The Independent View: A Citywide Discussion to Boost Voter Turnout in NY

I attended the Citizens Union Foundation's discussion on boosting Voter Turnout in New York called "The Only Way Is Up".

It was held at the New York Law School.

The Citizens Union Foundation is a democratic reform organization that informs, empowers, and organize citizens to strengthen the integrity of our political institutions. It fights against corruption, works to reform voting and electoral systems, and press for City and State Governments to be transparent, accountable, and effective.

The Symposium Agenda

Welcome Remarks

- Rachel Bloom, Director of Public Policy and Programs, Citizen Union
- Dick Dadey, Executive Directory, Citizen Union

Open Plenary - Why is Voter Turnout in New York So Low: Election Policy in New York State

- Dick Dadey, Executive Director, Citizen Union, Moderator
- Jonathan Brater, Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice
- Brian Kavanagh, New York State Assembly Member, District 74
- Douglas Kellner, Co-Chair, New York State Board of Election
- Onida Coward Mayers, Director of Voter Assistance, New York City Campaign Finance Board
- Sean McElwee, Policy Analyst, Demos
- Jerry G. Vattamala, Director, Democracy Program, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Then I attend a panel: Partisanship in New York and Its Impact on Elections

- Ester Fuchs, Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science, Director of the Urban and Social Policy Program, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, Moderator
- Frank Barry, Bloomberg View Editorial Board
- Dr. Jessie Fields, MD & Board Member, Open Primaries
- Steven Romalewski, Director, CUNY Mapping Service
- Basil Smikle Jr., Executive Director New York State Democratic Committee

The Keynote Address was from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The Mayor called on the State Legislature to pass broad Voting and Election reforms, including Same-Day Voter Registration, Early Voting, “No Excuse” Absentee voting, Electronic Poll books, consolidation of Primary Elections, reformatting ballots to make them more user-friendly, and Pre-Registration of 16- and 17-year-olds.

Some of my notes:

1. Many suggestions dealt with the voter, but just as important is the ability to increase the ability of candidates to get on the ballot.

2. Increasing voter registration, but by not voting, you are losing your voice, which allows policies to be enacted that will affect your life.

3. The decline of Civic Education in our High Schools. After the meeting, Onida Mayers Director of Voter Assistance, asked me to submit my ideas to increase Civic Education in our High Schools.

4. Start the discussion on the upcoming New York Constitutional Convention.

After the meeting I was part of a discussion about protecting Absentee and Mail-In ballots. I was asked to send my blog post about using Bitcoin's blockchain technology that is being developed. There is a worldwide University contest to develop a working model.

Another conversation was about On-Line voting. Besides the problems of security and validating the voter, if there is no hard copy of the ballot how do you:

- Handle Provisional ballots.
- Perform a State automatic audit of random ballot.
- Perform a State recount if the vote is close, determined by State laws.
- Perform a Court ordered recount.

How to accessibility to voters who are blind, vision-impaired, or have a disability or condition that would make it difficult or impossible to mark a ballot. In addition, it must provide languages required by law.