Campaign
New York State Legislative Advocacy
When we fight, we win.
Election Security
We deserve to know that our votes are accurately counted and protected from sophisticated cyber attacks. Common Cause is pushing for reforms that make our elections even more secure.
The integrity of our voting system is important to all of us, and we can always do more to make sure ballots nationwide are counted as cast. The most effective election security solutions include:
- Retiring old and outdated voting machines and upgrading the technology we use
- Moving toward using paper ballots in every state
- Requiring risk-limiting, post-election audits of ballots to confirm that reported election results are accurate
- Ensuring paper back-ups of our voter registration databases and electronic voter rolls
- Eliminating the use of online voting
We are working with election officials and administrators at the national, state, and local levels to implement these common sense election security measures to safeguard our elections.
What We’re Doing
Campaign
New York’s Voting Systems and Elections Administration
Modernizing our elections makes them secure and efficient, saving New Yorkers money and safeguarding our votes.
Your financial support helps us make an impact by holding power accountable and strengthening democracy.
Related Resources
Letter
Vote No on the ExpressVote XL Certification
Letter
The NYC Conflicts of Interest Board must open an investigation into NYC Board of Elections Executive Director Michael Ryan’s relationship with ES&S.
Report
ExpressVote XL Voting Machines Are Bad for New York
The New York State Board of Elections is planning to certify a voting machine that is highly error-prone, expensive and would only serve to undermine faith in the accuracy of election results.
Press
Press Release
ICYMI: Buffalo News Editorializes In Favor of Common Cause/NY Lawsuit to Prevent ExpressVote XL Voting Machine
Press Release
Common Cause/NY & The Black Institute Sue NYSBOE Over Certification of Flawed Voting Machine
"The certification of the ExpressVote XL – an expensive and below standard voting machine – was a major step backwards for New York, and an exceedingly poor decision ahead of the 2024 presidential election year when election security remains a fraught topic. Paper ballots marked by the voter -- which New York currently uses -- are the preferred election security standard. The court must overturn the Board of Elections' wrong decision to certify the machine before the 2024 election," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.
Press Release
Common Cause/NY Encourages ALL 62 Counties Not to Buy the ExpressVote XL
"Common Cause/NY applauds New York City, Ulster, Onondaga and Chautauqua counties for prioritizing tax dollars and election security over below standard, expensive machines. We encourage all counties to follow their excellent example by not purchasing the ExpressVote XL. Paper ballots marked by the voter, which New York currently uses, are the election security gold standard, and it's entirely unnecessary to fix a problem that doesn't exist especially ahead of the 2024 presidential election year when election security remains a fraught topic....
Sarah Goff
Deputy Director
New York