Voters approve 2 amendments

Two amendments to the New York State Constitution were passed Tuesday, according to unofficial results.

The first amendment involves a land swap between the state and National Grid for the construction of a power line in the Adirondack Forest Preserve. The second amendment allows inmates at state correctional facilities to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.

The amendment to Section One of Article 14 of the state constitution will make a 23-mile power line that runs through St. Lawrence County constitutional.

A complete vote count for the amendments was unavailable Tuesday night, but unofficial results indicate that both proposals were passed by large margins.

24,040 voters in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties voted in favor of Proposal One. 8,923 voters in the three counties voted against the proposal.

As part of the amendment, there will be a land swap between the state and National Grid. Up to 6 acres of land along Route 56 in St. Lawrence County will be given to National Grid for the power line, and in return, National Grid will convey up to 10 acres of forest in St. Lawrence County to the state to be incorporated into the preserve.

The passage of the amendment won't affect the power line other than to make its construction constitutional, because the line is already in place and active.

The second proposal, an amendment to Section Three of the Constitution, will allow inmates in the state to volunteer to for nonprofit organizations.

25,480 voters in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties voted in favor of the proposal to allow inmates to volunteer for nonprofits. 8,249 voters in the three counties voted against the proposal.