A Louder Voice

One voice, one vote. It’s the cornerstone of democracy. Every citizen has a voice and participates fully in choices that set the course for who runs things, and how — from local villages all the way up to the White House.
But, for years, the number of people participating on Election Day has been disappointing. In fact, some of the most important votes involve fewer than a majority of those eligible to vote — which means the winner has collected a plurality but far from a mandate of any kind.
Perhaps there are varied reasons for that. One contributing factor may be the inability to get to polling places on the first Tuesday of November, given the hectic work schedules and time demands faced by many families.
Beginning on Saturday, New York State residents will have an opportunity to reverse the trend and collectively speak in a louder voice, as early voting kicks off for the first time in the state.
Lawmakers in Albany approved an early voting measure in January, making the state the 39th to allow voters to cast their ballots prior to Election Day. County residents can visit any of 10 early voting sites (one for each town) from October 26 to November 3 — times vary by day — if voting on November 5 is an inconvenient option. A registered voter may cast a ballot at any of the 10 sites, regardless of where they live.
In states that have allowed early voting in previous election cycles, it has been well-received. The 36 states that allowed early voting in the 2016 general election collected a whopping 47,015,596 ballots prior to Election Day. In 2018, which did not include a presidential ballot, the number of early votes cast was 39,054,218.
The League of Women Voters of New York State played a key role in lobbying state officials for the new law and should be recognized for their efforts. The League, which just celebrated 100 years of activism in the state, is a critical resource for voters, protecting people’s rights and hosting debates to keep voters informed about the candidates seeking office.
There have been some criticisms directed at the state and county for the number of polling places offered and the absence of evening hours for early voting, but most critics agree that this will be a good start and allow for any kinks to be worked out before next year’s presidential election.
With so much at stake, it just makes sense to make voting as easy possible for people who want to participate in their government and make their voices heard. Early voting is a step in the right direction.