Common Cause/NY releases a report on the Board of Elections new Voting Learning Centers-

rating the new centers on location, layout and staff responsiveness

Common Cause/NY  releases a new report entitled “Educating the Electorate": A Report on the Board of Elections Voter Learning Centers” which looks at the Board of Elections Voter Learning Centers in anticipation of the use of these new machines for the first time this September. The previous system of switch-and-lever machines is being replaced this year by a system in which votes are cast by filling in bubbles on a pre-printed paper ballot, and then are inserted into an optical scanner to be recorded. Recognizing the challenges that the introduction of new voting machines will present to voters and the importance of the Board of Elections’ education programs to familiarize voters with the machines, Common Cause/New York sent four interns to try out the Board of Elections voter learning centers, which have been set up in each of New York City’s five boroughs to educate voters on the new voting system.

Common Cause/NY believes that these learning centers are an excellent idea and that New Yorkers who have an opportunity to visit the centers will find the experience worthwhile. However, some concerns were raised, specifically with how double votes were dealt with and the issue of visibility of the Centers themselves. The various Learning Centers were rated on a set of criteria ranging from accessibility and visibility to how well employees responded to questions raised by Common Cause/NY interns.

FULL REPORT: Educating the Electorate