Sager explains his concerns

MONTICELLO – Petitions challenging more than 100 voter registrations in the Town of Bethel were presented to the Sullivan County Board of Elections this afternoon, by County Legislator Dave Sager, who says a surge in registrations appears to be tied to part-time residents of bungalow colonies.

The surge, he maintains, seems to coincide with efforts to establish a Talmudic school in Bethel.

Sager, speaking in his capacity as a the spokesman and a founding member of the group Voters for Election Integrity, said this is only about meeting the legal requirements for permanent residency for purposes of voting in Sullivan County, and not about who the people are.

Republican Election Commissioner Rodney Gaebel said he could not comment in depth on the petition, but conceded at on the surface, bungalows do not appear to be permanent residences.