Assemblywoman Sandy Galef 90th AD, has announced the results of her most recent constituent survey, citing that 979 constituents responded to the various questions regarding topics such as voting policies, consolidation of local governments and school districts, and use of electronic devices by minors while driving.

"These surveys help me understand how the people in my district feel about current important issues," Galef said. "By asking a variety of questions, the community members in the 90th AD have a chance to share their thoughts with me which often helps shape my votes on these important subjects. This questionnaire touched on a cross section of topics from teen driver safety to elections to political robo-calling and more. It has provided me a great sampling of views from my constituents which I will strongly consider when introducing or voting on legislation."

The greatest positive response was from 94% of respondents who said that the state should allow telephone recipients of political robo-calls to have their requests to be removed from their call lists honored so they can avoid receiving future calls. In addition 75% said yes, a non-partisan commission should be established to redraw state legislative districts after the next census is completed. When asked if New York should join other states in calling for a presidential election by popular vote rather than by vote of the Electoral College, 75% said yes.

An overwhelming 93% of respondents believe that drivers under 18 years of age should be banned from using handheld or hands free electronic devices such as cellphones, PDAs, iPods, or GPS devices while driving.

Regarding transparency within governments and school districts, 85% said that the state should require all governments and school districts to make tentative collective bargaining agreements available to the public at least two weeks prior to the agreement being ratified by either side. 73% believe that it should be easier for citizens to dissolve government-created districts, fire districts, or special districts. When asked whether we should empower the New York State Education Commissioner to order the consolidation of school districts where the Commissioner deems it prudent to do so, 55% said yes.

In answer to the question about whether New Yorkers should be allowed to vote by absentee ballot even if they may not be out of the area on Election Day, 55% of respondents said yes. 69% of respondents believed that all voting in a community should take place on two to three days in a calendar year, including elections for political offices and local building projects. The closest margin of views was regarding early voting for general elections in November: 51% of respondents said that New York should not adopt early voting.

Assemblywoman Galef has already been working towards many of these reforms in the Assembly. She has introduced two pieces of legislation regarding these survey results, one pertaining to the regulation of political robo-calls (A.4174), and one requiring all governments and school districts to make tentative collective bargaining agreements available to the public (A.6338). In addition, Galef is currently working on legislation that would make it easier for citizens to dissolve government-created districts. Lastly, Galef is a co-sponsor of a bill to prohibit the use of electronic devices while driving (A.2453) as well as co-sponsoring another bill which would have New York join other states in calling for presidential election by popular vote rather than electoral vote (A.1580B).

"I will work with my colleagues in the legislature to pass many of these proposals which my constituents care about so deeply. It is important to keep the communication open so that every voice is heard and I will continue working towards my district’s and the state’s needs," Galef concluded.