Statement on the Appointment of New Commissioners to

The New York City Board of Elections

August 21, 2014


The Council can play an instrumental role in helping to ensure better-run
elections through legislation, oversight and the budget process. But right now, it
also has the opportunity to help push for changes from within the Board itself
through the appointment of well qualified, reform minded commissioners.

Through their power of appointment, the new City Council and its leadership
have a clear opportunity to push for reforms. Many of the city's leading civic
groups have called for strengthening the confirmation process of new
Commissioners to the Board.

For starters, the Council should require that any individual wishing to be
appointed to the Board should publicly release a statement regarding their
positions on important and relevant issues facing the Board and voters of New
York City. The failure to provide such information to the public would be a
disappointing start for any Commissioner or those who appoint them.

Such a statement would include nominee's opinions on state and local legislative
reforms including: same day registration; early voting; automated registration;
instant runoff voting; voting rights restoration for legal residents in municipal
elections; and allowing city workers comp time to work at the polls on election
day to improve poll worker quality.

The Council should ask any nominee to publicly describe their position on these
reforms, and the following:

1. How does your background and experience prepare you to be a
Commissioner for the City Board of Elections, in particular, voting-rights,
election-related experience and auditing experience?

2. What is your knowledge of the current City Board Structure and
commissioners responsibilities?

3. What are your priorities for improving the current City Board structure or
practices?

4. What are your goals and priorities for election reform in the city?

5. What is your experience with community outreach and public education
and demonstrated willingness to work with community representatives to
ensure appropriate outreach and education formats?

6. What is your familiarity with current voting rights and election
administration issues, including, but not limited to, the current optical scan
voting system, the voter database, poll worker recruitment, and training,
requirements under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and other federal
voting rights requirements, and preparation for the upcoming elections?

7. What is your familiarity with the language assistance provisions of the
Voting Rights Act for limited English proficient voters, and how can such
language assistance programs be better implemented in New York City?

8. What is your recent work history, including current or recent partisan
positions held in New York State along with experience in organization
and election related activities on behalf of specific candidates?

9. What is your position on the use of technology to enhance City Board
communications including:
online voter registration; and
automated registration opportunities at city agencies

10. Do you support fixed terms and an expanded national search for future
Executive Directors of the City Board including advertising the opening in
appropriate newspapers and on online job search sites? Do you believe
that the search for Executive Director should be confined to applicants
from within the five boroughs?

11. Do you support the City Board voluntarily reporting to the Mayors
Management Report, or support current Council legislation that would
require the Board to report such metrics to the Council?

12. How should the Board better coordinate with City agencies to ensure
compliance with the Citys Pro-Voter Law to increase voter registration?

13. Do you support providing voter notices in alternative formats (audio,
Braille and large print) upon request for voters with visual disabilities?

14. The City Board has interpreted state election law so that for many City
Board staff positions there must be a Republican and Democrat. Good
government groups have argued that a bipartisan split is not required for
as many positions and a looser interpretation of the law could save the
Board and City funds. What is your view on the extent to which bipartisan
splits in City Board positions must be achieved?

We believe that written responses to the above, or similar questions, will highlight
the importance of the Commissioners' role in election administration, and help
hold him or her accountable throughout their possible terms. NYPIRG urges the
Council to require any nominees to the Board to answer these and other relevant
questions before voting on his or her appointment.



NYPIRG: For More Information Contact Neal Rosenstein: (212) 349-6460