Eric Dinowitz, Democratic District Leader and City Council candidate in the 11th District race, is calling for future changes to early voting as New Yorkers turn out to vote early in record numbers this week.

“New Yorkers are proving what we’ve known all along – early voting is good for our democracy – and when given the opportunity, people will excitedly vote early,” Dinowitz said. “I am proud of the energy, enthusiasm, and, most of all, patience of my fellow New Yorkers as they wait in line for hours, sometimes even in rain. Poll workers have been friendly and accommodating, and are working their hardest to make the process go as smoothly as possible,” he added. “But we can, and must do better.”

In the Northwest Bronx, the early voting sites have seen consistent streams of voters, and over 84,698 people have voted so far across the borough. Norwood News reported on the long voting lines seen also in Allerton and Parkchester last weekend as early voting kicked off, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stopped short of categorizing the long lines as a form of intentional voter suppression but said whether intentional or not, the result of such long lines, if left unchallenged and unaddressed, would be the same i.e. lower voter turn-out.

Dinowitz, as one of six remaining candidates in the 11th City Council District race, has a vested interest, of course, in ensuring that voting goes smoothly in the hotly anticipated special election in the 11th District. A special election is expected to be announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio in the coming months, if not weeks, given incumbent City Councilman Andy Cohen will likely be elected in November as a judge on the Bronx Supreme Court, following an August nomination by the Bronx Democratic Party.

In the context of widespread social media chatter on the need to further enhance the voting process for New Yorkers by further extending daily early voting hours in the lead up to Election Day, Dinowitz continued, “I am thankful to the Board of Elections for listening to New Yorkers and extending hours for the final few days, but there are some other immediate changes that are needed. While many people are willing to wait in long lines, we need to ensure people with disabilities and mobility issues don’t have to [wait].”

Dinowitz said that, currently, poll workers are trying to move the individuals with disabilities to the front of the line when they see them, but added that there should be a separate process for people with disabilities and mobility issues so that they automatically get moved to the front. “There needs to be better signage making this option clear. Further, directions for people looking to drop off their absentee ballot must be clearly displayed so that they don’t wait in line unnecessarily,” he said.

“Finally, as we look to keep everyone safe while voting, we should reduce the number of people waiting inside the poll site so that social distancing is maintained,” he added.

1. Put drop boxes for absentee ballots in public spaces, like libraries and post offices, which will be watched by poll workers and picked up daily by the Board of Elections.
2. Add additional early voting sites, including libraries, and allow people to vote at any location within their county.
3. Implement ballot printing on-demand on Election Day, not just for early voting.

Meanwhile, Eric Dinowitz concluded with the following statement, echoing the comments made by Ocasio-Cortez last weekend. “Voting is a sacred right, and whether or not it is intentional, long wait times and confusion lead to voter suppression. As we combat multiple crises, New Yorkers are using every option they have to make their voices heard,” he said. “The Board of Elections must deliver.”