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Senator Biaggi expresses disappointment over purchase of voting machine approved by legislators 

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State Senator Alessandra Biaggi has expressed her disappointed over the approval granted by the Westchester county board of legislators to the board of elections to move ahead with their plan to purchase Dominion ICE voting machines.

In a statement, Senator Biaggi urged the Westchester Board of Elections to reconsider their decision and purchase machines that will protect residents' votes without question. 

“On Monday, August 3rd, the Westchester County Board of Legislators approved a $4.7 million bond act to finance the purchase of 280 new voting machines by the Westchester County Board of Elections ahead of the November 2020 election. The Westchester County Board of Elections plans to purchase Dominion ICE hybrid voting machines which may be vulnerable to hacking because they allow marks to be made on ballots after they are fed through the machine. These machines were certified by the State Board of Elections based on outdated criteria in statute,” said Biaggi, a democratic state senator who represents the Bronx and Westchester.

“As we approach the most consequential election of our lifetimes, ensuring the safety and security of our elections is paramount. These hybrid machines pose an unnecessary risk that our election system can ill afford as it adapts to the challenges of COVID-19,” added Biaggi.

Biaggi said the conversation around the voting machines needs to be extended beyond Westchester and achieve state-wide reform to voting machine certification criteria. 

“I will continue to advocate for Senator Myrie’s bill, S6733, to bar the State Board of Elections from certifying hybrid voting machines that allow ballots to be altered once submitted. All New Yorkers deserve incontrovertible confidence when they cast their ballot that their voice will be heard,” Biaggi concluded.

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