As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing guidance, roughly 1.2 million New Yorkers voted by absentee ballot in the June primary election. Unfortunately, many voters received their ballots too late or not at all. Thousands of ballots were disqualified, at no fault of the voter, because of delays in postal delivery or because prepaid envelopes sometimes lacked postmark. Other minor errors caused ballot disqualification such as damaged envelopes and lack of signature.

Because there is not a statewide, nor New York City wide, mandate for absentee ballot tracking systems, voters are not able to see the progress of their application, when their ballot will arrive, if it was received at their board of elections after mailing, or if it was counted as valid upon receipt. They had no recourse to fix errors because they were unaware if any existed. Many voices were silenced and race results possibly affected. 

Every New York board of elections must have an absentee ballot tracking system in place for the November General Election. Every New Yorker must be guaranteed their voice is heard.

(Graphic Art Credit: Golden Cosmos)