'I love early voting': NY voters sound off as general election begins

About 130,000 city residents have cast ballots so far [FORWARD TO A FRIEND]( [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [DONATE]( [WNYC Politics Brief] [Ad: New Jersey Symphony's 2022/2023 centennial season with yo yo ma]( Sponsored Message 'I love early voting': NY voters sound off as general election begins [an early voter in cool pink sunglasses stands outside a polling place] Enrico Denard/Gothamist [Early voting for the general election kicked off on Saturday]( with New Yorkers casting ballots for several key races including statewide seats, Congress and the governorship. New York's nine-day early voting period — which will run through Sunday, September 6th for this election — was introduced in 2019 as a way to ease long lines at poll sites and encourage greater turnout. And so far, it appears voters are building the habit — [about 130,000 New York City residents cast ballots in the first three days]( of early voting, up from the 45,000 who voted during the same period for 2021's general election. "I love early voting," said Marla Berman, a 62-year-old psychotherapist who said she had voted in every election since she turned 18. "The one thing about being a good voter is you get stuck in a lot of lines, so this is terrific." Several voters who spoke to Gothamist said the congressional seats at stake — which could determine the balance of power in Washington — were a chief impetus for voting. Denise Richards, a Manhattan advertising professional, said what drove her to vote was straightforward. "To keep the Democratic Party in power," she said. "And to keep many Republicans out of power. There are far too many who are aligning with Trump, and there are far too many who are afraid to say they're not aligning with Trump." Alexandra Frohlingel, an actor, expressed a similar motivation. "When you vote, it's not a love letter; it’s a strategic chess move to control the world we live in," Frohlingel said. "What is relevant is the fact that women’s rights are in danger, and the planet is dying." Rick Farmer, who voted at Hunter College/Brookdale Campus in Manhattan, said he voted only for Democrats, and while he's most concerned with the rising cost of living, he wants to make sure social issues get addressed with his vote. "I don’t vote with my pocketbook," said Farmer. "I am gay, and if I don’t have my rights, then to me the pocketbook doesn’t matter." Last Friday, New York Attorney General Letitia James said New Yorkers who witness voter intimidation in any form can report it to her office hotline at 866-390-2992 or [submit a complaint online](. Additionally, if you want to tell Gothamist about anything you experience with a polling site or the voting process more broadly, you can email us at [tips@gothamist.com](mailto:tips@gothamist.com?subject=). — Reporting by David Cruz, Michelle Bocanegra, Enrico Denard and Brigid Bergin --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- [Ad: New Jersey Symphony's 2022/2023 centennial season with music director xian zhang]( Sponsored Message --------------------------------------------------------------- More political headlines this week: [a protest sign that reads "If it's not systems change I don't want it"] [What we know about NYC's ballot questions on racial justice]( New York City's Racial Justice Commission came up with three ballot proposals collectively aimed at addressing systemic racism and its impacts on city life. [the Brooklyn Bridge after dark] [What to know about the $4.2 billion environmental bond act on your ballot]( The only statewide ballot proposal voters will see this general election asks whether New York should borrow billions of dollars to bolster the state’s environmental infrastructure. [Max Rose and Nicole Malliotakis yard signs side by side] [Migrant issue takes center stage in the race for NY-11]( The influx of asylum seekers has quickly become the central issue in the Staten Island and southern Brooklyn swing district — and could give Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis a decisive edge over Democratic challenger Max Rose. [the Working Families Party's leader speaks at an outdoor press conference] [What the Working Families Party sees at stake in this election]( The progressive Working Families Party needs a critical mass of New York voters to select Democratic candidates under the WFP party line in order to keep its place on the ballot in future elections. [Sen. Bob Menendez with his hands up] [NJ Gov. Murphy: I don't know if Menendez is guilty, but he's a 'valuable and important partner']( Gov. Phil Murphy claimed he doesn't know anything about the new federal investigation into Sen. Bob Menendez — the second federal probe the New Jersey senator has faced in the last decade. [Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller] [Montclair's mayor is a rising star. Could local scandals drag him back to earth?]( Allegations that Mayor Sean Spiller unlawfully received health benefits and enabled an abusive township manager could hinder the young Democrat's chances at a possible 2025 bid for New Jersey governor. [an outer-borough highway] [Let's take this show on the road]( Tomorrow and Thursday, our newsroom is taking Morning Edition and All Things Considered to two suburban areas to explore the unique political dynamics at play beyond the largely blue bubble of New York City. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- [Ad: New Jersey Symphony's 2022/2023 centennial season with yo yo ma]( Sponsored Message [the logo for The People's Guide to Power] [The power of the law to protect voting]( WNYC/Gothamist senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a conversation about threats to our election infrastructure, and how the law protects against them. [LISTEN]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential political coverage and more. 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