Elected officials called on the Board of Elections
Commissioner Gino Marmorato to add an early voting site for Parkchester to
avoid long lines during the Nov. 3 election.
It came after Marmorato, a Republican, said he would not
sign off on a new site because it was picked "very late in the
process."
Assemblywoman Karines Reyes said locations can still be
picked, provided there's enough time to alert voters before early voting
begins.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Reyes and Bronx Borough
President Ruben Diaz Jr. spoke out about the need to for better access to
voting in the Bronx.
"Voter suppression is not just a southern state thing.
Voter suppression happens across this country and it happens especially in the
state of New York,” said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. “At the end of the day, voter
suppression is not just about trying to engineer a win for Democrats or a win
for Republicans – it’s about affecting the quality of our representation and
who are representatives are accountable to."
Community leaders and others are working with the Board of
Elections for possible sites that could be designated for early voting with
minimal expenses. One site was chosen – the retail space at the former Bolton’s
clothing store.