New Yorkers would be able to cast their ballots early under new legislation set to be introduced in the City Council Wednesday. The bill sponsored by Councilman Ben Kallos (D-Manhattan) would open select polling places for local elections two weeks before election day. “New York is currently last in the nation for voter turnout,” Kallos said. “And part of that is because two thirds of the United States and Washington DC offer early voting to residents, and New York doesn’t.”
“New Yorkers should be able to vote when it is convenient for them, not when it is convenient for elected officials,”
Many people don’t show up at the polls because they’re too busy or can’t get time off work on election day, surveys have shown.
Under the bill, the city would have to open at least 51 polling sites – one in each City Council district – two Tuesdays before election day, for both primaries and general elections.
Full Article: Early voting would come to NYC under new bill – NY Daily News.