It’s Primary Day in New York City

Today is Primary Day in New York City. If you plan to vote, here’s a comprehensive overview of what you can anticipate:

• The polling stations will open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.
• Early voting is no longer an option as the nine-day early voting period concluded on Sunday. The Board of Elections reported a lower turnout compared to the previous primary, with approximately 44,611 votes cast during the early voting phase. This year’s primary lacks citywide races, but all 51 City Council members are up for re-election in the general election. Less than half of these races are being contested, and 13 of them involve more than two candidates, making ranked-choice voting necessary.
• Additionally, there are primary elections for the district attorney positions in the Bronx and Queens.
• Registration for today’s election is closed as the Board of Elections requires receiving registration forms at least ten days before the election. It’s important to note that, in New York, you must be affiliated with a political party to participate in a primary. You can check if you’re already registered at the provided source.
• To determine your designated polling place, you can use the locator tool. Keep in mind that your polling location for today may differ from the one assigned for early voting. Several noteworthy races involve the district attorneys in the Bronx and Queens, as well as multiple City Council members. Here are some races to keep an eye on:
• In the Bronx, Councilwoman Marjorie Velázquez, a progressive Democrat, faces criticism from two challengers who perceive her as excessively left-leaning. After the Council’s Progressive Caucus requested members to endorse a statement of principles that included reduced police funding, Velázquez resigned from the caucus. Notably, she recently gained the endorsement of the conservative Police Benevolent Association.
• Councilman Chris Marte, a Democrat representing Lower Manhattan, confronts opponents who accuse him of advocating to defund the police, an allegation he denies. Marte maintains his intention to remain in the progressive caucus and portrays his opponents as more right-leaning than their comments suggest.
• In a district encompassing Harlem, three candidates compete to succeed Councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan, a democratic socialist known for her progressive stance. Jordan unexpectedly withdrew from the race the previous month. Two of the contenders, Al Taylor and Inez Dickens, serve in the State Assembly. Dickens previously represented Harlem in the City Council before her election to the Assembly in 2016. The third candidate, Yusef Salaam, gained recognition as one of the Central Park jogger case’s wrongfully convicted individuals in 1989. All three candidates identify as moderate Democrats.
• Melinda Katz, the incumbent district attorney in Queens, faced a close competition four years ago against a democratic socialist candidate endorsed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Katz emerged victorious with a margin of fewer than 60 votes. In the current race, her primary opponent of significance is George Grasso, a former first deputy police commissioner and administrative judge. Grasso claims that there is a growing concern among city residents, particularly in Queens, regarding safety and the inadequate assertive response from political leaders. Katz dismisses these assertions as baseless.
• In the Bronx, District Attorney Darcel Clark encounters a challenge from Tess Cohen, a criminal defense and civil rights attorney. Cohen believes that more Bronx residents could benefit from mental health services and the implementation of a gun court program, similar to Brooklyn’s long-standing initiative aimed at providing young individuals facing gun possession charges a second chance rather than incarceration. Clark, during a recent debate hosted by BronxNet, asserted that she and her staff have employed various measures to combat crime, including the establishment of new bureaus in her office to address crime strategies and violent criminal enterprises, emphasizing their commitment to aiding crime victims. Clark possesses more campaign funds and enjoys the support of the political establishment.

{Matzav.com}