Three months have passed since Election Day and no winner has been certified in the 11th Senate district. We citizens who live in the district have no representation in Albany. Enough is enough. State Sen. Frank Padavan (R−Bellerose) is leading his opponent, City Councilman James Gennaro (D−Fresh Meadows), by over 500 votes. Padavan has been leading since election night.
What is holding up Padavan’s certification as the winner of this race? The argument was over approximately 2,000 disputed paper ballot votes. Gennaro supporters say every vote should count. But most of these disputed paper votes were thrown out by a bi−partisan Elections Board decision.
From what I have read, these paper ballots were either not signed or marked properly or were cast by people who were not registered or were registered outside of the district. They should be disqualified and the bi−partisan board already disqualified these votes. Only votes cast legally and properly completed as per the board rules should count. Otherwise, what is the sense of having laws and rules?
The latest news is that the board has reversed its initial decision and will count the disputed ballots. How could this happen? How could disqualified ballots suddenly be allowed to be counted?
This is not fair to the people who followed the rules and voted legally and properly. Meanwhile, the state Senate continues to operate without a representative from the 11th District.
Christina Malina
Bayside
