New law aims to expand access to early voting sites

This week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation that requires municipalities with the highest population in each county to have at least one polling place designated for early voting.

New York State Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, who cosponsored the bill along with New York State Sen. Neil Breslin, commended the governor on expanding access to early voting sites.

“The largest municipality in each county generally has better access to public transportation, higher population density, and serves as the center for surrounding communities. This law will ensure that any decisions regarding early voting locations are focusing on siting to remove barriers for voters,” McDonald stated.

“The ability to vote is fundamental to our democracy. Early voting makes this most fundamental right of our citizens more convenient than ever to exercise. This commonsense legislation builds upon what New York has accomplished through allowing early voting and as we saw during this most recent election with record turnout, it will allow even greater participation in the future,” McDonald explained.

“I am glad Governor Cuomo signed this Bill to ensure that all voters have greater access to their right to vote,” Breslin added.

Back in October 2019, McDonald and Breslin were joined by other local elected officials at Unity House in Troy to advocate for adding a more accessible early voting site within the Troy city limits. Initially, Rensselaer County had two designated early voting sites at the Schodack Town Hall or the Brunswick Office Building but not in its most highly populated city of Troy.

This past election, Holy Cross Armenian Church in Troy was added as an early voting location as well.

The legislation not only requires at least one polling place in each county to be located in the largest municipality but if that city has public transportation, to be located along the public transportation lines.

The hopes are that the new law will leave fewer voters disenfranchised and with more accessible polling sites.

Prior early voting legislation had only one site required per 50,000 people in a county. At least 34 counties across the state have only one early voting site.

MICHAEL GWIZDALA — MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE State Assemblyman John T. McDonald III speaks last year about access to early voting sites at Unity House in Troy.

MICHAEL GWIZDALA — MEDIANEWS GROUP FILE State Sen. Neil Breslin introduces legislation last year to improve access to New York’s early voting, at Unity House in Troy.