Dinowitz fights for more voting precincts

City council candidate Eric Dinowitz is flexing some political muscle as the male Democratic district leader for his father’s Assembly district, calling on the city’s elections board to expand early voting sites.

Although early voting advocates asked for 100 sites for people to cast their ballots beginning Oct. 26, the board decided to open a little more than half that.

“I applaud your efforts to make early voting a reality this year, and it will prove to be an important test run ahead of what will surely be a year with several high-turnout elections,” Dinowitz said in his Oct. 25 letter.

“In particular, I urge the board to at least utilize early voting locations in every major community where it is difficult to commute across to vote, thereby increasing ease and accessibility.”

Dinowitz specifically mentioned communities like Bedford Park, North Riverdale, South Riverdale, Kingsbridge and Van Cortlandt Village, locally.

Early voting continues through Nov. 3, with the local voting precinct at P.S. 207 on Godwin Terrace. It’s open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., on Thursday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. over the weekend.

Election Day itself is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Dinowitz, a public school teacher in Manhattan, is seeking Andrew Cohen’s council seat, who leaves office in 2021 because of term limits.

His opponents in the race so far include Dan Padernacht and Dionel Then.

Poli group curious about early voting

Eric Dinowitz isn’t the only one exploring early voting. The League of Women Voters has published an online survey asking participants their understanding of the early voting process, of how to access information about early voting poll sites, and their reason for voting early.

The goal, according to the organization, is to find what will fuel any push for change heading into the 2020 election.

“We hope to see all New York voters take the opportunity to vote early in this election,” said Jennifer Wilson, deputy director for the League of Women Voters’ state operations, in a release.

“In addition to the fact that local elections are extremely important to our communities, voting early this year will allow us to assess what procedural changes should be implemented ahead of the 2020 elections.

Voters can find the survey on the advocacy group’s website at LWVNY.org.