Narrative of Resolution:
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To direct the development of a Coordinated Early Voting and Security Plan for the Ground Floor of the Government Center
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Resolution Introduced by Terry Blosser-Bernardo, Vice Chair of the Government Services Committee and Nicholas Salomone Chair of the Government Services Committee Directing the Development of a Coordinated Early Voting and Security Plan for the Ground Floor of the Government Center
WHEREAS, pursuant to New York State Election Law, the Sullivan County Board of Elections must designate and notify the New York State Board of Elections of its poll sites no later than March 15, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the most accessible, visible, and voter-friendly location for early voting remains the ground floor lobby of the Sullivan County Government Center, which has successfully served in this capacity in prior years; and
WHEREAS, the recent installation of centralized security scanning equipment in the lobby has introduced new logistical considerations that must be addressed in order to maintain both secure facility operations and uninterrupted voter access; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that early voting and lobby security operations are not mutually exclusive, and can and must be made compatible through reasonable operational planning and temporary accommodations; and
WHEREAS, such accommodations may include, but are not limited to: additional screening equipment (e.g., handheld wands), use of stanchions or partitions to guide voter traffic, and adjusted personnel assignments to ensure both election integrity and building security;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Commissioner of Public Safety, in conjunction with the Sullivan County Sheriff, County Manager, and County Attorney, is hereby directed to develop and submit a detailed operational plan that allows for early voting to take place on the ground floor of the Government Center during the 2026 early voting period; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this plan shall be delivered to the Sullivan County Board of Elections Commissioners no later than March 10, 2026, so that the Commissioners may comply with the statutory reporting deadline to the New York State Board of Elections.