NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Voters lined up across the city Saturday, with some expecting to wait hours, as early voting in the presidential election began in New York state.
A line of hundreds of people wound around the block at Madison Square Garden, where voter Valencia said she came prepared.
“I knew if it was going to be a long day, I was going to be ready for it,” she said. “And I got a frozen water, I got me some chocolate-covered pistachios. Energy.”
Not only did she have a bag full of food and drinks, Valencia came with a foldup chair she bought at a hardware store specifically for the voting line.
She started waiting in line an hour before polls opened at 10 a.m. at Madison Square Garden. They were to stay open until 4 p.m.
On average, voters said they waited for at least two hours but that the voting process itself only took about 10 minutes.
Chris said if it means a more secure vote, the wait was worth it.
“I mailed-in for the primary and then I got all the spooky talk. I just thought, you know, I’m going to vote in person. And then I thought, I’ll do it early because you never know if you’re going to get sick these days and get laid up and can’t get out of the house. So I just thought I would take advantage of that today,” he said.
Social-distancing officers were out to ensure voters in line were spaced out and offered masks for those who needed them.
Sarah described it as mostly organized inside the polling place.
“I was expecting more stations open, because when they had announced it was at Madison Square Garden, you had assumed the size, but there were only seven tables open,” she said. “So, you know, that was a little disconcerting, but I think it worked out very nicely.”
Lori and Steve Vassor came prepared with a chair and books when they arrived just before 9 a.m. They said they were used to waiting in line for other events like concerts and sporting events back when they could happen.
“It’s very pleasant. People are pretty patient at this point. We’ll see how it goes at the end of the day. But I think there’s a good energy and people really want to make sure their vote is counted,” Lori Vassor said.
Elsewhere in New York City, voters waited in block-long lines outside early voting locations. Statewide, there are about 280 locations where people will be able to cast their vote. Early voting will continue through Nov. 1, then break for a day before Election Day on Nov. 3.
At least 51.8 million Americans have already cast ballots nationally, either by mail or in early in-person voting. That tally doesn’t yet include votes cast in New York.
New York’s nine-day early voting period is shorter than many other states. Californians starts voting 29 days before Election Day, while Virginia’s starts 45 days before.
This is the first time New Yorkers have been able to vote early in the presidential election.
The state launched early voting last year. Its biggest use so far was in the June primary, when more than 118,000 people voted early, or about 6.7% of the total votes cast.
People can also vote by absentee ballot this year. Officials are trying to avoid crowded polling places on Election Day because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.