5/25/2007

On Friday night President Bush signed HR 2206, the “US Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007”  also known as the Emergency Supplemental Appropriation.  Section 6301 of the Act amends the deadline for using the lever voting machine replacement funds contained in Section 102(a)(3)(B) of the Help America Vote Act to March 1, 2008.

Based on the interpretation of the US Election Assistance Commission, this means that NY will not forfeit its $47 million lever replacement funds if HAVA compliant voting systems are in place for the September 2008 primary.  While it is too soon to predict how testing will turn out when it resumes this summer, it is possible that new voting systems may be certified before the end of the year.

Many thanks to Congressman Serrano, who shepherded the provision through the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate-House Conference Committee, and of course, to all of the New York Congressional delegation who lent their support under the leadership of Congresswoman Slaughter and Senators Schumer and Clinton. Derek Douglas, the Director of Governor Spitzer’s Washington Office, provided invaluable assistance in coordinating the process.

Douglas A. Kellner
Co-Chair
New York State Board of Elections