ELECTIONS
For many New York voters, the last month has been one of confusion and changes. In Brooklyn, 100,000 voters will receive new absentee ballots after the first batch included envelopes with incorrect names and addresses on them. Additionally, around the five boroughs, a printing typo led many to believe they gotten ballots meant to military personnel. These issues only highlight the continued need to reform our election administration system to maintain public trust and simplify voting.
For now, we are working to ensure a safe and fair election in November. In collaboration with the Board of Elections, we partnered with local colleges to encourage poll worker recruitment among their students. We are encouraged by the many New Yorkers who applied to work the polls for the first time. At a recent City Council oversight hearing, we asked the Board to facilitate and improve the recruitment process for teens and youth, who are eager to contribute to their city’s democracy. We also urged the city and the state to send absentee ballots with a postage-paid return envelope; and, if not, to inform voters about the amount of postage ballots need. |
We are now one month away from Election Day. This election season has been unlike anything I’ve experienced in my career working in government. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who has worked so hard under difficult circumstances to ensure that amid an unprecedented global pandemic, every New Yorker has the opportunity to safely cast a ballot.
