Town of Cape Vincent sets law that will require that you must show a drivers license with a Cape Vincent address before you can vote on election day 

Wind lease conflicted Town Board member, Donald Mason made a resolution that requires that any citizen, before he/she votes in the Town of Cape Vincent must show a current New York State Drivers license showing a Cape Vincent address at the polls prior to voting.

The Mason resolution came after Harold Wiley of Cape Vincent New York said that seasonal residents that have registered to vote here have committed voter fraud and what they are doing by choosing to vote in the Town of Cape Vincent is unethical and immoral. So, to prevent voter fraud, only people with a valid driver’s license and a Cape Vincent, NY address will be allowed to cast a ballot in Cape Vincent.

Earlier in the meeting, Wiley said that he looked at the list of new registered voters and complained that he didn’t even know most of the people on the list. Wiley then inferred that they were trying to vote twice and then submitted to the town board a petition of 200 signatures asking that the board do something about it.

Then, at the very end of the meeting, wind lease holder and councilman Donald Mason submitted his Resolution. Wind lease holder and councilman Marty Mason immediately seconded Donald’s resolution. Marty Mason and Donald Mason are both incumbent candidates for their council positions and many of the seventy-five citizens were very concerned that the Resolution was made to insure that both Donald and Marty eliminate their election competition by purposely disenfranchising the Cape Vincent seasonal voters.

Donald Mason said that he agreed with Harold Wiley, and that what was done in the 2009 elections was illegal because some seasonal people voted during that election.

Donald called the roll.

Donald Mason – AYE
Marty Mason – AYE
Mickey Orvis – AYE
Brooks Bragdon – NAY
Urban Hirschey – NAY

This is the Resolution

The Mason Law
Aug. 8, 2011

Whereas: The Town Board of the Town of Cape Vincent has been presented with a petition signed by residents of Cape Vincent stating that it is their firm belief that unethical if not illegal voting methods were implemented which pre- determined the outcome of the local elections held in Cape Vincent, New York in 2009 and that those same methods are being utilized once again in order to manipulate the outcome of the upcoming November elections. They have subsequently requested that the Town Board of the Town of Cape Vincent, New York take action to resolve this issue.

WHEREAS: The Town Board of the Town of Cape Vincent herein takes the following action to address and resolve this issue. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that before voting in person in a Town of Cape Vincent election, voters must first show a current New York State driver’s license with a Cape Vincent address to prove residency.
An election official may waive the identification requirements if the election official knows the identity of the voter who is voting in person.
An absentee voter must submit a copy of their current New York driver’s license with a Cape Vincent address together with their absentee ballot to prove residency.

MOVED BY: Don Mason
SECONDED BY Marty Mason

Roll call
Aye Councilman Mickey Orvis
Aye Councilman Marty Mason
No Supervisor Hirschey
No Councilman Brooks Bragdon
Aye Councilman Donald Mason