NYC BOE and campaigns prep for scorcher Election Day

Temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees on primary election day as an oppressive “heat dome” passes over parts of the central and eastern U.S., combining dangerously high temperatures with smothering humidity. The weather forecast is likely to impact Election Day voter turnout, and it’s just the latest twist in a primary election season absolutely packed with them.

The conditions could be dangerous for voters and poll workers – the latter of which, the New York City Board of Elections notes, will be working up to 17 hours Tuesday. “This is fundamentally a facilities and workforce challenge, and we are treating it with the urgency it deserves,” deputy executive director of the BOE Vincent Ignizio said in a statement. In an advisory sent out on Thursday, the BOE noted that it will be prioritizing poll sites that don’t have air conditioning to provide fans, water and coordinate with the relevant utilities to ensure continuous power.

Meanwhile, mayoral campaigns are doing prep work of their own, with some campaigns, including Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani’s, encouraging voters to cast their ballots in the remaining days of early voting. (The BOE is also encouraging taking advantage of early voting to beat the heat.) 

So far, early voting numbers have dwarfed 2021’s turnout. As Gothamist reported, young people and people who live in Brownstone Brooklyn have turned out in huge numbers to vote early. Those folks are more interested in candidates Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani than front-runner Andrew Cuomo – who is more popular among older voters and voters of color.

At a Juneteenth event on Thursday, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams kept a cool head, saying that her mayoral campaign’s strategy for getting out the vote remains the same. “It’s not the first hot day that we’ve had when people have to come out to vote. Please vote. It’s going to be hot. Stay hydrated,” she said. “It doesn’t take that long to cast your vote, so hopefully it won’t impede the voters,” she added. 

Mamdani’s campaign is also planning pop-up tents, water and snacks for volunteers, while state Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s campaign is prepping kits for their teams to stay cool, with sunscreen, electric fans and the works. 

“Let’s make sure now that the air conditioning is working in every polling site,” Lander said. “And let’s make sure it’s on in advance.” He added: “I do not have confidence that Eric Adams’ administration will do it. My administration will do it.”

On Wednesday, Cuomo called on Mayor Eric Adams to plan for the extreme weather on Election Day, when people might end up waiting in line outside to vote. Cuomo urged the mayor – who he’s trying to unseat – “to deploy the necessary resources, equipment and personnel to ensure that every polling site is cool, comfortable and accessible, and ensure that bottled water is provided to every registered New York City voter who plans to vote in person next Tuesday,” the former governor said in a statement.

In response to questions about preparing for heat, a spokesperson for Mayor Adams said that the independent BOE is responsible for elections, but said they are coordinating with them.

Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a directive Wednesday for state agencies to prepare for “severe weather including thunderstorms and extreme heat” starting Thursday and possibly continuing through next week.