Common Cause/NY Calls for BOE to Live Stream Absentee Ballot Counting Process

NEW YORK, NY (07/07/2020) (readMedia)-- This afternoon, the New York City Board of Elections (NYCBOE) will hold its weekly Commissioners' Meeting. Yesterday, the Staten Island Board of Elections began counting absentee ballots. The other four boroughs are expected to start tomorrow. So far, the NYCBOE has not released a plan to make the counting process available to the public.

In response, Susan Lerner, the Executive Director of Common Cause/NY issued the following statement:

"In a first of its kind pandemic election, the public process of counting absentee ballots should not be held in a tight space forcing candidates, their representatives and members of the public to balance health risks against safeguarding our democracy. Common Cause/NY calls on the New York City Board of Elections to provide a live stream on its website to allow New Yorkers to safely watch the counting process remotely. It's a simple, modern step that will help instill confidence at a fraught time and should be the standard moving forward."

Other states, like Colorado, make their absentee counting process widely available through video.