County Elections Board does an about-face on polling sites

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, September 27, 2008

Responding to criticism on its recent restructuring of polling locations in the county, the Niagara County Board of Elections did an about-face this past week and issued new directives calling for more sites, which once finalized are expected to see greater options, particularly for Lewiston voters, come the Nov. 4 general elections.

Prompted by concerns aired by Lewiston area officials, including Supervisor Fred Newlin and the entire Lewiston Town Board, plus Niagara County legislators John Ceretto, R-12th District, and Clyde Burmaster R-13th District, both of whom had directly appealed to the county elections board, it opted to both expand the number of polling stations and reconfigure the voting districts to provide for greater convenience for Lewiston voters.

“It’s a ridiculous concept, especially during an election year,” said Lewiston Town Councilman Ernest Palmer who, along with the entire board, berated the elections board on its earlier decision at Monday’s session. All voiced complaints that Lewiston voters had been shortchanged over other area towns, with Newlin charging the elections board had failed to even contact town officials as it was reconfiguring the voting locations – an issue the elections board commissioners disputed.

“It sounds like they breached their statutory duty,” remarked Assistant Town of Lewiston Attorney Dave Boniello of the election board’s lack of consideration in accommodating Lewiston area voters’ needs with regards to handicap accessibility issues.

Following contact with Ceretto and Burmaster, the county Board of Elections revisited the issue, made adjustments, and following official ratification of the plan, which was expected yesterday by commissioners Scott Kiedrowski and Nancy L. Smith, will see both revised polling districts and expanded location options for Lewiston voters. Under the plan, it calls for the following:

•Districts 1, 3, 5 – Lewiston No. 1 Volunteer Fire Co. firehall, 145 N. 6th St., Lewiston.

•Districts 2, 4 – First Presbyterian Church, 505 Cayuga St., Lewiston.

•Districts 6, 7, 13 – Lewiston Village Municipal Hall (Red Brick School), 145 N. 4th St., Lewiston.

•District 8 – the Sanborn Volunteer Fire Co. fir hall, 5811 Buffalo St., Sanborn.

•Districts 9, 10, 11, 12 – Lewiston No. 2 Volunteer Fire Co. firehall (Colonial Village), 1705 Saunders Settlement Road, Lewiston.

Board of Elections officials pointed out the move came in reaction to requests filed earlier by Ceretto and Burmaster, who both asked it re-visit the previous decision of placing fewer polling places in the town, as well as the siting of a polling station at Bond Lake. The two commissioners indicated it signaled a desire to resolve community concerns in a manner that preserves and expands voting access to the vote for Lewiston’s citizens.

“We’ve been working very diligently to reach the best possible solution for all the voters and communities involved,” Kiedrowski said. “The sad part in all this, though, is that Mr. Newlin has never even once contacted me personally at the Board of Elections, either by phone, or by mail, or by e-mail. Legislators Ceretto and Burmaster wrote to the Board of Elections. (Town Councilman) Ernie Palmer contacted me. But the only place I heard Fred’s concerns was in local media.”

Smith said the proposed plan had been in the works since before local primary elections in early September.

“From the beginning, when this became an issue in some communities, we said let us get through the primary, and then we’d address in time for the general election,” she said. “Which is exactly what we’re doing here.”

Smith also noted that the process was an ongoing effort to implement requirements of the federal Help American Vote Act, passed following disputes about vote counting in the 2000 presidential election.

“We took a look at the entire county,” Smith said. “No one town was targeted by reductions. It was done in anticipation of the use of the new voting machines next year. The new polling stations were implemented for the towns this year, and we’ll reconfigure cities next year.”

Ceretto said he was pleased with the actions of the Board of Elections.

“Clyde (Burmaster) and I both were troubled by the original plan,” Ceretto said. “I’m pleased that the Board of Elections listened to our concerns. This new plan is a much better situation for all the voters in our town. (Kiedrowski and Smith) really deserve some praise for the thought they’ve put into this plan.”

The proposed plan will be implemented for the 2008 general elections on Nov. 4.