Registered voters in New York wouldn’t have to wait until Election Day to cast their ballot in person if Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his way. A measure in Cuomo’s $145 billion budget proposal would make New York the 38th state in the country to allow early voting, in which a limited number of polling places are opened ahead of elections, freeing up voters from having to cast their ballot on a specific day. Supporters of early voting say states should be doing anything they can to make voting more convenient, particularly in New York, where just 29 percent of voters cast their ballot in 2014, a gubernatorial election year.
“Given New York’s miserable voter-participation rates, anything that can make it easier for people to go to the ballot box are things that should be considered,” said Blair Horner, legislative director of the New York Public Interest Research Group.
But counties — which administer elections in New York — have their concerns, particularly when it comes to the added cost of opening polling places earlier than usual.
Stephen Acquario, executive director of the state Association of Counties, said the concept of early voting is a good one. But Cuomo’s proposal, he said, should be rejected unless the state agrees to cover’s the counties’ extra costs.
Full Article: Early voting: Cuomo wants it; Counties have concerns.