Early voting got underway on Saturday, the first time voters have gone to the polls since the coronavirus crisis has devastated New York.

The city's Board of Elections has put in place measures to keep people safe. Now, in addition to getting a ballot, voters also get an antiviral handwipe at the entrance. Everyone wears a mask, of course. And stickers show voters how far apart to stand in line.

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"At each of the tables, we have screen guards that are meant to protect the voter and the poll worker as well," said Valerie Vazquez, a spokeswoman for the New York City Board of Elections. "We have masks available for voters who do not have a mask."

Social distancing was not a problem Saturday, as turnout was light on day one of early voting.

While the primary election features a number of competitive races for congressional and state legislative seats and a special election for Queens Borough President, awareness may be low given current events.

Voter Pamela Davis-Holloway drew a connection between voting and the assembly of several hundred Black Lives Matter protesters just down the road.

“As you can very well see, I'm on a cane," said Davis-Holloway. "And I walked from there here. I’m in pain. I’m tired. I’m hot. But I feel accomplished."

Early voting, which was first implemented last year, will spread voters out over nine days, reducing crowding. And hundreds of thousands of voters are expected to vote by mail under an executive order allowing all New Yorkers to vote absentee.

Meanwhile, the city Board of Elections purchased 10,000 Plexiglas barriers, and will have each polling location professionally cleaned overnight.

“We do encourage everyone to come out and vote early if they’d like," said Vazquez. "We’ve taken lots of precautions.”

Early voting runs through next Sunday, June 21.

Voters can also still apply for an absentee ballot until next Tuesday, though you’d have to wait to get that in the mail and return it postmarked by election day, which is June 23, when, of course, you can go vote in person the old fashioned way.