ALBANY, NY (WENY)--AT A TIME WHEN ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND VOTING BY MAIL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR, LAWMAKERS ARE HOPING TO SEE MORE ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP OFF LOCATIONS.  

DURING A PRIMARY IN 2020, MORE THAN 84,000 MAIL-IN BALLOTS WERE DISQUALIFIED IN NEW YORK CITY, ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS.  

MANY OF THE BALLOTS WERE INVALIDATED FOR ISSUES RELATED TO THE MAIL-IN PROCESS, INCLUDING A LACK OF APPROPRIATE POSTMARK OR LATE ARRIVAL.  

SOME LAWMAKERS SAID THIS BILL, IF SIGNED INTO LAW, WILL HELP MAKE THE MAIL IN PROCESS EASIER FOR VOTERS.  

“Why not make this easier for people who have an opinion, who are legally able to vote to be able to cast their ballot and be able to choose leadership for their own community,” said Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-56th Senate District).

THE LEGISLATION COULD ALSO HELP ADDRESS THE BARRIER OF transportation FOR VOTERS WHO DON’T LIVE CLOSE TO THEIR POLLING LOCATION OR THEIR LOCAL ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP OFF LOCATION.  

SEN. COONEY SAid THE LEGISLATION COULD ALSO POTENTIALLY GET MORE VOTERS INVOLVED IN THE ELECTION PROCESS.  

“By having these drop boxes in community-based locations it allows more people to not only cast their own ballot but to have knowledge that there’s an election happening, and they probably should get involved in some way,” he said.