Things to Know Before Tuesday’s Election

As we get closer to Election Day, it is still unclear where many New Yorkers are going to vote. WNYC reports the city is investigating pop-up voting sites powered by portable generators for areas without power. Manhattan, at least, might be all right come the big day: Con Ed has been robocalling powerless Lower Manhattan residents – they expect electricity to be restored Saturday night. Other areas of the city, such as Breezy Point, will take longer to restore.

Park Slope, though fully powered and unflooded, may run into a roadblock of its own. One of the Slope’s polling locations is John Jay High School, currently being used as a shelter for New Yorkers displaced by Hurricane Sandy. If the high school is to resume normal operations on Monday, the storm refugees will have to be relocated anyway.

Even if a polling place is unaffected physically, limited public transportation may make it impossible for poll workers to reach their assigned destinations. And complications may arise from the gas shortage or other aspects of Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath.

Those with internet access can check the Board of Elections website for updates, or type their address into the poll site locator. Brooklynites wishing not to chance Election Day chaos can register for an absentee ballot (deadline is today) or absentee vote in person (yes, it’s an oxymoron) at 345 Adams Street, 4th Floor. Warning: you must qualify to vote early.

Finally, Common Cause reminds us that when you get to your polling place, you may end up standing in a number of lines – the first is to find out your Election District number, which you can find on the poll site locator. If you know that number, you can skip that initial line.

Photo by davidfg