FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM OCTOBER 29, 2020 • THE QUEENS COURIER 33
oped letters & comments
AUTUMN IS HERE // PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JAVIER FOJO
Send us your photos of Queens and you could see them online or in our paper! To submit them to us,
tag @qnsgram on Instagram, visit our Facebook page, tweet @QNS or email editorial@qns.com (subject: Queens Snaps).
New Yorkers: Make
your voting plan
BY LAURA WOOD AND JARRET BERG
Amid the ongoing uncertainty and hardship wrought by
the raging COVID-19 pandemic, one bright spot where
relief has kept pace with the public health emergency in
New York is the progress made reducing long-standing
barriers to voter access, by modernizing our elections and
improving voter convenience.
Although there are evolving headwinds to political participation,
New York is providing voters safe and convenient
options to make their voices heard at the ballot box. For
those who have not cast a ballot since the midterm elections
in 2018, there are other ways to vote in 2020 instead of the
single Election Day, providing residents with fl exible voting
options to choose from in the coming days.
Early Voting: Saturday, Oct. 24 – Sunday, Nov. 1.
Th anks to 2019 legislation that created a reasonable in-person
early voting period, New York City will now off er residents
an additional 64 hours to vote over nine days, including
two weekends and evening hours on select weekdays.
Th e early voting period started Saturday, Oct. 24, and will
run through Sunday, Nov. 1. During this time, city voters
may visit their assigned early voting location — one of 88
being deployed around the city. Th ose who do will privately
mark and scan their ballot just as they would on Election
Day, minus the big crowds.
Casting a ballot during the early voting period allows
New Yorkers to maintain adequate social distance while
voting. By spreading voters out over several days instead
of one marathon voting day, early voting is one of the most
prescient recent reforms, adopted before social distancing
was understood to be a public health benefi t. New Yorkers,
always mindful to wear their masks, have the option to
include voting early as they venture out for groceries or run
errands. One more benefi t: Early voters avoid USPS logistics
entirely; there is no need to forage for stamps.
Vote on Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6 a.m. to
9 p.m.: New Yorkers are still welcome to wait for Election
Day, the last opportunity to vote, when polls will be open
from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., but now they have some really decent
alternatives to avoid crowding at poll sites. But we have to
spread the word so New Yorkers can make informed voting
plans.
Th at is why the Mayor’s Democracy NYC Initiative,
through an informal consortium of agencies including the
Campaign Finance Board and voting rights groups, have
committed to educating voters about these changes through
robust outreach in multiple languages directed at voters in
the communities hardest hit by COVID-19, many of which
also have historically lower participation.
Many things about New York are necessarily diff erent
now, at least for the time being. But one series of long-overdue
changes that need not sunset are the many improvements
to voter access.
Laura Wood is the Senior Advisor and General Counsel at
the Mayor’s DemocracyNYC Initiative. Jarret Berg attorney
and co-founder of the non-partisan VoteEarlyNY.
MUTUAL RESPECT FOR
EVERYONE’S SAFETY
WHILE VOTING
Th is is indeed a historical time
for the United States and Nov. 3
will be an extremely important
general election. We also had the
opportunity to avoid in-person
voting by submitting absentee ballots
and we can still try and avoid
the crowds by voting early from
Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.
As a poll worker, we take a course
in how to best serve the public. Th is
year, the course was off ered online
for safety reasons. Included in the
course was a chapter on preventing
the spread of COVID-19.
All poll workers are required to
wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
Th ere will be sanitizing, cleaning
and personal protective equipment
(PPE) at each voting site. Th ere will
also be disposable pens available
for maximum infection control.
Th e city’s Board of Elections is
working hard to make voting in
this election as pleasant and safe
as possible. Hopefully, there will be
great voter turnout.
All citizens over 18 have the
right to vote. If a voter goes to vote
and is told they’re not registered,
but the voter insists they are,
they have the right to an Affi davit
Ballot. All voters are to be treated
with respect.
While poll workers are required
to wear masks, it’s the voter’s constitutional
right to vote whether
they are wearing a mask or not. If
a voter refuses to wear a mask, a
poll worker will tell them to wear a
mask to help prevent the spread of
infection, or will walk them to the
voting station, making sure they’re
at least 6 feet away from other voters.
We’ve had a rise in COVID-19
cases in certain areas in Queens,
with non-essential businesses closing
down for two weeks, so why
wouldn’t everyone want to protect
themselves by the simple task of
wearing a mask for the short time it
takes to vote? People can be asymptomatic,
but still be positive.
Just for a protective safety measure
to protect oneself and loved
ones, I know most people would
be most appreciative if the people
who believe that it’s their freedom
to not wear a mask would compromise
and wear it for the short time
they’re voting. Please. Th e life you
save may be your own.
I know Nov. 3 will be stressful.
People’s nerves are increasing, so
to preserve physical and emotional
health, let’s put ourselves in “the
other person’s shoes” and respect
our fellow American citizens.
As a poll worker, we can’t tell you
to wear a mask, but please do it to
protect yourself. Th e polls will be
crowded, so every preventive measure
helps. Th ank you in advance.
Debbie Vogel, Rego Park
PRAISE FOR
POPE FRANCIS
As a Catholic, I would like to
applaud Pope Francis and his
stance on gay unions.
Pope Francis said in a new documentary
called “Francesco,” that
“homosexuals have a right to be
part of a family.” Well, I totally
agree.
Pope Francis believes no one
should be thrown out of the church
because of whom they love. We all
must realize children are involved
in those relationships. I myself
rented a room in a house back in
the 1970s from two gay men who
showed love for one another and
wanted to be married and adopt
children.
I understand there are those who
would disagree with the Pope, but
remember what Jesus said in the
Bible: “Whoever is without sin may
cast the fi rst stone.” Also remember
that “stop judging, that you may
not be judged,” from Matthew 7:1.
We are all children of God and
deserve his love.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr., Bellerose
link
/WWW.QNS.COM
link
