ACTION ALERT UPDATE

WE WON!!!

Congratulations to everyone for such an exceptional effort.

I first received a call from Jim Dickson who informed me that the 10:30 am Rules Committee meeting was suddenly cancelled. I then received a call from SBOE Commissioner Kellner, who informed me that advocates were successful at killing the New York amendment to HR 811. As a result, the Spitzer administration instructed Kellner to immediately go back to implementing their recently adopted one ballot marking device per polling place for 2008 proposal!

Commissioner Kellner has instructed SBOE to start the process to develop the appropriate procedures to make the intended goal happen. SBOE is convening an initial meeting with selected members of the disability community and county election commissioners on Tuesday. I’m sure this group will expand over time. I recommended to the commissioner that he include both the Upstate and Downstate HAVA projects based on their technical expertise.

It will then be up to us to work with the SBOE to be a part of the solution and help hammer out a plan to implement the goal. Ideally, they will also submit this plan to the Federal Judge on October 1^st.

Again, fantastic job!

Brad