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NYC Votes Early For The First Time In A Presidential Election
By
David Cruz
and
Jen Chung
Published Oct 24, 2020
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Jen Chung
By
David Cruz
and
Jen Chung
Published Oct 24, 2020
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
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New York City voters are ready for the first day of early voting for the 2020 election, with voters already lining up outside some polling sites hours before their polling site opened at 10 a.m.
This is the first time New Yorkers can vote early in a presidential election. You can find your polling site here (it is likely different from your regular one!).
There are 88 early polling sites across the city where voters can cast a ballot through November 1st. The New York City Board of Elections is once again administering an election during a pandemic that posed several challenges during the June primary.
Ahead of early voting, this year's election has already been marred with confusion, primarily in Brooklyn, where a misprint in absentee ballots led to widespread confusion over whether a vote will be counted. Mail-in ballots will play an even bigger role in this election, with state election officials estimating that 5 million ballots may be sent out, an unprecedented figure driven by the pandemic and fears of contracting COVID-19 at a polling place. Those who fear their absentee ballot won't count, can still go to a polling site to vote.
Michael Ryan, the BOE's executive director, told NY1 that there "are always speedbumps and hiccups in any large undertaking... [A]nd we will stand at the ready to correct any issues expeditiously, should they arise."
On Friday evening, Ryan and several election officials toured the Barclays Center, one of the largest early polling sites this year, where 30,000 voters are registered at the site. Well before 9 a.m. on Saturday, several people were already outside the behemoth arena.
With the pandemic still raging, and new COVID-19 cases on the rise, election officials are adding additional health protocols for voters casting a ballot in person. They include availability of hand sanitizer, plexiglass dividers, and constant reminders to maintain social distancing. Anyone entering an early polling site will be required to wear a mask.
Early voting runs through November 1st; check times here.
Early voting times from the NYC Votes
Check out our How to Vote guides—see part 1 and part 2, and part 3 (early voting edition).
Still need to brush up on the candidates and issues on the ballot? Check out Gothamist/WNYC's voting guide below.
Tagged
new york city
early voting
election 2020
elections
presidential election
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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