Res. No. 1076 Title Resolution calling upon the City Board of Elections to supply postage stamps to absentee voters along with their ballots. Body By Council Members Malave-Dilan, Carrion, Clarke, Espada, Henry, Linares, Lopez, Nelson, Perkins, Quinn, Freed, Rivera, Robles, Warden, Stabile; also Council Members Fisher, Lasher, McCaffrey, Pinkett, Provenzano, Sabini, Spigner and Watkins. Whereas, the right to vote is a fundamental right afforded to citizens of the United states and, accordingly, each and every eligible voter should be encouraged to participate in the election process; and Whereas, many voters, including many elderly and infirm voters, are unable to travel to polling sites and, therefore, cast their votes by absentee ballots, which are provided through the mail by the City Board of Elections; and Whereas, for many years, the City Board of Elections included prepaid postage envelopes along with absentee ballots; and Whereas, during last year's election for Attorney General, former Attorney General Dennis Vacco challenged the absentee ballots cast for Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, alleging that the absentee ballots may have been cast after the election deadline, since prepaid envelopes are not postmarked by the Postal Service and there is no way of knowing exactly when they were mailed; and Whereas, this year, as a result of the controversy surrounding last year's Attorney General election, the City Board of Elections did not supply absentee voters with prepaid envelopes; and Whereas, many citizens have suggested that the City Board of Elections provide postage stamps along with absentee ballots, thus ensuring postmarks and facilitating the voting process for those voters who are unable to travel to polling sites; now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the New York City Council calls upon the City Board of Elections to supply postage stamps to absentee voters along with their absentee ballots. Referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations LS #2421 11/17/99