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Ramapo: Judges uphold vote defeating ward system

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Robert Romanowski and Michael Parietti    Photo:Steve Lieberman/Journal News

“A Preserve Ramapo activist and former supervisor candidate argued before a state appeals panel that town officials played political games with a 2014 ward system vote, almost secretly allowing unregistered voters to turn the tide against the change in government representation.

Michael Parietti said he and fellow activist Robert Romanowski “were delighted to have the opportunity to tell this tale of Ramapo to the Appellate Division in Brooklyn and describe to them the double standard we live with every day.” [Read more…]

Oral Argument for Ward Referendum Appeal Scheduled for Sept. 5th

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Scales of Justice

The Appellate Division Second Department has calendared the oral arguments for the Ward Referendum Appeal on Tuesday, September 5th, 2017, which happens to be the day after Labor Day. This opens up the possibility that a revote on the Ward Referendum might take place on the upcoming general election to be held on Tuesday, November 7th. That likelihood is, in truth, hard to predict and will ultimately depend upon how and how soon the Court rules. Nonetheless, the September 5th date for Oral Arguments does open the door for the possibility of a Referendum revote on the November 7th general election.  [Read more…]

Ward system case–Where we are now

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Vote 6 wards sign

Most of you know the story. After years of trying to prevent a vote on whether we should have a Ward System, the Town of Ramapo was ordered to hold a referendum on that question on September 30, 2014. On the ballot was whether the town should establish a ward system and divide the town into six separate districts (wards), each with its own representative on the Town Board.

Terrified by the transparency and accountability that a ward system of government might bring to Ramapo, town officials concocted a scheme to influence the outcome of the referendum, promoting disinformation and an atmosphere of deliberately induced disorganization. This was done in the hopes of assuring a NO vote, but also to leave open an avenue to challenge a YES vote based on the chaos and confusion they themselves created. [Read more…]

The Strange Results of the Ward Vote Count

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Chris Sampson and Mona Montal at Ward Vote Count

At the Rockland Health Center: Sampson and Montal–Wrapping up a Christmas Present for the Boss?

August 28, 2015  The count of the Ward Referendum vote took place yesterday at the Rockland Health Center. Officials from the Town of Ramapo and the Rockland Board of Elections were present, and three counts were merged in the final totals presented later in the day. It came as no surprise to those supporting the Ward System that registered voters voted one way, and those who voted with affidavit ballots overwhelmingly voted against it. [Read more…]

Ramapo: Ballot checks continue in ward vote count

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The Journal News August 4, 2015 “Officials say they won’t know until the end of this week how many absentee and affidavit ballots from September’s contested ward system vote are valid. Since they started on July 29, employees at Town Hall have gone through 653 absentee ballots and about 300 of 2,500 affidavit ballots to determine whether they can be counted.” Click here to read the Journal News coverage.

Ramapo counting ward votes under watchful eyes

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The Journal News July 29, 2015 “The balloting ended nearly a year ago, but the counting has only just begun. Town officials on Wednesday began the laborious task of validating more than 3,000 absentee and affidavit ballots from September’s contested ward system vote under the watchful scrutiny of critics who have alleged election fraud.Officials said the paper processing could take days.

The vote, which took two years to get to referendum in the face of official opposition, was marked by heavy turnout and confusion over “affidavit” ballots, which are used by residents who are not registered but still eligible to vote. The affidavit ballots will be either validated or rejected, with photocopies made of each in case of future legal challenges.” Read the full text of the Journal News article here.

Nancy Cutler: Keep eyes on Ramapo ward vote count

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Poster for Ward Referendum in RamapoJournal News Editorial–July 26, 2015  “On July 29, the ballots will be tallied by town officials — who have most at stake in preserving the status quo. The count will be done publicly, in a room in Town Hall. But many remain concerned that impartial and pro-ward participants won’t have enough access to ensure all — and only — relevant ballots are tallied. . . Ramapo Town Clerk Christian Sampson described a prescribed process for validating the approximately 550 absentee and 2,500 affidavit ballots. Town of Ramapo employees will perform those tasks. “Of course the media will be invited,” he said, along with the petitioners, “and there may be room for others to come in and observe the process … but they can’t interject in the process.” [Read more…]