NYC Continues Early Voting as President Biden Visits
On Monday Oct. 31, 80th St was occupied by notable police presence and steel barricades that separated curious onlookers from a motorcade traversing down 5th Avenue. President Biden’s motorcade entered the museum’s northernmost end to attend a memorial service for Donald Blinken, father of Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former ambassador to Hungary. According to The Post, the memorial took place in the Temple of Dendur.
Simultaneously, the third day of early voting for the 2022 midterm election was taking place on the southmost entrance of the museum. (Poll workers knew Biden was also at the Met but were told by police that he was attending a fundraiser at 990 Fifth Avenue, a property across the street from the Met.)
According to the two poll workers, early voter turnout at this polling place was notable with voter check-ins totaling 1,100 on Oct. 29 and 1,200 on Oct. 30. These numbers were the highest seen on the Upper East Side in recent years. However, the early voter presence was overshadowed by the commotion at the northernmost entrance.
Other problems: according to the same two poll workers New York City’s Board of Elections had terrible check and balance processes. They claimed that they have witnessed double voting from those who have residencies in New York and another state.
These claims of ineffective Election Board oversight accompany what has been a contentious election for New Yorkers citywide. These workers claimed they reached out to the Board of Elections office during the past few election cycles, but they received no response.
