I request the establishment of a fully accessible public comment period before the approval of any new voting machine for the State of New York. The public comment period should be at least 30 days, preferably 45-60 days. It must include a hearing that allows people and experts to give comments for at least three minutes in person and online via a video conferencing service with ASL interpreters, as well as to submit comments in writing. All comments, both written and from any hearing, should be shared with the public within a week of being received. I have concerns that the voting machines are being approved according to 2005 security standards (VVSG 1.0). These standards are out of date, and they are not acceptable in today’s high-risk security landscape. Concerns such as this should have a chance to be heard and considered. Not only should the public have a chance to weigh in on systems that are an integral part of our elections, but commissioners must demonstrate that they have taken the public’s comments into account when deciding whether or not to approve new voting machines.

I request the establishment of an accessible public comment period prior to the approval of any new voting machine for the State of New York. The public comment period must include a hearing that offers a chance for people to give comments for at least three minutes in person and online (such as with a video conferencing service), as well as in writing. All comments shared during this period must be available to the public within a week of being received. I request that the public comment period be a minimum of 30 days, and suggest that 45 or 60 days would be preferable to give people from all over the state an opportunity to become informed about the voting machine and then give input. I have concerns that the voting machines are being approved according to 2005 security standards (VVSG 1.0). These standards are out of date, and they are not acceptable in today’s high risk cybersecurity environment. Please establish a separate public comment period specifically for the approval of each new voting system. The public must have a chance to weigh in on systems that are an integral part of our elections. Commissioners must demonstrate that they have taken these comments into account when deciding whether or not to approve new voting machines.