NY polling place problems

[suffragette]

17. "Problems at Williamsburg Polling Station Just One of Many Headaches For Voters"

http://bedfordandbowery.com/2016/04/problems-at-east-williamsburg-polling-station-just-one-of-many-headaches-for-new-york-state-primary-voters/

By the time we arrived just after 12:30 pm, the community center section of the NYCHA public housing complex was buzzing with voters, most of them elderly and many of them Spanish-speaking. Hines, who sat behind a table where she was helping check voters in and verify their registration, informed us that the late opening, “Wasn’t nobody’s fault here.”

According to the site coordinator, Dwain Woods, when the volunteers arrived at 5 am this morning, they found that the site was locked. “Housing didn’t open the building,” he said, referring to NYCHA. According to Woods, someone finally showed up with a key and volunteers were eventually able to open up the polls by 7:30 am. When asked if the experience was frustrating he said, “Yes, but now it’s smooth.”

Unfortunately what might seem like a small snag could have potentially put out dozens or more voters. And across the city, there have been a number of problems. There’s the potentially confusing ballot design thanks to “antiquated New York law,” and the issue of broke-ass machines. Ugh. On top of that, New York has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country (including no Election-Day registration), potentially disenfranchising a huge number of otherwise totally eligible voters for really no good reason at all.