This column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared on BrooklynReporter.com, the Home Reporter and Spectator dated October 25, 2024
Early voting kicks off Saturday, October 26 and continues through the following weekend, concluding on Sunday, November 3. On each of the nine days during the early voting period, polling sites will open at 8:00 AM, with a closing time of 5:00 PM on weekends and 8:00 PM on weekdays.
Since early voting went into effect in 2019, millions of New Yorkers have availed themselves of the convenience it provides to exercise their most fundamental right as a citizen in a hectic, busy world where life, family, and work commitments can cause obstacles to getting to a poll site on just one available day.
Some early voting periods, for primaries and general elections in city-only election cycles, have had lower turnout, like this year’s federal and state primaries, in which just over 100.000 votes were cast during early voting. The last presidential election year in 2020, however, saw over 3.7 million New Yorkers across the state cast their ballot during the early voting period.
One trend that has been consistent, across the country, in New York state, and here in the city, is that more Democrats utilize early voting, both as a share of votes cast among registered Democrats, as well as of all votes cast. It is also true that when voter turnout increases, Democrats do better than during low-turnout elections.
In this most important of elections, it is imperative that everyone vote, regardless of who you are voting for. As Democrats, it is vital that enthusiasm and participation be high, because when it is, more results go blue.
This obviously applies to the marquee contest at the top of the ballot, which will drive this cycle’s high turnout, but it also is true for local, down-ballot races. Here in Southern Brooklyn, two particular state legislative races will be very competitive and voter turnout, assisted by the convenience of early voting, will be a major factor in who comes out on top.
For Assembly District 46, which covers parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Gravesend, and Coney Island, Republican incumbent Alec Brook-Krasny will face a tough challenge from Democrat Chris McCreight. This race will be extremely close, as it has been in recent years when just a few hundred votes could swing the result one way or the other.
McCreight formerly served as president of the Bay Ridge Democrats and has been Councilman Brannan’s Chief of Staff for years. He is extremely good at getting Democrats elected, as he has played a large role in those successes in Bay Ridge since 2017, but he is equally good at serving constituents through an elected government office.
In contrast, Brook-Krasny has two government offices – one located in the Bay Ridge end of the district and one in Coney Island – but they have no signage letting community members know that is where their Assemblyman’s office is, and they are most often either closed or, by all accounts, appear to be closed.
When it comes to helping people in the district navigate matters of local government, McCreight is extremely effective. He takes the time to determine what is needed, and then his vast knowledge of that world always allows him to provide the help and direction that is needed. Elected McCreight to the Assembly, where he can expand on this, will bring these communities a level of service and representation that is sorely missing with Brook-Krasny.
In State Senate district 17, which spans Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, and parts of Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, and Gravesend, Iwen Chu is looking to win a second term of what was a newly created Asian-majority district in 2022. Becoming the state’s first Asian woman state senator was historic, and no doubt representation matters for this Asian-majority district, but Iwen represents everyone. Staff in her office speak seven languages, ensuring constituents from all backgrounds can rest assured they can always get the help they need when they visit.
Iwen’s has been out in front on legislation to improve safety around e-bikes, and her work to secure funding for local public schools and community centers has meant so much to communities that rely on these resources.
Check the website vote.nyc to verify your Election Day polling site, as well as your early voting location. If you do avail yourself to early voting, whether you are in Bay Ridge and cast your ballot at Fort Hamilton High School or OLPH or Sirico’s or FDR High School or the Harway Youth Center, make sure you check off Chris McCreight and/or Iwen Chu if they are on you’re ballot.
