NEW YORK: Eight State Senators Still Undecided On Gay Marriage

With the legislative year fast drawing to an end, eight New York state senators say they have yet to make up their minds on same-sex marriage.

The measure would need 32 votes for adoption in the Senate, and 26 senators, all Democrats, indicated they would back the bill. Twenty-eight senators expressed opposition — possibly leaving the measure's fate in the hands of the eight undecided lawmakers, five Republicans and three Democrats. The senators who have not publicly declared their stance include Sens. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie; Greg Ball, R-Carmel, Putnam County; and James Alesi, R-Perinton, Monroe County. Alesi and Saland voted against the bill in 2009 when it failed by eight votes. "I've heard from any number of people on both sides of the issue," Saland explained. "And certainly I'm trying to take into account, in a deliberative fashion, the issues that have been raised by the proponents, issues which hadn't necessarily been raised with me when I cast a vote previously."

In 2009 same-sex marriage failed in the New York senate when eight Democrats voted against it.