Gov. Cuomo Says In-Person Early Voting Considered “Essential Activity”

By Yehudit Garmaise

 While non-essential businesses and schools temporarily remain closed in the city’s red zones due to COVID positivity rates that exceed 3%, polling places will remain open for both early voting, which begins on Shabbos and goes until Nov. 1, and on election day, on Tues, Nov. 3, said Beth Garvey, the Special Counsel and Senior Advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo during a press conference this morning.

 “Coming out to vote is an essential activity,” Garvey explained. “[Voting] is a Constitutionally-protected activity, so that will continue.”

   Garvey explained that, in preparation for the presidential primary elections in June, the Department of Health published detailed health protocols that allow for in -person voting to be conducted safely.

   “[In-person voting will] not violate any of the gathering restrictions because we have protocols for social distancing, mask-wearing, and sanitization,” explained Garvey, who encouraged people to vote early because doing so is a great way to reduce the density of the crowds who come to the polls on Nov. 3.

    New Yorkers who are concerned about voting in person still have time to request absentee ballots, online or by phone, said Garvey, who added that voters who request absentee ballots must ensure that they send back their votes before Nov. 3 to get their votes counted.

 (Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)