Thank you for the coverage of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors’ decision to vote against the inclusion of early voting and automatic voter registration in the New York State Legislative Agenda (“Supervisors Defend Stance on Early Voting,” March 2 – March 8).
I’d like to point out a few incongruities from the meeting. The “do your job” shout-out was in response to Republican Commissioner of Elections Roger Schiera admitting that, although he advised the board it would be a “very expensive gamble” to expand voting access in these ways, upon questioning he admitted he hadn’t done a cost analysis.
Neither did he allow for the possibility of proposed state funds offsetting costs. The board chair also admitted he’d only invited the Republican commissioner to speak at the meeting when there is also a Democratic commissioner at the county level.
As elected officials, the Board of Supervisors can’t declare they support “increased voter participation” and vote against two measures that would expand voting opportunities.
Limiting citizen participation gambles with our democracy. Hiding behind costs doesn’t mask an agenda to suppress votes, which is happening throughout this entire country. Let’s call it what it is.
Richard Hasenauer
Saratoga Springs
