Statement from New York State Senate Elections Committee Chair Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. RE New York City Board of Elections Selection of Modern Voting Machines Compliant With the Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

As New York City’s Board of Elections is about to select new voting machines, it is important to remember that the integrity of the ballot and the voting process is essential to the public’s confidence in our democratically elected government.

The State Board of Elections has engaged in a long and meticulous process over a period of almost three years, during which they have examined every aspect of the programming and operation of these voting machines, including reviewing millions of lines of code, to make sure that they are trustworthy and accurate. These machines have been tested harder and subjected to more requirements than any system in the nation, and the voters of the State of New York should feel confident that they will produce accurate and reliable results.

The Senate Elections Committee, in the exercise of its oversight powers, has held hearings and taken testimony from elections commissioners, the machine manufacturers and interested members of the public regarding these machines and their performance in a pilot program in 47 of our 62 counties. The testimony and reports we received, and the audits of the results produced by the machines, revealed that they accurately recorded and reported ballot selections made by  voters. The optical scan technology they use also preserves voters ballots, commonly referred to as a ‘paper trail,’ ensuring the ability to conduct an accurate recount as necessary.

As an elected official and a member of the public, I am confident that both of the voting machines the City Board must choose from have the capability of ensuring that every vote is counted accurately on Election Day. All New Yorkers can be confident that they will have the most trustworthy and reliable voting machines that are available anywhere.