THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2020. The Letter Ticker. October 26, 2020:

WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS NEEDS TO HAVE LONGER HOURS, MORE STAFF AT GREENBURGH VOTING LOCATIONS.

2, 3 AND 4 AND A HALF HOUR WAITS FOR VOTERS IS EXCESSIVE AND NOT REASONABLE

COPY BELOW OF NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS MEMO TO COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS    –

Greenburgh looking for volunteer entertainers this weekend to make wait betterSUGGESTION—-HAVE ONE HOUR EARLIER VOTING HOUR ONLY FOR THE DISABLED AND FRAIL ELDERLY

Although the town of Greenburgh has no control over the election process (the county Board of Elections oversees the elections) -we are trying hard to make the election process less stressful for voters who have been waiting on line for long periods of time.

We are:

1) live streaming the Greenburgh Town Hall voting location so  you’ll have a better idea when to vote;

2) Offering outdoor flu shots to voters waiting on line–courtesy of the Greenburgh Health Center;

3) arranged for food trucks to be at Town Hall parking area so hungry voters-waiting in line- can purchase food and drink;

4) created a senior citizen line

5) created priority lines for the disabled and very frail elderly – they go first  I think the town is doing more than most communities to make the voting experience a less aggravating experience.

HOPE TO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEKEND FROM VOLUNTEER MUSICIANS, YOGA INSTRUCTORS. Want to volunteer?

E mail [email protected] or me at [email protected]. Judith Beville, the town clerk, is an outstanding events coordinator. She knows how to party! And if voters are going to vote for the candidate who represents the party of their choice, the voters might want to also party while voting for their party.

The lines are very long -2, 3 hours and this weekend over 4 and a half hours for some voters –which is outrageous.  I have been complaining and  received the following e mail from the NYS Board of Elections authorizing the County Board of Elections to increase hours.  

A SUGGESTION—I think that the County Board of Elections should have an earlier voting hour for only the disabled and frail elderly. Should be scheduled before the polling places open to everyone else. The voting booths are cleaner at the beginning of voting hours. Those with medical conditions would be safer if they have less contact with lots of other people  (during COVID-19).

THIS IS FROM THE NYS BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO LOCAL BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Responding to High Voter Turnout During Early Voting: 

9 NYCRR 6210.19 (d) (1) expressly requires “[i]f the voter waiting time at an early voting site exceeds 30 minutes the Board of Elections shall deploy such additional voting equipment, election workers and other resources necessary to reduce the wait time to less than 30 minutes as soon as possible but no later than the beginning of the next day of early voting.” 

While the current voter enthusiasm is higher than anticipated, boards with voter wait times exceeding thirty minutes must work to come into compliance with the early voting wait time standard.   

In addition, boards may decide on a bipartisan basis provide additional staff/voter sign-in stations and/or increase the early voting hours to meet the added demand. 

Election Law § 8-600 (4)(d) provides: “(n)othing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any board of elections from establishing a greater number of hours for voting during the early voting period beyond the number of hours required in this subdivision.”  Any expansion of hours would need to be provided uniformly at all poll sites in your county. Please contact our office with any questions. 

Bob Brehm 

Robert A. Brehm

Co-Executive DirectorNew York State Board of Elections

Paul Feiner

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. October 25, 2020:

With Halloween just around the corner, I want to remind New Yorkers to enjoy the holiday but to do so safely. To help New Yorkers make an informed decision on which Halloween activities are safe for their families, the State Department of Health has published guidance for Halloween. The best way to celebrate Halloween this year is to have fun with the people who live in your household — for example, carving pumpkins, watching scary movies or having a virtual costume party.  If your family plans to celebrate outside your home this year, follow some simple “Do’s” and “Don’ts” from the Department of Health to keep your family and community safe. Any activities should be socially distanced and outdoors. We advise New Yorkers not to participate in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed out at the door and you cannot maintain social distance. Please don’t trick-or-treat indoors, unless you are at your own house with family members. If you live in an area with a high number of COVID cases, skip in-person celebrations altogether. (Read the full guidance here.) I hope I can count on your help in making sure this year’s activities are safe for everyone.   1. Early Voting started Yesterday October 24th. For the first time New Yorkers can vote early in a presidential election. There are nine days of Early Voting, which runs from Saturday, October 24th through Sunday, November 1st. Additionally, completed absentee ballots can be dropped off in-person at any early polling site. Robust measures are in place to protect the health and safety of all voters. Look up your early polling place here.   2. The positivity rate in the “micro-cluster” focus areas fell to 2.31 percent. The statewide positivity rate excluding these areas was 0.98 percent. There were 1,023 total hospitalizations. Of the 141,508 tests reported yesterday, 1,637, or 1.15 percent, were positive. Sadly, we lost 11 New Yorkers to the virus yesterday.  3. New Yorkers can now experience the Empire State’s many craft breweries through a Virtual Passport Program. Today, the State launched a virtual passport program that showcases 200 craft breweries surrounding the 750-mile long Empire State Trail. This program makes it easier for people to enjoy the State’s natural beauty and renowned craft beverages even amid the pandemic.   4. Movie theaters outside of New York City reopened. Theaters can open at 25 percent capacity with up to 50 people per screen. Only theaters outside of New York City in counties that have positivity rates of less than 2 percent on a 14-day average, and which do not have any cluster zones, are permitted to open.   5. Eight additional companies have received support from the State to help produce PPE. Empire State Development, New York’s economic development agency, awarded $4.9 million to eight NY-based companies to help alleviate product shortages that could lead to unfair price gouging of life-saving supplies. These awards boost New York businesses while helping ensure New York is prepared in the event of a second wave.   6. New York landmarks will be illuminated pink tonight to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While COVID-19 forced many New Yorkers to put off routine health exams during the height of the pandemic, we encourage New Yorkers to stay updated with their breast cancer screenings. Breast cancer screenings are covered by most health plans, including Medicaid and health plans participating in the New York State of Health. More information about the screening program for the uninsured New Yorkers and other NYS Breast Cancer Programs can be found here.   Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: COVID altered our lives — and it also altered our language. We asked New Yorkers to submit “new” words or phrases as part of a semi-official COVID dictionary. Here are a few of the entries:  Coronahobby — “A new hobby you took up to pass the time at home, e.g. needlepoint or bread-baking.” New York Tough — “Coming together, being strong, putting differences aside, getting through this. “Blursday — “When all the days of the week start to blur together. “Birthday Parade — “A birthday celebrated with friends and families driving by in cars, blasting songs and displaying signs and balloons.”Rona — “For when you just don’t have the energy to say the whole thing. “Covidiot — “Someone who ignores the warnings regarding public health or safety. “Quarantine Fifteen — “The pounds a few of us may have put on while staying at home. “Six-Foot Shuffle — “When strangers walking down the street or waiting in line move to give each other six feet of distance. “Chin Guard — “A mask worn below the mouth and nose.”   If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to New York State’s Coronavirus Updates here.  Ever Upward, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo