Early voting in NY begins with White House, abortion and House control on the line

New Yorkers went to the polls Saturday morning as early voting in the state began – with the race for the White House taking center stage.

New Yorkers seeking to beat long lines on Election Day, Nov. 5, took advantage of early voting, which runs through Nov. 3. Poll sites opened 8 a.m. Saturday, and will be open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A steady stream of voters began arriving at York College in Queens as soon as the doors opened.

“I had my voter scan card I received. I showed it, they scanned it. There was no problem with the machines,” said one woman who declined to give her name or say who she is voting for. “It went well.

“I am  hoping my candidate wins. I’ve always voted in all elections. This is so close that it was very important to vote, definitely. We need change,” she added.

With roughly 30 million early votes already cast in other states, Donald Trump’s campaign is feeling cautiously optimistic about the Republican nominee’s chances of defeating Democrat Kamala Harris and winning back the presidency.

Data from an already record-breaking, early voter turnout in some parts of the country show surges in Republican ballots cast in key battleground states compared to previous elections. Unlike the 2020 election when Trump lost the presidency to Joe Biden after telling supporters not to trust the early-voting process, the ex-president is all in this time around — and urging fellow Republicans to vote early.

And while left-leaning New York isn’t among the seven swing states likely to determine the presidency, there’s still some key issues Empire State residents will get to vote on — despite a vast majority of congressional, state legislative and judicial races on the ballot pitting incumbents against heavy underdogs.

New Yorkers will get to decide on “Proposal 1” – a controversial amendment to the state constitution that supporters claim is needed to permanently protect abortion rights statewide just in case the political winds someday change.

However, opponents of the New York Equal Rights Amendment allege its language is so vague that it could be used to allow illegal immigrants to vote and trans women to play girls sports.

In NYC, voters will also be asked to vote on five other ballot proposals that would modify the City Charter. Mayor Adams has said the ballot measures drafted through a Charter Revision Commission he appointed are aimed helping streamline government, but critics say they’re designed to weaken the City Council and to boost mayoral control over city governance.

Some of the measures could potentially tie council members up in red tape when trying to pass legislation, including having to first get a fiscal impact report on any bills from the mayor’s budget office before holding a public hearing. Another would expand the Sanitation Department’s authority to clean streets, as well require waste be containerized citywide.

The top New York-based seat up for grabs this Election Day belongs to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who’s a huge favorite to defeat Republican challenger Mike Sapraicone .

Although the Big Apple’s House seats are expected to hold serve, the Empire State will still have a huge say in whether Republicans keep their slim 220-212 control of the House. There’s seven competitive House races in New York, including three on Long Island.

If Democrats take the House back, Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries is the frontrunner to become speaker.

Democrats appear in no danger of losing control of the state Legislature, but Republicans have a puncher’s chance of at least ending Democrats’ veto-blocking supermajority in the Senate and Assembly.

For traditional voters who don’t mind waiting until Election Day, the deadline in NYC to register to vote is Saturday, Oct. 26.