Early voting kicks off in NYC, putting new ranked-choice system to the test
NEW YORK — New Yorkers lined up Saturday to cast the first ballots — and test out the new ranked-choice voting system — as early voting kicked off in the crowded race for mayor.
Caroline Jackson gave a thumbs-up to the early voting at Intermediate School 68 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, where there were no lines and voters were in and out in five minutes.
“It works for me. I think it’s great,” Jackson, 59, who works for the city, said of the early voting option. “It’s less people and it’s convenient.”
It was most voters’ first experience using ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to pick up to five candidates in order of preference.
Paulette Martin conceded it was a “little confusing” making more than one selection on the ballot, especially with so many candidates.
“Some of the candidates ... I’ve never heard of them, you know?” said Martin, 57, a home health attendant. “But I did the best I could.”
Early voting continues through next weekend and regular primary day is on June 22. The winner may not be known until all mail-in and provisional ballots are counted, most likely during the the first week of July.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams has been leading most polls followed by businessman Andrew Yang, former Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and former counsel for Mayor Bill de Blasio, Maya Wiley.
On the Republican side, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa is running against Fernando Mateo, who previously led trade groups for bodega owners and livery drivers.
The Democratic frontrunners appeared at a rally at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network headquarters in Harlem Saturday morning.
Sharpton said he has decided not to endorse a mayoral candidate in the primary for the first time since 1989. He warned candidates not to attack one another, and most stuck to urging voters to cast their ballots early.
“I’m ... trying to get people to early vote (not) because I have a candidate,” Sharpton told the crowd.
