Wednesday, October 01, 2014
Editorial: Muddled state law adds to Ramapo mess
Few should be surprised that Ramapo's attempt to finally hold a vote on a ward system devolved into utter chaos. There's so much confusion, a state Supreme Court judge has impounded the ballots, which won't be counted until Oct. 10; a state legislator has called for changes in New York laws that govern such elections; and amid accusations of wrongdoing, the Rockland County Executive has called on the county's District Attorney to investigate.
Tuesday's ballot included two referendums: Whether to expand the Town Board from four to six members, and whether those members should be elected by, and represent, "wards," or sections of the town.
The fallout from Tuesday's near-mayhem makes clear that state law is muddled. New York law needs to make clear who can vote, how they can vote, and who gets to determine new boundaries.
Some points of contention:
• Town Clerk Christian Sampson said absentee ballots would only be counted if they arrived at the Town Clerk's Office before 5 p.m. on Election Day. On Tuesday, state Supreme Court Judge Margaret Garvey ruled that the standard for elections would be used; that is, ballots postmarked the day before Election Day, and arriving to the clerk within seven days after the election could be counted.
• The town clerk said that U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, could vote, whether registered to vote or not, as long as they can show they are town residents. State law does allow non-registered voters to participate in special elections like referendums; but poll workers in some locations seemed unaware, and potential voters were turned away.
• Many polling stations had limited supplies of affidavit ballots, which would be used by those who aren't registered voters but are town residents, for example.
• Poll watchers were not allowed, after Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, a Democrat, announced that the town would not allow them, citing a state law that ties poll watching to elections with candidates on the ballot, but not for proposition votes, and a judge backed him up.
• Accusations of wrongdoing include reports that a phone bank advocating a "no" vote portrayed itself as the Rockland Board of Elections. A volunteer denies that, but claims the "yes" vote camp tried to jam its phone lines, so people who needed a ride to the polls couldn't get through.
• Even though state law gives the job of drawing up town wards to the county Board of Elections, in 2004, amid an earlier push for a ward system, the Ramapo Town Board passed a local law that granted itself such duties.
Ramapo has long been polarized. Many decry the supervisor's willingness to allow rapid growth, despite concerns about the strain on infrastructure. Members of the town's large ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic community, which wields a powerful bloc vote, are generally seen as benefitting from such policies. Splitting the town into six wards could both limit the bloc vote's power, at least for a while; a larger board would also make it harder to bust the state's tax cap or pass other controversial legislation.
On Wednesday, State Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-New City, and Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, vowed action. They, along with Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, had already expressed concern about the process, even before a single vote was cast.
Such attention can come none too soon. On Nov. 4, North Castle residents vote on referendums to introduce a ward system and increase their town board.
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/10/01/editorial-ramapo-ward-referendum-chaos/16544955/
Tuesday's ballot included two referendums: Whether to expand the Town Board from four to six members, and whether those members should be elected by, and represent, "wards," or sections of the town.
The fallout from Tuesday's near-mayhem makes clear that state law is muddled. New York law needs to make clear who can vote, how they can vote, and who gets to determine new boundaries.
Some points of contention:
• Town Clerk Christian Sampson said absentee ballots would only be counted if they arrived at the Town Clerk's Office before 5 p.m. on Election Day. On Tuesday, state Supreme Court Judge Margaret Garvey ruled that the standard for elections would be used; that is, ballots postmarked the day before Election Day, and arriving to the clerk within seven days after the election could be counted.
• The town clerk said that U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, could vote, whether registered to vote or not, as long as they can show they are town residents. State law does allow non-registered voters to participate in special elections like referendums; but poll workers in some locations seemed unaware, and potential voters were turned away.
• Many polling stations had limited supplies of affidavit ballots, which would be used by those who aren't registered voters but are town residents, for example.
• Poll watchers were not allowed, after Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, a Democrat, announced that the town would not allow them, citing a state law that ties poll watching to elections with candidates on the ballot, but not for proposition votes, and a judge backed him up.
• Accusations of wrongdoing include reports that a phone bank advocating a "no" vote portrayed itself as the Rockland Board of Elections. A volunteer denies that, but claims the "yes" vote camp tried to jam its phone lines, so people who needed a ride to the polls couldn't get through.
• Even though state law gives the job of drawing up town wards to the county Board of Elections, in 2004, amid an earlier push for a ward system, the Ramapo Town Board passed a local law that granted itself such duties.
Ramapo has long been polarized. Many decry the supervisor's willingness to allow rapid growth, despite concerns about the strain on infrastructure. Members of the town's large ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic community, which wields a powerful bloc vote, are generally seen as benefitting from such policies. Splitting the town into six wards could both limit the bloc vote's power, at least for a while; a larger board would also make it harder to bust the state's tax cap or pass other controversial legislation.
On Wednesday, State Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, D-New City, and Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, vowed action. They, along with Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, had already expressed concern about the process, even before a single vote was cast.
Such attention can come none too soon. On Nov. 4, North Castle residents vote on referendums to introduce a ward system and increase their town board.
http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/editorials/2014/10/01/editorial-ramapo-ward-referendum-chaos/16544955/
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