NYCLU Calls On Long Island Election Officials To Monitor Voting Procedures

Amid reports of organized efforts to challenge Election Day voters, the New York Civil Liberties Union has called on the Suffolk County Board of Elections to ensure its poll workers are thoroughly informed about voting procedures. The challenges reportedly involve the State University of New York at Stony Brook which has had problems in the past with student voting rights.

“With voter turnout expected to reach record highs, and with a tight Congressional race in Suffolk County, the stage is set for possible voter intimidation by political parties” said Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the NYCLU. “The NYCLU believes it is critical that poll workers, especially poll inspectors, be thoroughly informed of the procedure governing voter challenges.”

There are specific procedures in the law following a challenge to a person’s right to vote. First, that person must be issued a preliminary oath and then answer questions concerning the challenges to his or her right to vote. Once a poll inspector or clerk is satisfied that person has answered these questions, he or she must be permitted to vote.

If, after answering these questions, the poll worker does not believe the person is qualified to vote, the poll worker must cite the deficiency. However, if the voter still wishes to vote, the poll inspector must administer the qualification oath and must then allow the voter to vote.

The NYCLU also asked the Suffolk Board of Elections to ensure that college students like all other voters, be permitted to vote in the community in which they are currently living. Elected officials must apply the same standards for determining voting residency to students as it does for non-students. The objective is to determine the place that is the center of the individual’s life now, which is the campus community for many students living away from home.