State electoral college votes make Obama's win official

ALBANY - The 31 members of New York's electoral college officially cast their votes yesterday for President-elect Barack Obama, who won 63 percent of the vote Nov. 4. The action, along with votes by Electoral College members across the country, brought the 2008 presidential election to a close.

Members of New York's electoral college included the state's Democratic leaders, Gov. David A. Paterson, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith, as well as grassroots supporters and more local officials, including Suffolk County Legis. Jon Cooper and Islip Town Democratic Chairman Ivan Young.

Before the ceremony got under way, Assemb. Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and Sen. Joseph Griffo (R-Utica) announced legislation to eliminate the Electoral College system, and instead elect the president by popular vote. The bill has been introduced in 49 states and signed into law in four.

Elector Robert Master said, "The Electoral College is an outmoded, outdated system. It is time for us to have real majority rule in the United States."

After the vote was certified, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, of Great Neck, asked that electors agree to forgo their $15 compensation for the day, and instead return the $465 to the state treasury. "We all know we need to count every penny," he said.

The motion passed unanimously.