Federal officials cited then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s criticism of the state’s tardy compliance with the Help America Vote Act to bolster their case for a takeover of the process for buying new voting machines.
"All New Yorkers have a stake in the fairness and effectiveness of the voting process," according to a February 2005 report from Spitzer’s office. "Unfortunately, New York’s current electoral process needs to be upgraded, and the state must act expeditiously or risk losing substantial federal funds. The time act is now."
Justice Department officials threw those words back at the state Board of Elections – which is now partially controlled by Spitzer -- in a court motion....
James T. Madore
.....filed Monday.
Attorney Brian Heffernan said Spitzer’s words "are as true today as they were over 2½ years ago."
Heffernan mentioned the Spitzer report repeatedly in the 26-page motion, which called for federal intervention to prod the state to install new voting machines by September.
New York is the only state not in compliance with HAVA.