The purpose of this letter is to encourage New York state citizens to help promote the adoption of the Paper Ballot-Optical Scanners, or PBOS, method of voting for all of the state in future years. The paper ballot means of voting is centuries old, easy to use and disabled-voter friendly. The optical scanner is used to count the votes. Canada has used this method of voting for several years and has been able to count the votes within four or five hours.
The PBOS method has several essential advantages over the touch-screen computerized method of voting. It is intuitive for voters and easy for poll workers to learn and use. Paper ballots are inherently voter verified, and are easily recounted by hand when questions of reliability by opposing sides surface. Furthermore, the PBOS system will cost the state millions of dollars less in acquisition and ongoing maintenance, compared to the touch-screen computerized system.
The state Assembly and Senate have approved legislation that would bring our state into full compliance with the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002. However, this state legislation would further allow New York to choose PBOS (if so desired) over that of the unreliable touch-screen computer methodology, as it moves through negotiations in conference committee, to become law.
Citizens are now urged to please support the PBOS method of voting by calling your state senators, Thomas Libous and James L. Seward. Also, please call your assemblymen, Clifford W. Crouch, Gary Finch and Daniel L. Hooker. All state senators and assemblymen may be reached by writing to the Legislative Office Building in Albany.
George C. Wright, Norwich