White Plains, NY — Westchester County Legislators are urging State lawmakers to pass a law allowing drop-boxes for voters to use in casting absentee ballots this fall.
All 16 County Legislators signed a letter to Westchester's State delegation on Tuesday, asking them to approve drop-box legislation currently pending in Albany.
The proposed legislation would give local Boards of Elections the power to set up the boxes, where voters can return absentee ballots until the close of voting on Election Day.
Establishing drop-boxes was one of the recommendations for improving voting this fall included in a report from the Board of Legislators' Election Information Gathering Task Force issued earlier this month.
Board Chairman Ben Boykin said, "In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must do everything we can to make sure voters can safely and securely cast ballots. Recent State legislation to give everyone concerned about COVID-19 the option of voting absentee is a hugely important step. Also allowing voters the option of dropping off their ballots in conveniently located boxes would be an enormous benefit to those concerned about whether their absentee ballots will be delivered and counted. I'm pleased that all the County Legislators feel the same way and we urge our colleagues in Albany to act swiftly on this measure."