Skip to main content

Today's Poll: Do you support instituting early voting in New York?

By Howard B. Owens
Cecilia Ladd

What on earth could be wrong with early voting opportunities? Early voting would help alleviate congestion and long lines - both of which discourage voters, myself included. Anything can happen on that one day: inclement weather, extra work hours, illness etc.
Why are we not working to expand voting for the electorate?

Jan 18, 2019, 1:48pm Permalink
Thomas Callan

John, what if some is confined to their home, because of a debilitating illness or injuries? Do they not have the right to vote??

Jan 18, 2019, 2:05pm Permalink
John Roach

Thomas, they already can vote with an absentee ballot. That will not change with this new law one way to the other. The absentee ballot is also how people who will be out of the area (eg. College) or in the military can vote now. Again, no change.

Jan 18, 2019, 3:32pm Permalink
Tim Miller

Voting should be easier, and early voting helps that quite a bit. Folks who are not out of town who may not be eligible for absentee ballots (not sure about the rules for getting one in NY) but who work multiple jobs, or have transportation issues, etc. may have a hard time getting to the polls.

John makes a darn good point - move election day to a Saturday. Another option would be to make election day a holiday (may not help everybody, but will help some).

And before anybody starts proclaiming "why - back in my day we walked barefoot uphill in blizzards both ways to vote!", good for you and congrats on your dedication, but in the end that means nothing... voting should be made more easily available to eligible voters.

Jan 19, 2019, 8:47am Permalink

Authentically Local