FOLLOWING SEVERAL REPORTS OF LARGE TURNOUTS DURING FIRST WEEKEND OF EARLY VOTING FOR 2020 ELECTION IN NYC, BP ADAMS CALLS FOR ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE CASTING BALLOT EARLY EASIER FOR NEW YORKERS

October 26, 2020

Photo Credit: Jonah Allon/Brooklyn BP’s Office

 

Brooklyn, NY – Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams stood with Council Member Robert Cornegy, Brooklyn Voters Alliance, and the League of Women Voters in front of Barclays Center in Brooklyn to call for modifications in early voting protocols after large turnouts among New Yorkers who showed up to vote early this weekend. Borough President Adams urged the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) and the City to work in concert to continue improving the early voting process.

 

According to BOE statistics, 193,915 New Yorkers participated in early voting over the weekend. Brooklyn had the highest turnout of any borough, with 61,315 people casting their ballots. With seven days of early voting left, Borough President Adams wants to ensure that every voter who chooses to vote early, or on Election Day, is able to cast their ballot without facing delays or unnecessary obstacles.

 

“What we saw over the weekend as thousands of New Yorkers came out to cast their ballots in person was heartening in many ways. Enthusiasm was high among the people with whom I interacted. Given the unprecedented occasion, BOE should be commended for its efforts. But we can and must continue to improve. Too many voters faced obstacles to casting their ballot, including hours-long waits in line, confusion about how late they could come to cast their ballots, and mix-ups about polling site locations. We need to send a strong message in these next seven days, and on November 3^rd, that New York will make its voice heard. I urge the BOE and the City to expeditiously adopt the steps we outlined so we can ensure this year’s elections have the highest turnouts possible,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“Election authorities need to work to ensure voters can cast their ballots in a timely fashion, to learn from the experience of this past weekend, and to adopt the protocols, policies, and modifications necessary so that we don’t see the obstacles voters faced recur. Early voting was established to make voting easier and to make participation in this crucial part of our democracy more accessible. That’s why we need to pay attention to the experiences voters are facing as they go to the polls. Election authorities need to ensure we don’t see long lines where voters would have to carve out half their day to go to the polls. Thanks to the BP, my colleagues, and everyone lifting their voice to say voters shouldn’t face these hurdles. We need early voting that truly allows for participation without the long lines and long waits too many voters have faced,” said Council Member Robert E. Cornegy, Jr. 

 

“While we are encouraged by the voter turnout and enthusiasm, the long lines and unacceptable wait times for updates to the absentee ballot tracker, which is heightening voter fears that their vote won’t be counted, once again highlights the NYC Board of Elections’ deficiencies. We needed reform yesterday, but we will renew our efforts for a non-partisan, professional agency for election administration in the upcoming legislative session. Today, we call on the BOE to add more ballot machines and extend early voting hours to meet voter enthusiasm to vote in what is already a historic election,” said The Brooklyn Voters Alliance.

 

Borough President Adams and others present made the following calls to improve and streamline the early voting process for New Yorkers:

 

• Extend the hours that early voting sites are open to be uniform. The State should make funds available to ensure the BOE can do this properly.
• Put up clearer signage indicating which sites are for early voting, including signage at normal Election Day polling sites directing those to the proper early voting sites.
• Provide free rides for all poll workers for the remainder of the early voting period to ensure they can get to their respective poll sites easily. The City should engage in conversations with our partners in public transit as well as in the for-hire vehicle industry.

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