How Will You Vote?

Due to COVID-19 the voting process has some changes. First off here are some safety protocols:

• Fast pass tag (found in your Vote Safe election package mailed to your address) for contactless check in ( bring for either Early Voting & Election Day Voting)

  

   

• Floor markers to help maintain social distancing.
• Antiviral wipes will be available to use as needed.
• Individual stylus/pen for voters to check in on poll pads and mark their ballot, which voters can keep.
• Voting machines will be cleaned regularly with antiseptic wipes.
• Masks will be provided to voters who need one. Poll workers are required to wear BOE-provided masks.
• All Early Voting sites will be professionally sanitized after close of polls.

Early Voting (10/24–11/1)

Since early voting began on  Saturday, Oct. 24, social media has been a buzz posting estimated wait times — sometimes there is a line, sometimes there isn’t a line. North Brooklyn’s average wait time (based unscientifically on the average of these posts I’ve seen) seems to be around 25-30 minutes. Three North Brooklyn Early Voting Sites are: Williamsburg Community Center (195 Graham Ave.), Taylor Wythe Community Center (80 Clymer St.), and  IS 33 (70 Tompkins Ave.). However, you’ll need to go to the Early Voting Site that is designated for your address here.

Due to the high attendance Early Voting has received, a total of 9 hours were added to the Early Voting dates 10/30, 10/31, and 11/1. Thus far, according to poll sites, the last two hours before closing seem to have the shortest lines (or no line at all).

Mail-in/Absentee Ballots (must be postmarked by 11/3 and received by 11/10)

If you are reading this now, the advice is that you save a stamp (or stamps, as some are putting two just for safety sake as it’s larger than a standard envelope) and drop off your ballot at any Early Voting Site or at any of the seven Board of Elections offices. This is because the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election (for the Nov. 3rd election this date would be October 27). New York State requires your ballot to be both postmarked by November 3, 2020 and received by the Board of Elections by November 10, 2020. Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day. If you choose to send your absentee by mail, be sure you follow the instructions correctly plus sign in the proper place.

You can drop off your ballot at an Early Voting Site, and you do NOT have to wait in line. You go straight in an ask to be directed to the Secure Absentee Ballot Boxes.

You can drop off your ballot on Election Day at your polling site, you do NOT have to wait in line. You go straight in an ask to be directed to the Secure Absentee Ballot Boxes.

New York State allows voters to be able to vote in-person even if they’ve submitted their absentee ballot. The Board of Elections is required to check the poll book before canvassing any absentee ballot. If the voter comes to the poll site, on Election Day or during early voting and votes in person, the absentee ballot is set aside and not counted.

Election Day Voting (11/3)