SYRACUSE, N.Y.--On Friday, May 14, 2008, Sen. David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) will join members of the State Senate Elections Committee, including committee chairman, Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), and Senator Joseph Griffo (R-Rome), to participate in a New York State Senate public hearing dedicated to soliciting public comment on a number of proposals to update and reform the state’s poll site accessibility and absentee ballot laws, and poll site operations.

The hearing will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Syracuse Common Council Chambers in City Hall, 233 East Washington St., Syracuse.

Several witnesses are scheduled to testify, including: Dr. Grant Reher, Professor of Political Science, Maxwell School of Syracuse University; Edward Ryan, Elections Commissioner, Onondaga County Board of Elections; Edward Szczesniak, former Elections Commissioner, Onondaga County Board of Elections; Dr. Wanda Warren Berry, Director, New Yorkers for Verified Voting; and Mike Atkins, Executive Director, Concerned Citizens Action Program.