Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson (D-Rochester/Chili/Henrietta) announced that he sponsored legislation to institute early voting in all general, primary and special elections in New York (A.689-A). This legislation would make the electoral process more accessible for voters by increasing the amount of time people have to cast their ballots.

“My goal in supporting this legislation is to ensure the greatest access to the ballot as possible,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “We can, and should, do all we can to increase that number to strive to make sure all New Yorkers have their voices heard. This legislation is a big leap toward that goal.”

Under the bill, early voting would begin on the third Thursday prior to a general election and go right up until the Thursday before Election Day, providing voters with a two-week time frame to cast their ballots. In the case of a primary or special election, early voting would run from the second Thursday before regular voting until the Thursday prior to the actual election date, giving voters up to a week of early voting. Early voting polls would be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each weekday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.

Local boards of elections would designate at least five early voting sites in each county. The local board of elections would automatically be designated as a polling place in each county. Boards of elections would also be allowed to staff early voting sites with appointed inspectors or their own employees. Early votes would be secured throughout the early voting period and the results would not be released prior to the close of polls on Election Day. In addition, the names of each early voter would be recorded to ensure those voters are properly removed from Election Day poll books.

“Early voting would provide added convenience and access for voters,” Assemblymember Bronson said. “Giving our families more opportunities to get out there and cast their ballots would inevitably produce a greater turnout in every election.”

If made law, New York would join 32 other states and the District of Columbia in permitting an alternative to in-person voting on Election Day, Assemblymember Bronson noted.