Vote 2020: 1 million early votes cast in NYC on final day of early voting

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Sunday, November 1, 2020
1 million early votes cast in NYC on final day of early voting
Sunday is the final day to vote early in New York and nearly one million people have already cast ballots in NYC.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- New Yorkers overwhelmingly approve of early voting with three million people statewide having already cast their ballots -- including more than one million in NYC.

Sunday marked the last day to vote early in New York, the polls will be closed Monday before Election Day on Tuesday.

The New York City Board of Elections said Sunday evening that 1,119,056 ballots had been cast in the city.

There have been long waits throughout the early voting period at many polling locations, but that wasn't the case Saturday on the Upper East Side where a second voting location opened at Marymount Manhattan College, making for a faster visit to the voting booth.

It is an alternate poll site for the people who've faced longlines at the overwhelmed Wagner School.

With about 120,000 registered voters, the Upper East Side boasts the most registered voters in the city.

RELATED: New York early voting: What you need to know

Candace McCowan reports on early voting from the Upper East Side.

New York Senator Charles Schumer visited the polling site at the Brooklyn Museum on Sunday and called for the electoral process to be reformed.

"We have to reform the electoral process, Donald Trump has tried to scam people, intimidate people in every way," Schumer said. "We have to strengthen the process and not let all this voter suppression happen. We got to make it easier not harder for people to vote. Voting is the American birthright."

The polls across New York City's 88 early voting locations opened at 7 a.m. Sunday. Polls will close at all NYC locations at 4 p.m. Sunday.

RELATED: New York officials optimistic about fixes to mail-in voting system

There have been efforts behind-the-scenes to remedy delays and disqualified ballots.

Voters and poll workers say even with long lines, which have been seen throughout the city, voting is a necessity.

"I want people to know that to make a difference, you just can't sit at home and run your mouth, you come and put the pen to the paper," said Khadijah Smith, Van Dyke polling coordinator.

"We see the state of the country right now last election people realized the consequences of how that can affect you," said Kendal Campbell, a voter.

CLICK HERE to find your polling place, and CLICK HERE to browse by county for times and places where you can vote early.

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