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New @NYSBOE data points to a scandal that disenfranchised Brooklyn voters who requested absentee ballots.
Statistical evidence strongly suggests that the Brooklyn @BOENYC office uniquely failed to mail requested absentee ballots to voters in a timely fashion. THREAD.
Statistical evidence strongly suggests that the Brooklyn @BOENYC office uniquely failed to mail requested absentee ballots to voters in a timely fashion. THREAD.
Many constituents contacted my office to complain that they had requested absentee ballots, but did not receive them by Election Day.
Reporters found the same. I assumed this was a system-wide failure.
But it appears it was much worse in Brooklyn. https://twitter.com/brigidbergin/status/1275421186357370880?s=20
Reporters found the same. I assumed this was a system-wide failure.
But it appears it was much worse in Brooklyn. https://twitter.com/brigidbergin/status/1275421186357370880?s=20
According to @NYSBOE data, here's how many Democratic voters in each borough REQUESTED absentee ballots (out of total registered Democrats):
MN: 229,858/832,312 = 28%
BX: 99,112/636,791 = 16%
BK: 229,705/1,172,317 = 20%
Q: 181,162/837,162 = 22%
SI: 24,854/139,400 = 18%
MN: 229,858/832,312 = 28%
BX: 99,112/636,791 = 16%
BK: 229,705/1,172,317 = 20%
Q: 181,162/837,162 = 22%
SI: 24,854/139,400 = 18%
And here's how many Democratic voters voted in-person (out of total registered Dems):
MN: 97,448/832,312 = 12%
BX: 74,755/636,791 = 12%
BK: 159,808/1,172,317 = 14%
Q: 110,038/837,162 = 13%
SI: 13,770/139,400 = 10%
So, pretty even across the board.
MN: 97,448/832,312 = 12%
BX: 74,755/636,791 = 12%
BK: 159,808/1,172,317 = 14%
Q: 110,038/837,162 = 13%
SI: 13,770/139,400 = 10%
So, pretty even across the board.
BUT here's how many Democratic voters received & returned absentee ballots (out of those who requested them):
MN: 62,721/229,858 = 27%
BX: 17,589/99,112 = 18%
BK: 21,382/229,705 = 9%
Q: 59,438/181,863 = 33%
SI: 11,964/24,854 = 48%
The BK figure of 9% is the scandal tell.
MN: 62,721/229,858 = 27%
BX: 17,589/99,112 = 18%
BK: 21,382/229,705 = 9%
Q: 59,438/181,863 = 33%
SI: 11,964/24,854 = 48%
The BK figure of 9% is the scandal tell.
The most likely explanation is that the Brooklyn @BOENYC office utterly failed to mail requested absentee ballots to voters who had requested them.
And that they failed at much higher rates than other @BOENYC offices.
And that they failed at much higher rates than other @BOENYC offices.
Other possible explanations:
a/ Maybe Brooklyn voters just did not return the absentee ballots they requested. But since they voted in-person at same rates, and requested absentee ballots at an average rate, this explanation does not seem plausible.
a/ Maybe Brooklyn voters just did not return the absentee ballots they requested. But since they voted in-person at same rates, and requested absentee ballots at an average rate, this explanation does not seem plausible.
Other possible explanations:
b/ Maybe the U.S Postal Service failed to deliver the ballots to BK voters, or failed to return ballots from BK voters to BOE. This is not impossible.
But since the @BOENYC offices are borough fiefdoms, borough discrepancies are far more likely.
b/ Maybe the U.S Postal Service failed to deliver the ballots to BK voters, or failed to return ballots from BK voters to BOE. This is not impossible.
But since the @BOENYC offices are borough fiefdoms, borough discrepancies are far more likely.
Of course, it's hard to prove that the Brooklyn @BOENYC failed to mail requested absentee ballots to voters in a timely way ... since they are not providing any evidence one way or another. But the data is pretty clear.
Also, let's remember that the Brooklyn @BOENYC office was found guilty of massive voter disenfranchisement in 2017, when @brigidbergin's amazing @wnyc reporting showed they had illegally purged 117,000 voters from the rolls. https://www.wnyc.org/story/city-board-elections-admits-it-broke-law-accepts-reforms/
Before you put ALL the blame on the Brooklyn office (they deserve a lot of it obviously), remember that the flawed structure of @BOENYC is dictated by New York State law.
If we want a better system, Albany will need to find the courage to act. https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/opinion/commentary/repeal-and-replace-nyc-board-elections.html
If we want a better system, Albany will need to find the courage to act. https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/opinion/commentary/repeal-and-replace-nyc-board-elections.html
I drew the data from this page on @NYSBOE website (h/t @tweetbenmax). I'm willing to be proven wrong, so if you think something else happened here, let me know. Eager to hear from @brigidbergin @CitizensUnionNY @commoncauseny @BKVoters & others.
https://www.vote.nyc/page/absentee-ballot-totals
https://www.vote.nyc/page/absentee-ballot-totals
With thanks to a few of you, adding another possible explanation:
Maybe the Brooklyn @BOENYC office is just slower at counting what it has received, and it's number will go up.
I'm skeptical. They aren't yet assessing validity or processing. Just counting.
But I hope so!
Maybe the Brooklyn @BOENYC office is just slower at counting what it has received, and it's number will go up.
I'm skeptical. They aren't yet assessing validity or processing. Just counting.
But I hope so!
And adding @brigidbergin's reply-Tweet to the thread, since she's done more & more effective digging into these issues than anyone else. https://twitter.com/brigidbergin/status/1276865780597039104?s=20
