Early voting is underway in New York and more than 700,000 people took part in the first weekend of early voting for general elections, according to state Board of Elections.
A significant portion of the votes — 257,860 — came from New York City residents, while approximately 447,840 votes were cast by voters from other regions of the state.
Early voting has seen higher participation so far compared to the first weekend of early voting in the 2020 presidential election, which was the first time New Yorkers could vote early in a presidential race.
With Election Day just days away, early voting will continue until Sunday, November 3rd.
New York state officials reassured voters Monday that their ballots are safe, and they’re on the lookout for misinformation and voter intimidation.
State attorney general Tish James says her office is ready to tackle any instances of voter suppression or electioneering so that New Yorkers can feel safe when they head to the polls.
And in the age of artificial intelligence, James has this warning: “You should never rely on AI chat bots to answer questions about elections or voting and if you receive a phone call with information about voting or elections, be vigilant – that information may be inaccurate or fake. Remember to verify information with official sources.”
The state’s Election Protection Hotline opened on Saturday. Those with questions or concerns can call 866-390-2992 or submit an online complaint.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.
Image Credit: NY State Board of Elections