Voting lines wrap around McGuinness senior center in Greenpoint on midterm election day 2018.
The outrage caused by widespread voting machine breakdowns throughout New York City on midterm election day is largely falling on the shoulders of Board of Elections Director Michael Ryan.
At Greenpoint’s polling sites wait-times exceeded two hours throughout the day, as ballot scanners overheated, jammed and simply stopped working. Greenpoint was not alone, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams counted 49 poll sites facing similar dilemmas.
Voter turnout increased 88 percent in NYC this year for the midterm elections compared with the 2014 midterms, but decreased by nearly one million voters compared with the 2016 presidential elections, according to Gothamist.
BOE director Ryan said that 56 ballot scanners were taken out of service on Tuesday between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., the 15-hour window which saw 1.9 million NYC voters — each with two double-sided ballots — overwhelm the eight-year-old scanners that were expected to be used for 10 years. 6,000 calls were made to 311 pertaining to election day woes.
As a wave of eager voters arrived at their poll sites across New York City today, tens of thousands of Brooklynites faced extended lines with wait times over two-hours due to malfunctioning ballot scanners. The resiliency of NYC voters was on full display as they waited through the chaos, likely wondering why New York doesn’t have early voting.
The line at John Ericsson Middle School 126 (424 Leonard St.) in Greenpoint wrapped down the hall outside of the voting room and the wait time was over two hours at 2 p.m., after four out of six ballot scanners stopped working.
The long lines to vote and scan ballots at 715 Leonard St.
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.). Continue reading →
The 2018 midterm elections are a high stakes affair, with the Democratic party poised to take back Congress (and potentially the Senate). So grab a friend or two, most importantly vote and then check out one of the local viewing parties:
Brooklyn Bazaar (150 Greenpoint Ave.)
The Midterm Election Viewing party at Bazaar w/ Drink Specials
7 – 8 p.m. – ambiance + live music + playing the #actuallycurious card game from Curiosity Lab 8 – 8:30 p.m. – featured speakers, economist Esben Baek + poet Michele Hatchette 8:30 – 8:45 p.m. – Musical intermezzo with Xavier White + results watching 8:45 – 9:15 pm. – featured political guest, new state rep Julia Salazar + conversation between guests and audience 9:15 – 9:30 p.m. – musical intermezzo with Andrew Milea + results watching 9:30 – 10: p.m. – mini haiku duel (4-8 poets duel, first come first served for signups) 10 p.m. – ??? – discussion, celebration, therapy, and meeting new friends
