And while the true test of the day’s success will be in the bottom line, a series of problems in both states did not inspire confidence.
In New York City, voters are more or less used to some kind of foul at the hands of the city’s Board of Elections. Many told POLITICO that they defied the coronavirus threat because a ballot was never mailed to them.
Brooklyn resident Jean Desrosiers is on dialysis, putting him at high risk for Covid-19. He was among 1.7 million New Yorkers who requested a ballot, although like many others, his never came.
“Even if I can’t walk, I’m going out,” said Desrosiers, who uses a cane.
Several polling stations in the city reported higher-than-expected turnout on Tuesday as voters voted in congressional primaries, state legislative races and a presidential primary postponed since April.
At various sites, voters were given only part of the ballot, receiving a sheet for the presidential but not local primary, or vice versa.
Due to the pandemic, several polling place locations were changed in the last minute. Other polling places were not opened on time, amid concerns that poll workers might not be able to get to work at 5 am start time due to overnight subway stops.
“Everyone should be upset, especially since many of the workers are elderly,” said Ebony Charles, who voted in Brooklyn after requesting but not receiving an absentee ballot. “It is incompetence, corruption, or both.”
It was one of several sites in the five districts that attracted significant turnout despite the shift toward voting by mail. “This morning when we opened at 6am, we had a long line,” said Rev. Antionettea Etienne, translator and site inspector.
Sheena Enriquez, 35, turned up at a Brooklyn polling place after not receiving the absentee ballot she requested two weeks ago, only to be told that her name was not on the voting list.
“I don’t know where the disconnection is,” said Enriquez, who finally filed an affidavit.
Some voters chose to skip the absence process entirely and cast their vote in person.
“I enjoy the ritual of going to vote. It is a very mundane but important ritual as an American, ”said Jake Shifman, 29, of Queens.
Others did not trust that absentee ballots would be properly counted. “I’m from the old school, so I wonder if it’s going to get there, if it really counts,” said Louella Jones, 70, who voted in Brooklyn.
The worst fears of widespread vote deprivation were not in Kentucky, although the state had its problems.
Earlier in the week, some national Democrats registered voter suppression concerns because there were only about 200 polling places in the state, down from the usual 3,700. The cities of Louisville and Lexington only had one physical in-person polling place on Election Day.
However, the lines were short throughout the day in Louisville, and reporters at the site noted that the process seemed to be working smoothly. “I’m really happy that people haven’t had that much trouble,” said Richard Beliles, chairman of the Common Cause Kentucky board who was in Louisville watching the polls. “The only problem was the cars [coming in]. “
The biggest delay in the largest city in Kentucky for many voters was finding a parking spot.
“For hours, we’ve been listening to reports that people are stuck in hourly lines to park their car before we can vote,” said Colin Lauderdale, campaign manager for state Rep. Charles Booker, who is in a fierce fight with the former combatant. pilot Amy McGrath for the Democratic nomination for the Senate.
Lawyers for the Booker campaign sought a court order to keep the polls open at the Kentucky Expo Center until 9pm due to parking problems. Voters could be seen running toward the center gates and banging on windows as the 6 pm deadline approached. (The polls in Kentucky closed at 6 pm Eastern time, but those in line were allowed to vote.)
In Lexington, voters faced longer lines, with reports of a wait time of between one and two hours for most of the day, not ideal, but much better than the election crash that occurred weeks earlier in Atlanta and Georgia. .
“Maybe they finish closer to 7:30,” Josh Douglas, a professor of electoral law at the University of Kentucky, tweeted. “It is not right. But not 4 or 6 hours. Today has been mainly a success.”
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican and Democratic Governor Andy Beshear reached an agreement in late April to dramatically expand mail voting in the state and allow early voting. Kentucky generally requires voters to have an excuse to cast a ballot by mail.
Adams touted the success of the program and said Tuesday’s primaries were on track to break past primary participation records.
However, a single polling place in a major city, even one where voters can vote quickly, presents unique challenges. Activists fear that some who want to vote may not be able to get to the polling place.
“We do not know how many voters in Jefferson County simply could not access the exhibition center today and it is unfortunate that they have been left with an option,” said Kristen Clarke, director of the National Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law.
The Booker campaign created a “Booker Bus” to guide Louisville voters to the poll, and the local Urban League negotiated free trips in Lyft for voters.
In an interview with POLITICO last week, Adams said he and Beshear have made no decision on the changes before the November election, but said he would push for more than one polling place per county.
“I thought the counties would act in their own political interest and have as many sites as they could,” Adams said. “I certainly can’t speak for the governor, but I don’t think any of us had the intention of that kind of radical reduction. … I just won’t allow it in any deal we reach. “
Joe Anuta, Michelle Bocanegra, Janaki Chadha, Maya King and Danielle Muoio contributed to the reports.
