Greenpointers hoping to cruise by their poll site this morning and vote in a timely fashion were met with hour-long wait times as early as 8:30 a.m. at the McGuinness Senior Center (715 Leonard St.).
Across the country, the 2018 midterm elections are seeing record turnout from Texas to Florida for the high-stakes election where a record 36 million early voters already cast their ballots.
Voters at the McGuinness Senior Center streamed into snailing lines that mixed in the center of the packed room causing some confusion. It was not clear which scanning machines were to be used for the ballots and many voters skipped the booths, filling out their ballots in the scanner lines. By 8:30 a.m. the line was out the door and was not slowing by 10 a.m.
At the 80 Dupont St. poll site, where the line stretched down the block, only one voting machine was reported to be functioning at 11 a.m.
Apparently only ONE MACHINE is working here in north #Greenpoint! The others broke down. Over 100 people waiting in line @BOENYC, this is ridiculous! Cc. @BPEricAdams @NYCMayorsOffice @StephenLevin33 @RepMaloney #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/kT0o2sFyYT
— Eugene Resnick (@EugeneResnick) November 6, 2018
The line in north #Greenpoint to vote is about 100 people deep out of the door! #Vote #ElectionDay2018 pic.twitter.com/eu1opveZnc
— Eugene Resnick (@EugeneResnick) November 6, 2018
A similar fiasco unfolded at Saint Cecilia’s Church (84 Herbert St.), as three of four scanners reportedly malfunctioned.
3 of 4 scanners down at St Cecilia in Greenpoint, and a ~3hr line to use the last one. Jesus we can do better. pic.twitter.com/cpoDFapzra
— Wiley Norvell (@WileyNorvell) November 6, 2018
Greenpoint was not alone in its election day woes: Voters waited in the rain for close to two hours while voting machines went down at PS 130 in Windsor Terrace.
This is the line at PS 130 in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, where I’m told all of the machines are down and the voters here are waiting to wait in emergency paper ballots pic.twitter.com/pVll5DaBZy
— katie honan (@katie_honan) November 6, 2018
In Crown Heights, the wait time was also two hours while machines were down at PS 316.
People are leaving because it’s a 2 hour wait at PS 316 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
“Some machines are broken and it’s extremely crowded.” #ElectionDay @WNYC pic.twitter.com/fUCsEOq1Wc
— Jennifer Hsu (@jennhsu) November 6, 2018
If you need to report voting issues, the quickest course of action would be to contact the NYC Board of Elections at 212-487-5400.
NYers may be voting in record numbers. This is good news. The more people who participate, the better.
But reports of broken machines, long lines, & emergency ballots in NYC are worrisome. If you run into issues contact @BOENYC or 212-487-5400.
Your vote matters. Stay in line.
— Tish James (@TishJames) November 6, 2018