Board of Elections The City of New York Annual Report 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 INTRODUCTION 02 COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTIONS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK 03 MISSION STATEMENT 04 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 05 COMMISSIONERS’ PROFILES 15 COUNSEL TO THE COMMISSIONERS 15 EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 16 SENIOR STAFF 16 BOROUGH OFFICES 18 CANDIDATE RECORDS UNIT 22 TURNOUT SUMMARY SPECIAL ELECTION – 02/24/2018 23 TURNOUT SUMMARY FEDERAL PRIMARY ELECTION – 06/26/2018 24 TURNOUT SUMMARY PRIMARY ELECTION – 09/13/2018 25 TURNOUT SUMMARY GENERAL ELECTION – 11/06/2018 26 COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 29 VOTER REGISTRATION 36 ELECTION DAY OPERATIONS 45 VOTING EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS UNIT / POLL SITE MANAGEMENT 48 RAMP UNIT 49 FACILITIES OPERATIONS 50 PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT 51 ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT 55 PERSONNEL AND RECORDS MANAGEMENT 56 RECORDS MANAGEMENT/RETENTION DEPARTMENT 57 FINANCE 60 OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL 62 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT (MIS) 66 PAYROLL 67 CUSTOMER SERVICE 68 BALLOT MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT 69 POLL SITE DEVICES UNIT 70 ADA COORDINATORS 71 APPENDIX The Board is headed by ten Commissioners, two from each borough representing both major political parties for a term of four years appointed by the New York City Council Board of Elections The City of New York Introduction ... A similar bipartisan arrangement of over 351 deputies, clerks and other personnel ensures that no one party controls the Board of Elections. The Board appoints an executive staff consisting of an Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and other senior staff managers charged with the responsibility to oversee the operations of the Board on a daily basis. Together, the executive and support staffs provide a wide range of electoral services to residents in Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Using your Smartphone, download a FREE QR Reader. Once downloaded, The Commissioners of Elections meet every Tuesday at the Executive open the application and click the QR Office, in addition to the special hearings, legislative sessions and code to discover the Board’s website. specific issue-oriented meetings (electronic voting, election legislation, labor management, rules and budget) during the calendar year. 1 Commissioners of Elections in the City of New York BOROUGH PARTY SIMON SHAMOUN Brooklyn Republican JOHN FLATEAU, PH.D. Brooklyn Democrat JOHN WM. ZACCONE, SECRETARY Staten Island Republican MARIA R. GUASTELLA Staten Island Democrat ROBERT D. SIANO Bronx Republican ROSANNA VARGAS, PRESIDENT Bronx Democrat FREDERIC M. UMANE Manhattan Republican ALAN SCHULKIN Manhattan Democrat MICHAEL MICHEL Queens Republican JOSE MIGUEL ARAUJO Queens Democrat From left to right (top row): Alan Schulkin, John Flateau, Ph.D., Michael Michel, John Wm. Zaccone, Simon Shamoun, Robert D. Siano (bottom row): Maria Guastella, Rosanna Vargas, Frederick M. Umane, Jose Miguel Araujo 2 Mission Statement The Board of Elections in the City of New York, FORDHAM RIVERDALE as provided under Section 3-200 of the New York State Election Law, PELHAM BAY is responsible: WASHINGTON HEIGHTS TREMONT MORRISANIA WESTCHESTER 1. To conduct fair and honest elections, from local to federal levels; MOTT CENTRAL HAVEN HARLEM RIVERSIDE 2. To enfranchise all eligible New Yorkers to register to vote and to EAST HARLEM practice those rights; KIPS BAY YORKVILLE FLUSHING 3. To conduct elections, certify the canvass and to retain the official records; LOWER CORONA ASTORIA WEST LONG ISLAND CITY SIDE 4. Voter outreach and education. LOWER EAST SIDE WILLIAMSBURG MASPETH GREENPOINT FOREST HILLS FORT JAMAICA Briefly stated, this means: GREENE EAST RED HOOK BUSHWICK GOWANUS JAMAICA BEDFORD WEST First, the preparation of the ballot for Primary, Special and General Elections BROWNSVILLE SUNSET PARK to the extent that all vacancies for public office and party positions may be filled. FLATBUSH From left to right (top row): NORTH SHORE Alan Schulkin, John Flateau, Ph.D., BAY RIDGE Second, that qualified voters may exercise their right to franchise and that Michael Michel, John Wm. Zaccone, WEST SHORE every opportunity be given to voters to execute that right and to vote for Simon Shamoun, Robert D. Siano MID-ISLAND GRAVESEND whom they choose. (bottom row): Maria Guastella, Rosanna Vargas, Third, that the votes of the electorate at Primary, Special and General Elections Frederick M. Umane, Jose Miguel Araujo SOUTH SHORE be properly canvassed and that a true count be given for each candidate voted for. Finally, that we make every effort to inform and educate the voting public of their rights as a voter and also to reach out to all Americans to instruct them in the voting process. The following pages of this report will illustrate some of the duties as classified in the above synopsis. 3 President’s Message It has been my distinct honor to serve as the youngest President of the Commissioners • developing and enhancing the Election Night tally procedure utilizing Portable of Elections for the Board of Elections in the City of New York. In my time on the Board, Memory Devices and the latest approved technology to provide almost immediate I have observed the dedicated employees at the New York City Board of Elections unofficial election returns on election nights and periodic updates throughout the work tirelessly to conduct fair and honest elections under the capable leadership of night. With over 2 million voters casting their ballot and more than 4,000 Portable Senior Management: Executive Director Michael J. Ryan, Deputy Executive Director Memory Devices used for the November 6, 2018 General Election, the Board was able Dawn Sandow, Administrative Manager Pamela Green Perkins and Operations to begin receiving results immediately after the polls closed at 9:00pm. Manager Georgea Kontzamanis. In addition, the Board of Elections continued the process of improving I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the over thirty thousand poll workers poll site accessibility required by the United States District who are truly the pillars of our community and who serve with distinction as poll Court in order to ensure that all New York City voters freely workers. The Commissioners salute their efforts on behalf of the citizens of our city. and independently exercise their right to vote. The Board We encourage all those wishing to participate in the political process to become a continues its efforts to educate the public, community poll worker and perform this much-needed service for our great democracy. groups and elected officials regarding the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act related to the The New York City Board of Elections began a governmental education effort in 2018 voting process. with the New York State Legislature to propose changes that will enable the Board to conduct elections in a more efficient and effective manner, while continuing to The annual report will detail many of the advancements maintain the integrity of the election process. made during the year and highlights our goal of making the voting process fair and efficient for all The Board’s top four recommended revisions to the New York State Election Law are voters. We encourage all interested parties to visit as follows: our website, www.boe.nyc for more information including various appendices not included in 1. Improving Ballot Design to Better Serve Voters this printed version. 2. Closing Schools to Students on General and Primary Election Days 3. Increasing the Rate of Poll Worker Compensation to $300 per day for inspectors Respectfully Submitted, and other poll workers and $400 for coordinators 4. Exempt from public inspection and disclosure a voter’s telephone number and email address Rosanna Vargas, Some of the Board’s major accomplishments during 2018 included: President for Year 2018 • recruiting over 300 17-year-old poll workers through the Board of Elections High School Recruitment Program; • continuing our voter outreach efforts to register new eligible voters, recruit poll workers/interpreters and educate the public about the election process; • the Board’s continued use of social media, particularly Twitter, to communicate with voters in real time to address poll site concerns; 4 Brooklyn SIMON SHAMOUN, Commissioner Simon Shamoun is the New York City Board of Election’s Republican representative from Brooklyn, appointed by the New York City Council in 2013. The son of immigrants, Mr. Shamoun is a product of both public and private schools including P.S. 104, Monsignor Farrell High School, Pace University and CUNY School of Law. Mr. Shamoun is a partner at the law firm of Kampessis & Shamoun, representing clients in real estate and business matters and is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey and in the Southern and Eastern District Courts of New York. Mr. Shamoun serves on the board of directors at the St. Nicholas Home adult residence in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and is also a member of the Salaam Club of New York, a charitable organization. 5 Brooklyn JOHN FLATEAU, PH.D., Commissioner Dr. John Flateau is a Commissioner of the NYC Board Of Elections. He serves as New York City Board of Elections Democratic Representative from Brooklyn, and is also a Professor of Public Administration and Political Science and Director, Census Information Center at Medgar Evers College, CUNY. Dr. Flateau was Chief of Staff and campaign coordinator for Mayor David Dinkins, and has served as Senior Vice President, Empire State Development Corp.; Executive Director, NYS Black, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus; and instructor, District Council 37 AFSCME. He is a Fellow, National Academy of Public Administration; member, National Conference of Black Political Scientists; former member of NYS LATFOR which conducted congressional and state legislative redistricting and ended prison based gerrymandering; and was a Commissioner, NYC Districting Commission. He was Deputy Secretary for Intergovernmental Relations, NYS Senate, co-managing the 2010 Census and Federal Stimulus Program. He was Chairman, US Census Advisory Committee On the Black Population; and Co-Chair, NYC Black Advisory Committee, Census 2000.