Oneida County Legislator concerned with ballot lineup
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: October 15, 2012
When Oneida County Legislator and Majority Leader, George Joseph got the
news that the proposition to vote on reducing the number of Oneida
County Legislators was on the back of the ballot in the upcoming
election, he was concerned.
"It's so hard for so many people to even get what's on the front of the ballot right, let alone turn it over. It's one more step that they have to do," said Joseph.
"I think it's easy for some people to forget to turn it over, but I always look at both sides of a paper, particularly an election ballot, I would look at both sides to see if something on the other side gets my attention," said Dan Fusillo, who votes in almost every election.
Democratic Commissioner, Carolann Cardone says the ballot order isn't up to the Oneida County Board of Elections.
She says it's the software for the system that dictates where the propositions go.
She says part of the lineup also has to do with what all is on the election ballots.
"If you have so many people on the ballot and you're going across in rows...it's going to knock the fond down smaller," said Cardone.
But Legislator Joseph says he doesn't agree.
"We did some background, it was a discretionary effort by the Board of Elections to put it either on the back or front," he said.
Cardone says the order is out of the board's hands, and that the City of Utica has two of it's own propositions that are also on the back of the ballot.
And although the lineup can't be changed, Joseph says he now just wants to make voters aware.
"We just want everybody to know that it's an important issue for them to be represented and voice their vote," he said.
Eyewitness News did contact the New York State Board of Elections, and a representative says the local boards are permitted to put items on the back of the ballot.
They say the local board makes the determination and the software does determine the order based on how crowded the ballot is.
"It's so hard for so many people to even get what's on the front of the ballot right, let alone turn it over. It's one more step that they have to do," said Joseph.
"I think it's easy for some people to forget to turn it over, but I always look at both sides of a paper, particularly an election ballot, I would look at both sides to see if something on the other side gets my attention," said Dan Fusillo, who votes in almost every election.
Democratic Commissioner, Carolann Cardone says the ballot order isn't up to the Oneida County Board of Elections.
She says it's the software for the system that dictates where the propositions go.
She says part of the lineup also has to do with what all is on the election ballots.
"If you have so many people on the ballot and you're going across in rows...it's going to knock the fond down smaller," said Cardone.
But Legislator Joseph says he doesn't agree.
"We did some background, it was a discretionary effort by the Board of Elections to put it either on the back or front," he said.
Cardone says the order is out of the board's hands, and that the City of Utica has two of it's own propositions that are also on the back of the ballot.
And although the lineup can't be changed, Joseph says he now just wants to make voters aware.
"We just want everybody to know that it's an important issue for them to be represented and voice their vote," he said.
Eyewitness News did contact the New York State Board of Elections, and a representative says the local boards are permitted to put items on the back of the ballot.
They say the local board makes the determination and the software does determine the order based on how crowded the ballot is.
