In response to recent media reports regarding the slow release of election results by the Nassau County Board of Elections, that's not all folks. Try being a candidate in the Town of Hempstead and ask to simply review Return of Canvass sheets with recorded votes. No can see.

Then ask to be present for the full re-canvass of the voting machines. It doesn't happen in Nassau County, regardless of the election law. Withholding documents is not the answer. There is no integrity to these elections, if a simple procedure of ensuring that all election inspectors fill in the number of voters recorded on the machine (public counter) on election night with ink is not adhered to.

If the administrators in the board discover discrepancies with those numbers and the votes, they have an obligation to investigate it. As a candidate, I want to be notified.

And only in Nassau County have the "4" and "0" keys, which have the capability of allowing a reset of the voting machine numbers, been sent outside the board for years preceding the election. Although, some forceful changes in the procedure have occurred, the "4" and "0" keys should remain in the custody of two custodians.

If administrators in the board are going to continue with the same old

system, these administrators should be replaced. In the alternative, the state or federal government should run the elections in Nassau County.

Patricia Maher

Democratic Candidate Town of Hempstead,

6th District, Town Council