Board of Elections accepts staff report on ballot-access reviews

Peter Kaczynski, chair of the New York State Board of Elections, opened the April 28 meeting and said the gathering's sole purpose was "reviewing ballot access issues that came before the board for this year's ballot," and asked staff to walk the commissioners through the report.

A staff member told the commissioners the report, which is posted to the board website, summarizes prima facie and objection reviews since the board's last meeting. "All of the candidates listed on this report have been afforded an opportunity to have a staff hearing for both prima facie and other matters," the staff member said, adding that candidates were given opportunities to submit exception reports before the board reached final conclusions.

The staff member also noted the report includes a list of pending court actions for commissioners' awareness, including cases currently in Albany Supreme Court and other venues. When the Goyle matter was raised, the staff member said a court determination issued that day "affirmed our determination" but that the board would continue to list items as pending until actions were formally withdrawn or resolved.

Chair Kaczynski invited questions from commissioners; none were raised. He then "entertained a motion by commissioner to accept the report as submitted by staff." The transcript records "So moved" and "2nd," but does not clearly identify who moved or who seconded the motion. The chair called the vote and the board recorded the motion as passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded immediately after the vote and the chair adjourned the session.