Curran calls for extended hours at Nassau County early voting locations
With Election Day nearing, the demand for early voting has been overwhelming across the nation and on Long Island, leading Nassau County Executive Laura Curran to call for an extension.
News 12 Staff
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Oct 30, 2020, 2:39 AM
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Updated 1,416 days ago
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With Election
Day nearing, the demand for early voting has been overwhelming across the
nation and on Long Island, leading Nassau County Executive Laura Curran
to call for an extension.
Voters
in Nassau and Suffolk counties have waited for hours on long lines outside
polling places in the leadup to Nov. 3.
Curran
sent a letter to the Republican and Democratic commissioners at the county
Board of Elections asking them to extend the hours at the early voting
locations.
In
remarks Thursday morning, Curran pointed to the enthusiasm early voting has
sparked, as this is the first year it's been implemented in a
presidential election.
“I
want to make sure we are giving everyone every opportunity to let their voice
be heard," she said.
Republican
Board of Elections Commissioner Joseph Kearney says he’s not in favor of
extending early voting hours, telling News 12 in a statement that there is
ample opportunity for voters to cast their votes by absentee ballots or in
person.
The Nassau County Board of Elections has
accommodated safe and socially distanced early voting at 15 locations
throughout the County. Additionally, absentee voting has provided
voters with another viable and safe option for casting
ballots.
Finally, Election Day voting at over 353 sites across our
County completes a comprehensive array of options for voters. Nassau’s early voting hours are among the
most extensive of any area throughout the state.
The hours of early
voting were established on a bipartisan basis many months ago, and those hours
have been widely published. Any alteration of hours would cause
confusion and add stress for the employees who are working long hours at early
voting locations.
There is ample opportunity for voters to cast
their ballots with early voting, absentee ballots and Election Day voting
options.
The
Democratic Board of Elections commissioner has not returned News 12’s calls for
comment.
Suffolk
County Executive Steve Bellone says he is requesting extended hours at early
voting locations in Suffolk as well.