Residents of New York will not have to choose between health and June’s primary elections.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced residents will be able to vote absentee in the state’s primaries.
“All New Yorkers will be able to vote absentee on the June 23rd primaries. New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between their health and their civic duty,” Cuomo tweeted.
#BREAKING: All New Yorkers will be able to vote absentee on the June 23rd primaries.
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 8, 2020
New Yorkers shouldn't have to choose between their health and their civic duty.
Cuomo also spoke to the announcement during a press conference.
“I’ve seen lines of people on television voting in other states. This is totally nonsensical,” Cuomo said.
“God bless them for having such diligence for this civic duty that they would go stand on a line to vote, but people shouldn’t have to make that choice,” he added.
Watch his comments below:
All New Yorkers will now be able to vote absentee in the primaries on June 23. Cuomo says it's "totally nonsensical" that other states are still having people vote in person https://t.co/vSwcu9K40f pic.twitter.com/p4VST623hX
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 8, 2020
The announcement comes amid the coronavirus outbreak. Social distancing guidelines have been extended to April 30 making it increasingly difficult for states to hold their primaries.
Cuomo’s decision also comes as the 2020 presidential race took a turn. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) dropped out, as IJR previously reported.
“The campaign ends, the struggle continues,” Sanders said in a statement.
Sanders’ decision garnered reactions from both President Donald Trump and Biden.
Although Biden and Sanders may have been at odds on the campaign trail, Biden acknowledged Sanders’ efforts along the way.
Biden originally explained he would include Sanders on the road to the nomination but not as his running mate, as IJR previously reported.
After the announcement, Biden praised Sanders for the impact he has had on the nation, saying “he’s created a movement.”
Trump took the opportunity to speak to Sanders’ supporters encouraging them to “come to the Republican Party.'” He also commented on facing Biden in November and claimed he “will destroy” Biden.
While Biden was initially slow to gain momentum in the primary, he ultimately pulled ahead winning more delegates than Sanders.