Recently there have been numerous rumors and Social Media posts revolving around how your vote will be registered on the Constitutional Convention Referendum in November. In conference with the Nassau County Board of Elections, the NYS Board of Elections and the NYS State Public Employees Conference (of which I proudly serve on the Board), I've been able to verify and dispel some of these rumors.

1. With electronic voting machines, referendums "may" be placed either on the front or the back of the ballot depending on the number of referendums to be voted on. If the referendums are placed on the back of the ballot the machine will prompt you to turn the ballot over so you can make your selections. Many Counties in NYS have touch screen electronic machines, while Nassau County has paper ballots that are fed into electronic vote counters. The placement of referendums can vary from County to County. The official November ballot has not been made public yet due to the upcoming Primaries which are being held on Sept. 12th. Once we know the placement of the referendum on the official November ballot we will publicize it to all our Members and Retirees.
2. The rumor circulating that claims if you leave the "Con Con" vote blank or don't vote either yes or no, then it automatically registers as a yes vote, is completely false and illegal.

      If you do not register your NO vote on the "Con Con" or leave it blank, it simply means you did not VOTE NO!!! We need as many NO VOTES as we can get.  

On a side note.....There is a Hearing Scheduled in the NYS Court of Appeals in Albany this week on the placement of referendums on the election ballot. It was disguised as being about ALL referendums, but was originally filed by Pro Con Con "progressive" groups emanating out of NYC that want the referendum on the front of the ballot because they think more people will vote yes. This is apparently where the "Blank equals Yes" rumor came from because these groups thought Unions and the middle class would complain to their representatives and demand the referendum be put front and center on the front of the ballot.

In the end, the most important thing is that YOU MUST be educated.

YOU MUST understand that this is one of the most important issues you will ever confront in your Public Service career. YOU MUST understand that this vote is in your hands, and in the hands of your voting age friends and families. A Constitutional Convention could signal the end of the middle class in this State. It could strip you of your right to organize; could alter your guaranteed right to your pension; could strip pensions from those already retired; could reduce your medical benefits; and will raise your taxes.

Simply put,

YOU MUST VOTE NO TO A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION THIS NOVEMBER!!!