Suozzi doesn’t hate all quilts, just crazy quilts

Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi proposed state legislation today to reduce the number of special district election dates in the county, getting rid of the “crazy quilt” of election dates.

Suozzi is proposing cutting the number of times county voters go to the polls from 23 days in nine months to two days. Period. Two: On the general election day in November and for school board/budget votes on the third Tuesday of May. Oh, but don’t forget about the September primary. Make that three election days. Oops.

Suozzi’s proposal, which needs approval by the state Legislature, establishes two days for elections of officers, budget votes and propositions of special districts. Districts covered include fire districts, improvement districts such as water and sanitary and four kinds of library districts.

Suozzi’s bill states that candidates for special district offices will not be identified by political party and they will be listed on a separate part of the ballot.

School districts will continue to administer their elections and budget votes, in addition to elections and budget votes of school district libraries and free association libraries.

The Nassau County Board of Elections will administer the elections of fire districts, improvement districts, special legislative act library districts, library funding districts and the general election.

Suozzi states he introduced the legislation to cut down on voter confusion, boost voter turnout and create uniformity across the election process, saving money and cutting down on the opportunity for fraud.

“Participating in the democratic proecess shouldn’t be this hard — or confusing,” Suozzi said in a statement. “This crazy quilt of a scheudle has resulted in anemic voter participation. Consolidating election dates two days during the year will shine a light onto the entire process, spur voter participation, increase accountability and ensure taxpayer money is being spent wisely.”