE WERE NEVER ACTED UPON, RIGHT?

THEY WERE PUT IN A TOP DRAWER AND LEFT THERE.

THAT WAS MORE THAN 2,000 POTENTIAL VOTERS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WOULD HAVE SHOWN UP TO VOTE.

THAT COULD HAVE TURNED THE ELECTION.

I MEAN IT WAS-- AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN IF NONE OF THIS HAD HAPPENED AND THE PANDEMIC HAD NEVER HAPPENED, THAT WAS A PARTICULAR RACE THAT WAS GOING TO BE RAZOR THIN ANYWAY.

>> YEAH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, NOT ONLY DID THEY JUST RUN OUT OF TIME AND NOT PROCESS THOSE VOTERS, BUT AFTER ELECTION DAY, IT TOOK TWO MONTHS TO FIND THIS OUT.

AND IT WAS ONLY FOUND OUT THROUGH QUESTIONING IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND THEN THE ONEIDA COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS SEEMED TO, YOU KNOW, TO RAISE THIS ISSUE OR WAS RAISED IN A QUESTIONING.

WHEREAS THE OTHER BOARDS, IN NEW YORK 22, MARY'S BOARD, EVERY OTHER BOARD, WAS UP FRONT ABOUT EVERYTHING AND BROUGHT IT TO THE COURT'S ATTENTION.

THAT'S WHY THE ONEIDA COUNTY BOARD STANDS OUT AS PARTICULARLY BAD.

>> AND MARY, LET'S TURN TO YOU.

BECAUSE THIS IS YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ELECTION AS WELL.

>> IT WAS MY LIFE.

>> AND HOW ARE YOU AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TRAINED?

IN ORDER TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU GUYS DO, WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF TRAINING THAT YOU GET SO NAT YOU DON'T HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THEY HAD IN ONEIDA COUNTY?

>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU.

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH DUSTIN.

I THINK HE IS RIGHT ON AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 22.

YES, IT WAS VERY BAD THROUGH THIS.

IT WAS VERY BAD TO WATCH IT.

IT WAS PAINFUL BECAUSE I KNOW AS A BOARD, MY STAFF, MYSELF, WE WORKED DAY AND NIGHT TO GET THIS RIGHT.

AND SO I THINK THAT THAT WAS DEFINITELY-- IT'S A POINT I WANT TO MAKE COMPLETELY CLEAR; THAT WE DID.

WE WORKED VERY HARD AT DOING WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

>> I THINK ALSO WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS TRICKLED DOWN WITH AS FAR AS THE REQUIREMENTS, THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT WE HAVE FROM SENECA TO DUTCHESS TO NEW YORK CITY, THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS SO THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL DOES NOT WORK.

SO IT IS A LOT OF TRAINING, YES, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF SUPPORT.

IF I HAVE A QUESTION, THE FIRST THING THAT WE, THE ONE THING THAT WE WERE QUESTIONED ABOUT IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OVER AND OVER AGAIN WAS THE NOVEMBER 4 TIME STAMP THAT WAS TIME STAMP THAT WAS STAMPED AFTER THE ELECTION ON OUR ABSENTEES AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROCESS AND IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE TO US.

AND WE HAVE WAYS TO IDENTIFY THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY.

WELL, BECAUSE THE RACE WAS SO CLOSE, THEY SAID, WELL, WHERE DID THAT BALLOT RIGHT THERE, THE NOVEMBER 4 ONE COME FROM?

AND WE WOULD SAY ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION OR ABSENTEE BALLOT.

BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH POLL SITE OR WE KNEW WHICH POLL SITE BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHICH DISTRICT.

SO THAT WAS A POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT WE WERE LIKE, OKAY, WE NEED TO TIGHTEN UP ON.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS LEARNED.

AND THE FIRST THING THAT WE DID WAS CALL OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES, CALL OUR STATE BOARD AND SAY HOW DID YOU DO THIS AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE WOULD TAKE THOSE BALLOTS.

THEY WOULD BE SECURED OVERNIGHT.

WE WOULD TAKE THEM AND MOVE THEM TO OUR OFFICE AND PROCESS THEM.

JUST LIKE WE NORMALLY DID.

>> I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP TRAINING THOUGH BECAUSE ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE BEEN BRINGING UP WE WANT STANDARDIZED TRAINING AND MANDATORY TRAINING AND WE WANT IT MANDATED BECAUSE THEN THE COUNTIES CAN'T CHOOSE NOT TO SEND US AND NOT TO-- WE ARE PART OF AN ASSOCIATION AND WE HAVE BIANNUAL TRAINING BUT A LOT OF THE COUNTIES-- >> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT ONEIDA COUNTY-- SCH.

>> THEY DID NOT.

>> THEIR COUNTY WOULDN'T PAY FOR THEM TO GO.

>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING 3 PIECE OF NEWS THERE THAT THEY DID NOT GET TO GO TO THE TRAINING.

JENNIFER, WHAT ABOUT SOLUTIONS, HOW CAN WE HAVE FAITH IN OWR ELECTIONS OR HOW CAN OUR FAITH IN ELECTIONS BE RESTORED?

WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL REFORMS THAT MIGHT FIX SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT WE SAW IN THE 22nd?

>> YEAH, AND SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP MORE RECENTLY NOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED SO MANY PROGRESSIVE REFORMS IS THE IDEA OF BOARD OF ELECTIONS REFORMS AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS THE PERFECT ANSWER BECAUSE THERE IS NO PERFECT MODEL STATE LIKE OH WE'LL JUST DO WHAT THAT STATE DOES.

UNFORTUNATELY THERE IS NO STATE LIKE THAT BUT I THINK BOARD OF ELECTIONS REFORM, WE TALKED ABOUT MONEY EARLIER.

I'M ACTUALLY YUROUS TO HEAR FROM THE ADVOCATE PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK NEED TO BE DONE?

>> I THINK WE ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH SOME OF THESE REFERENDUM IS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TODAY AS FAR AS SOLUTIONS.

DEFINITELY TO MARY'S POINT AS WELL AS DUSTIN, LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROPERLY FUNDED AND STAFFED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE ALL COME TO THE CONSENSUS TODAY, THERE IS A RIGHT AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE'S VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.

IF WE PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PERSON TO SHOW UP TO THE POLLS, THEN IT HAS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE WORK TO COUNT THE BALLOTS, THAT TO MAKE SURE THE VOICES ARE HEARD AND CAN DO SO IN AK AN RECEIPT MANNER.

>> I MEAN THAT BEING SAID, TRAINING CAN HELP THE GOVERNMENT BE ABLE TO FULFILL THAT MISSION.

BUT WHAT ELSE?

I MEAN SHOULD THERE BE CRITERIA, MINIMUM, YOU KNOW, LEVELS OF CREDENTIALING THAT SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE IN THAT POSITION OR THE ELECTION LAW YOU MUST HAVE TO KNOW INSIDE AND OUT 5S 0 PAGES LONG.

IT'S A BIG LAW.

>> VERY THICK.

>> WHAT ABOUT UPDATING THAT?

DID SOMEBODY PUT TOGETHER PERIODIC UPDATES?

>> YES.

>> TO SEND OUT TO PEOPLE FOR TRAINING?

>> WE DO HAVE BIENNIAL TRAINING WITH THE NEW YORK ELECTION COMMISSION.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE COULD USE MORE.

WE COULD ALSO USE MORE OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEW YORK 22 LAID BARE WAS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN EGREGIOUS SEQUESTRATION LIKE ONEIDA COUNTY, PEOPLE ARE POWERLESS TO REALLY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THE STATE BOARD COULDN'T REMOVE THE COMMISSIONERS, THEY COULDN'T DISCIPLINE THEM.

THEY COULDN'T GET IN THERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER TO DO SO.

ONLY THE GOVERNOR HAD THE POWER TO REMOVE THEM AND HE WAS NOT ACTING.

THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO AS THE PRESSURE GOT ON BUT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THAT FAR.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MANDATED STATE TRAINING AND THEN ALSO WE SHOULD HAVE FOUR-YEAR TERMS FOR ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO KNOW AND LEARN THE JOB AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR POLITICAL BOSSES INFLUENCING OUR DECISIONS IF WE HAVE TO RUN FOR REELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS AND MANDATED FULL TIME COMMISSIONERS WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR SALARIES BEING ADJUSTED OR NOT HAVING A JOB THE NEXT YEAR IF WE MAKE THE WRONG DECISION AND THE STATE BOARD SHOULD ABLE TO REMOVE COMMISSIONERS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW OR HAVE EGREGIOUS ISSUES AND THAT WOULD BE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BEING USED AS A PUNISHMENT.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT AND WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING BALLOT INITIATIVES EARLIER, WE DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE BIG ONE NUMBER 1.

REDISTRICTING AND OTHER THINGS.

SO LET'S QUICKLY TRY AND DISCUSS THAT.

WHAT, JENNIFER, CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF RUN DOWN WHAT THE BALLOT IS ALL ABOUT?

>> THERE IS NO BRIEF RUN DOWN.

NON-CONTROVERSIAL WE WILL ENSURE PEOPLE INCARCERATED ARE COUNTED AT THEIR LAST ADDRESS.

CONSTITUTIONALIZE COUNTING ALL PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE MAKE SURE NEW YORK STATE COWRNTS THEM.

FREEZE OUR STATE SENATORS AT 63.

WE WILL MOVE THE TIMELINE FOR THE COMMISSION, THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION TO SEND THEIR MAPS TO THE LEGISLATURE SO WE WILL NOT HIT THE PETITIONING PROCESS FOR THOSE SEATS AND THEN THE CONTROVERSIAL STUFF IS AROUND THE VOTING OF THE COMIX WHEN VOTING TO APPROVE THE MAPS AND THE LEGISLATURE WHEN VOTING TO APPROVE THE COMMISSION'S MAP.

>> YOU DID PRETTY WELL THERE.

I THINK YOU GET AN A.

SO THE REDISTRICTING ASPECT OF THAT.

THAT'S PROBABLY ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR.

YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD CONSIDER ITS TO BE A GOOD GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION BUT YOU DON'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE GOOD GOVERNMENT.

>> NO, WE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS ONE AND NEW YORK STATE IS A BLUE STATE, WILL PROBABLY ALWAYS BE A BLUE STATE BUT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS SPLITTING VERY QUICKLY AND I WOULD SAY IT'S SPLITTING INTO THREE WHICH IS LIKE THE MIDDLE OF THE LINE DEMOCRATS, THE MORE SOCIALIST DEMOCRATS AND PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS AND IF WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW THE CURRENT DEMOCRAT SENATE AND ASSEMBLY TO HAVE A GREATER INPUT, THE SORT OF INCUMBENTS TO HAVE MORE SAY IN THIS, THEY'RE GOING TO BOX OUT PROGRESSIVE AND THEY'RE GOING TO BOX OUT SOCIALISTS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THOSE SEATS AND THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE RIGHT NOW, THAT ARE NO LONGER GOING TO BE ABLE TO RUN FOR THOSE SEATS BECAUSE WHEN THE SENATE ASSEMBLY HAS THEIR WAY... >> AND REPUBLICANS WOULD BE BOXED OUT AS WELL.

>> YES.

AND THIS IS A BLUE STATE BUT I MEAN UPSTATE IS NOT BLUE.

>> NO, IT'S NOT SO YES, WE ARE FINDING THIS COULD BE A VOTE FOR NO BECAUSE IT WOULD ELIMINATE US AS A PARTY TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS.

>> AND THERE IS A REDISTRICTING COMMISSION RIGHT NOW THAT EXISTS WHICH IS PRODUCING MAPS AND THIS 22nd WILL CERTAINLY CHANGE AND WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

THAT WILL HAVE TO DO IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN, YOU CAN WEIGH IN AND DO SO ONLINE.

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YOU CAN VISIT US AT WCNY.ORG/CONNECT NEW YORK.

ON BEHALF OF OUR PANELISTS I'M DAVID CHANATRY.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.