I just attended a CLE course sponsored by the NY Democratic Lawyers Council about voting -- and especially issues that arose in the Democratic primary this summer. I would like to provide some summary points for everyone's information.
There were horrible issues with the primary
- absentee ballots sent out late
- post office failed to postmark many ballots, especially in Brooklyn
- long lines in Westchester on election day
- voters not given all the ballots that were supposed to be voted on
- poll workers not able to get to polling locations due to subway closures
- voting locations refusing to allow voting to occur there
All of the above resulted in tens of thousands of voters being disenfranchised.
The current recommendation is that you vote early for the general election, There will be at least 9 days available and you can vote at any early voting location in your county. Early voting was very lightly attended during the primary — so this is going to be safer from a social distancing perspective than election day. Masks will be required — and I think they said provided.
About absentee ballots
- order the ballot through the online portal, if possible Ordering by snail mail means you go through a vendor and a lot of those were mailed out late during the last election cycle. The portal goes directly to the BOE
- you can order an absentee ballot based on fear of covid
- if you use the postal service, mail at least 15 days early to avoid postal service issues
- you can drop off absentee ballots at: the BOE, early voting locations, and the polls. There will be a box at the entry so you don’t have to stand in line
- you can drop off an absentee ballot for some one else if the ballot is in a privacy envelope. There is no limit as to how many you can drop off for others, but please try to avoid dropping off suspiciously large numbers to avoid allegations of fraud
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More info
General Election is on Nov. 3, 2020
EARLY VOTING DATES AND HOURS:
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct.. 25, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Monday, Oct.. 26, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct.. 27, 2020 from noon until 8p.m.
Wednesday, Oct.. 28, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct.. 29, 2020 from noon until 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct.. 30, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct.. 31, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
if you are registered in Westchester County you can vote early
at any of the following locations:
Westchester County Early Voting Centers
Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709
Dobbs Ferry Village Hall, 112 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607
Veterans Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Ma.m.aroneck, NY 10543
Mt. Kisco Memorial Complex at Leonard Park, 1 Wallace Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
Mt. Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla, NY 10595
Mt. Vernon City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
New Rochelle City Hall Annex – 90 Beaufort Place, 90 Beaufort Place, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
Peekskill Nutrition Center – Neighborhood Center, 4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill, NY 10566
Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589
Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601
Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710
Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701
Yorktown Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
You can vote at ANY of the designated early voting sites throughout the County. These early voting centers are listed above.
