The Independent View: NYC Mayor Calls on BOE to Make Changes After Early Voting Long Lines

New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio (D) Blasted the New York City Board of Elections (NYCBOE) Monday Oct. 26th, calling for Big Changes to Early Voting after almost 200,000 Voters came out to Cast their Ballots this Weekend.

The Mayor said the NYCBOE was "clearly not prepared" for Early Voting, which Resulted in Long Lines and Long Wait Times for New Yorkers.

He called on the Board to Open more Polling Locations, Increase the Number of Voting Machines, and ensure enough Staff is available to meet the needs of Early Voting.

“Long lines tell people to go home. Long lines at a poll site discourage voting," said de Blasio. "The Board of Election needs to step up, this is a historic moment. They need to act like this is a historic moment.”

He also called on the NYCBOE to expand Early Voting Hours next Weekend, which are currently set to start at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY, 14th District), while Voting in the Bronx on Sunday, had Harsh Words for the NYCBOE, calling the Long Waits Unacceptable. "There is no place in America where two, three, four-hour waits to vote is acceptable. And just because it's happening in a blue state, doesn't mean it's not voters suppression."

Mayor de Blasio said it's Not Voter Suppression but a Lack of Preparation on the part of the Board. “If you say you don’t have the money, we’ll get you the money because nothing is more important," he said, Referring to the NYCBOE's Financial Situation.

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) also Blasted the Rollout of Early Voting and called for an Overhaul of the Entire Board. "I think the Board of Elections in New York City did a terrible job, and it's not the first time," Cuomo said. "I would be open to an entire redesign of the entire New York City Board of Elections system."

Any Changes would have to be Approved by the State. De Blasio suggested the Agency, Run by Partisan Officials, should instead be Managed by Nonpartisan Professional Employees.

“Election after election, there’s always something wrong, lets tear it down and lets start again," de Blasio said. “Nothing is more important than our democracy than voting and making sure that voting is easy.”