New Yorkers poised to vote in chaotic #PandemicPrimary — and things could be way worse in November

Dave Goldiner, Denis Slattery


It will be a primary day like no other in the Empire State Tuesday with results from key races likely to remain up in the air for days or even weeks as a historic number of voters chose to cast ballots by mail amid fears of the deadly virus.

Gov. Cuomo expanded the use of absentee ballots after rescheduling the primary from its original April date. The city Board of Elections received 708,421 absentee applications and mailed out roughly 679,245.

Nearly 30,000 voters still haven’t received their ballots and it’s not known how many have been returned.

The city Board of Elections received 708,421 absentee applications and mailed out roughly 679,245.
The city Board of Elections received 708,421 absentee applications and mailed out roughly 679,245.


The city Board of Elections received 708,421 absentee applications and mailed out roughly 679,245.

About 52,000 people voted in person in the five boroughs during early voting, a total that was down from the 60,000 who did so in the November 2019 general election.

Absentee ballots will only start to be opened and tabulated after polls close and ballots that are postmarked Tuesday will still be counted, even if it takes a few days for them to arrive.

Polls will still be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with strict safety measures in place including mandatory masks and plenty of hand sanitizer to help stem the spread of COVID-19.

Good government group Common Cause NY launched a statewide nonpartisan election protection program over the weekend with over 100 volunteers serving as virtual or roving poll monitors to assist voters with urgent questions and ensure poll sites are taking adequate safety protections.

“COVID-19 has altered the way New Yorkers are voting this primary season, but one thing has not changed: safe and secure elections,” said Susan Lerner, the group’s executive director. “Voters will have questions and our volunteers are ready to help both on the road and online. Democracy doesn’t pause for anything.”

A voter fills out their ballot at a polling station inside the Brooklyn Museum as early voting continues, Tuesday, June 16, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.
A voter fills out their ballot at a polling station inside the Brooklyn Museum as early voting continues, Tuesday, June 16, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.


A voter fills out their ballot at a polling station inside the Brooklyn Museum as early voting continues, Tuesday, June 16, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (John Minchillo/)

New Yorkers are set to vote on a string of hard-fought congressional and state primaries. Democrats will also be voting for their preferred presidential candidate, although Joe Biden has already wrapped up enough delegates to win the nomination to face off against President Trump in November.

Candidates and political analysts alike are warning that key races, including Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx) fighting to survive a progressive challenge and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens) battling for a second term, may not be called tomorrow — or for several days afterward.

“It’s 50/50 at best,” said one operative about the chances of knowing all the winners on Tuesday night.

Certified results could take a week or two for some races, a source said.

Early results released Tuesday night will likely only reflect in-person voting from polling places on Tuesday, possibly along with results from early in-person voting that wrapped up on Sunday.

A voter casts their ballot at a polling station inside the Brooklyn Museum as early voting continues, Tuesday, June 16, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.
A voter casts their ballot at a polling station inside the Brooklyn Museum as early voting continues, Tuesday, June 16, in the Brooklyn borough of New York.


A voter casts their ballot at a polling station inside the Brooklyn Museum as early voting continues, Tuesday, June 16, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (John Minchillo/)

Among the most closely watched races are the following contests:

· Engel’s desperate fight to hang to his seat as he faces a strong challenge from progressive insurgent Jamaal Bowman.

· AOC’s fight to turn away a moderate challenger in the form of former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.

· A nasty Democratic scrap to replace two retiring Democrats, Reps. Jose Serrano in the South Bronx and Nita Lowey in Westchester and Rockland.

· Brooklyn Rep. Yvette Clarke’s fight to turn away a repeat challenge from community organizer Adem Bunkeddeko.

· Fights in both parties to pick candidates to succeed longtime Rep. Pete King (R-L.I.) in a suburban district that could be a national bellwether.

In some state primary races, incumbent Democrats are facing progressive challengers hoping to capture some of AOC’s magic and repeat the stunning 2018 races that saw several longtime Dems unseated in Albany.

"VOTE NYC" stickers are seen on the ground outside a polling station in Manhattan during the New York Primary on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
"VOTE NYC" stickers are seen on the ground outside a polling station in Manhattan during the New York Primary on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
A voter heads into P.S. 811 Mickey Mantle School to vote in the New York Primary on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Manhattan.
A voter heads into P.S. 811 Mickey Mantle School to vote in the New York Primary on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Manhattan.
Voters head to the designated area to fill out their ballots in the Kentucky primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Voters head to the designated area to fill out their ballots in the Kentucky primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Voters wait in line and read campaign pamphlets at a polling station inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
Voters wait in line and read campaign pamphlets at a polling station inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
Poll workers instruct a voter on where to go to fill out their ballot during the Kentucky primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Poll workers instruct a voter on where to go to fill out their ballot during the Kentucky primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Voting stations are set up in the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center for voters to cast their ballot in the Kentucky primary in Louisville on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Voting stations are set up in the South Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center for voters to cast their ballot in the Kentucky primary in Louisville on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Fayette County voters wait in line to cast their ballots at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Fayette County voters wait in line to cast their ballots at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Jamaal Bowman votes at a polling station inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y. Bowman is running against veteran Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary for New York's 16th Congressional District.
Jamaal Bowman votes at a polling station inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y. Bowman is running against veteran Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary for New York's 16th Congressional District.
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in New York's primary election at a polling station inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots in New York's primary election at a polling station inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
A voter wears a protective mask while casting their vote in New York's primary election at a polling site inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
A voter wears a protective mask while casting their vote in New York's primary election at a polling site inside Yonkers Middle/High School on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, in Yonkers, N.Y.
Poll workers wearing face shields assist a voter as he checks in to cast his vote in the Kentucky primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Poll workers wearing face shields assist a voter as he checks in to cast his vote in the Kentucky primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.
Voters fill out their ballots during in person voting in the Kentucky Primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. In an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, neighborhood precincts were closed and voters that didn't cast mail in ballots were directed to one central polling location.
Voters fill out their ballots during in person voting in the Kentucky Primary at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. In an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, neighborhood precincts were closed and voters that didn't cast mail in ballots were directed to one central polling location.
Voting stations are set up ahead of the primary election at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Monday, June 22, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. With one polling place designated for Louisville on Tuesday, voters who didn’t cast mail-in ballots could potentially face long lines in Kentucky’s unprecedented primary election.
Voting stations are set up ahead of the primary election at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Monday, June 22, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. With one polling place designated for Louisville on Tuesday, voters who didn’t cast mail-in ballots could potentially face long lines in Kentucky’s unprecedented primary election.

“In 2018, New York’s corporate Democratic establishment tried to brush off the IDC’s downfall and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory as a fluke,” said Working Families Party New York State director Sochie Nnaemeka. “Instead, the progressive movement has only accelerated. Dozens of people of color and working-class candidates are on the ballot.

“This year’s primary season has already put the Democratic establishment on notice,” she added.

The uncertainty surrounding Tuesday’s primary could pale in comparison to what voters may experience come November, particularly if a second wave of COVID-19 slams the state.

Both parties are expecting record turnout in the fall as voters line up to have their say on Trump in the general election.

A fraught presidential election and a pivotal battle for control of the Senate will take place against the backdrop of a bitter partisan war over absentee and mail-in voting and access to the ballot box.

Trump has repeatedly denounced vote by mail as a Democratic plot to unseat him and even suggested Monday that foreign governments are planning to print up phony ballots.

“IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES,” the president tweeted on Monday.






























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