NEW YORK - Thousands of New Yorkers stood in long lines on Saturday, the first day of early voting in New York, where early voting is still relatively new and the Board of Elections is under pressure to deliver for hundreds of thousands of voters seeking to cast their vote amid the ongoing pandemic.
What You Need To Know
- The line stretched for blocks and avenues
- Some voters waited up to five hours for an opportunity to cast their votes early
- There were safety protocols in place, including reminders to socially distance and wear masks
"I would like to say to everyone, whoever your candidate is, go out and vote," that's what a voter told NY1 this afternoon shorty after casting her vote at the Madison Square Garden early polling location in Manhattan.
Thousands of voters packed the streets all around the arena. For the first time in New York, voters were able to cast an early ballot in a presidential election year.
The lines were long, but people came prepared, many of them had folding chairs in tow, snacks and even entertainment in case the wait ran long.
"I have my music, my stool in case it gets cold my jacket, my extra jacket, stuff like that," a voter said. "It's Saturday, I don't have a problem waiting."
It was a similar scene over at the Brooklyn Museum, where the line wrapped for several blocks and on the side of Prospect Park. Having to wait however, did not deter voters, for some it was a welcome sight in what they say has been a chaotic administration.
"You know, I'm encouraged by it, people are taking this thing seriously," the voter said.
Back at the garden, the line wrapped for blocks and across avenues, people socially distanced, wore their masks and for the most part remained patient. Although the wait was long, once inside, the process was relatively smooth.
Voters had access to seven tables for sign in, 32 privacy booths to fill the ballot, and six ballot scanners.
The wait was at times a challenge for older voters, but volunteer workers helped lead disabled and elderly voters to the front of the line.
Although there were no major hiccups during the day, it will be a continuing test for the historically troubled Board of Elections which struggled to deliver results on time during the June primary this summer.
"I think they're going to unquestionably be bumps in the road, we've had a huge turn out this morning, a lot of seniors who have been waiting for a long time," said State Senator Zellnor Myrie, a Democrat who represents parts of Brooklyn. "So we're going to have to figure out how to be accommodating to folks who can’t physically stand for a long for a while, but I anticipate the excitement is going to carry through."