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Update 3 p.m.: Reports early in the day were that lines to vote in Carroll Gardens were very, very long. But by midday, at 3 p.m., the lines were short and service efficient at the Carroll Gardens Public Library. And the good new is, this Election Day, you can vote at any polling place you’d like, thanks to an executive order by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Just ask for an Affadavit ballot.
With the Affadavit ballot, you swear you are registered and swear to your address, and you can vote for president, state and Congressional races and judicial seats. Only problem is, your votes won’t be counted on Election Day night, but later, by the Board of Elections. They will count for the final vote tally.
Noon: Lines are long — sometimes more than three hours long — in Carroll Gardens area voting places, which, as an unexpected mirror to what’s happened in past elections in low-income, minority areas, and hotly contested states like Florida, is now going to potentially disenfranchise a wider swath of the voting public, simply for disorganization’s sake.
Who can wait three hours to vote? People have to work. Reports abound on Twitter and in the media of people leaving polling sites because they can’t wait.
It’s not just an issue in Carroll Gardens. Around the city voters are confused about where to go to vote, as polling sites have been changed and closed, at first due to redistricting, and then again this week due to Hurricane Sandy.
There have also been reports of broken machines, and not enough poll workers—further confusing matters.
Due to the storm, you can actually, this year, vote at any polling spot. Yesterday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order allowing all counties affected by Hurricane Sandy, including all of New York City, to allow voters to vote at any polling site. You simply must sign an Affadavit, and your vote will be sealed, to be counted when your voter registration is confirmed.
If you’d rather stay in your district: To find out where you should vote, go to the city’s Board of Elections site and insert your address. Write down your Election and Assembly district numbers, to make it easier once you get through the line and you’re ready to sign in.
Polling sites are open till 9 p.m. And while New York is supposed to go easily to Obama, predictions are that the popular vote could be close. Every vote counts. At least we pray it is and does.
