Rockland Democrats Voting On Board Of Elections Commissioner

When Rockland County Democrats hold tonight’s convention, the single item on the agenda may be addressed very quickly.  County Democratic Committee Chair Kristen Stavisky is seeking the post of the county's Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner.  She would succeed Ann Marie Kelly, who is retiring. Stavisky said she would remain in her post as county Democratic chair, a position she was elected to in February 2011.

Stavisky said she did not know of anyone else interested in running although nominations would be allowed from the floor. She said a lot has changed over the past 15 years and the office should be modernized to be more proactive.

Her thoughts for changing the office include more training for inspectors and poll watchers and other steps to make voting more accessible. Stavisky said people staffing the polling locations must be able to speak different languages so they can assist voters.  She noted some people encountered problems when they went to vote on November 6 but acknowledged that is not unusual. 

“I think every Election Day there are difficulties,” she said.

She noted Election Day this year came on the heels of Hurricane Sandy and that poll workers also had to be deal with Gov. Cuomo’s Executive Order allowing registered voters displaced by the hurricane to vote anywhere in the state. 

Stavisky would use social media to promote the board of elections and encourage people to register and vote.  She pointed out that Rockland Community College ran a very effective outreach campaign to register voters and may have registered the most of any community college in the state.

“My goal is to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote can vote,” said Stavisky.

The post of board of elections commissioner did come up at the party's October convention but not was brought to the floor. Tonight's convention begins at 5:30 p.m. at Clarkstown Town Hall.