This too is Yonkers–By Eric Schoen
Friends, I didn’t believe that it would happen. Everyone was in a panic expecting problems, delays, long lines, etc. New York State entered the 21st Century October 26 with the start of early voting Allowing you to cast your ballot in the 9 days leading up to Election Day.
I remember at least 10 years ago going to a polling place in Florida with my Friend prior to Election Day and signing papers to help my friend vote. He didn’t need help. I just basically wanted to see how the early voting process worked.
Mind you, this was in Broward County, right next to the home of the hanging chad, Palm Beach County. With the scrutiny the Bush vs. Gore Presidential Race received, they were going out their way to make sure everything went smoothly. Mind you back then in Florida voters were using touch screen machines to vote. Just like you use the ATM to take money out of the bank these machines were quick and easy to use.
I couldn’t wait for this technology to come to Westchester. Alas, it never arrived and we continue to mark our ballots with markers as we have since the old lever machines were taken out of use after the hanging chad Florida mess. It’s not the most difficult thing, but in this day and age we should be voting in a[1] more technologically sophisticated way.
I better shut my mouth. We don’t want the powers to be to take the new system away. The system is relatively easy to use., You give the clerk your name, first, last and middle. Then You give them your address and up comes your name, party registration and other vital information on a touch screen device similar to an iPad. (To make it easier for the poll worker to look you up bring the card with your information that you received from the county.)
Now we had been told that we had to report to our assigned early voting location to vote. Half of Yonkers would vote at the Riverfront Library, the other half at the Will Library. While the clerk was looking for my name on the electric roster, another name similar to mine popped up. This individual resided in Tuckahoe. A little birdie then told me that the sign-in tablets would allow anyone throughout Westchester to sign in and vote at any Early Voting location.
After they have found you, you sign the screen and a piece of paper is generated that is inserted into another machine that prints the ballot for your particular district. You use a marker to fill in the candidates you wish to vote for, then you insert your ballot just like we have been doing in recent years into a machine that tallies the ballots.
Something else I have learned. Some fear their ballot is not secret when it is inserted in to the machine that tallies your vote. You can insert your ballot face up, face up to the right or left or face down and it will still scan.
Someone the other day asked me why we need this early balloting. We have voted on one day, Election Day forever. These early voting days make sure the process goes smoothly. Have you watched on television and witnessed the long lines at the polls during Presidential elections in New York City? That’s what early voting days hope to avoid. You shouldn’t have to stand in lines 2 hours to cast your ballot.
Congratulations Westchester Board of Elections Commissioners Douglas Colety and Reginald Lafayette, Senators Andrea Stewart Cousins and Shelly Mayor, Assemblymen Gary Pretlow and Nader Sayegh and Board of Elections site staff Phil Gille and Tom Meier for a job well done.
Hot Topics
Obama had Osama Bin Ladin. Trump has Al-Baghdadi. No matter what your political inklings are, we are safer today due to the work of the military under Commander in Chief Obama and Commander in Chief Trump. And of course the dog who aided in the the Al-Baghdadi capture and demise. Give your dog (or cat) an extra hug this week in honor of the miraculous work done by the dog in this most important event.
At first Congress wondered why they weren’t briefed on the Al-Baghdadi situation. Then some members of Congress, Democrat and Republican praised President Trump on this matter shutting up about the notification. I have never served in the military. But you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize if you are trying to capture someone of significance you can’t in 2019 soon to be 2020 give the details to too many people. Yes, do as the Constitution says, but use common sense!
Day light savings time comes to an end this weekend. Some say it was signed into law for the farm animals. Some say it has to do with saving energy. Some say it’s too.dangerous for school children to be waiting for a bus or walking to school when it’s so dark. All I know is that every time we switch the time, it is followed by more accidents on our roadways. Maybe it’s time to examine the Falling back and springing ahead. President Trump is against the change so does that mean all anti–[2] Trumpers are in favor of it? Think about that one before you decide how you feel about the issue.
I’m Happy to announce to you that per Yonkers City Council resolution you will be able to watch Yonkers City Council meetings everyday on the city public access channel. Who needs Ellen, Maury, Judge Judy, Jerry or old reruns of I Love Lucy or Have I Got a Secret or Password when you can watch the Yonkers City Council meeting everyday. Next they will be like the NEW york State Channel and broadcast pictures of the Senators 24 hours a day when the Senate is not in session!
How many more people are going to complain to me that the Journal News Home Delivery system is a mess. Late, wet or no papers. Wonder why circulation is down? Not just because they repeat many of their first section stories in their USA TODAY supplement. Not because they don’t cover meetings and events important to your community, or list community events people want to attend and have no way other than the weekend section to know about.
Now that you have blown the whistle using the tools I provided you with last week, a reminder that in this day and age every journalist is looking for the ‘scoop’ or that ‘Woodward-Bernstein’ moment. Feel free to send your whistleblower complaints to me at thistooisyonkers@aol.com or to risingmediagroup@gmail.com. And remember that most agencies have inspector generals or other entities to bring complaints or illegalities you observe to. We are all Mike Wallaces with our fancy phones with cameras!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen and Dan Murphy on the Westchester Rising Radio Show Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, go to WVOX.com and click the arrow to listen to the live stream or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge
