1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to request that Assembly Member Otis co-sponsor the Count Every Vote Act of New York (CEVA), Assembly Member Dinowitz’ A4307, which has again this year passed the Senate (as S417) nearly unanimously.  (This year’s vote was 58:2). The purpose of CEVA is to clarify the vague language in current election law in order clearly to define “margin of victory,” the trigger for hand recounts in close elections.  This bill creates a clear definition that ensures that all ballots cast are included in the margin-of-victory analysis, no matter how many candidates in the contest and no matter whether the district in question includes voters in more than one county (or a county and NYC). This is a common-sense clarification of existing election law.  I hope Assembly Member Otis will support and co-sponsor it.