A polling site at an Astoria elementary school that closed in 2012 was officially reopened after new funding helped to make the site ADA-accessible.
P.S. 2, located at 75-10 21st Ave., did not have a ramp for wheelchair accessibility so the NYC Board of Elections decided to stop using it as a polling place in 2012. Instead, Astoria residents were assigned to P.S. 84 and P.S. 85, which Councilman Costa Constantinides said caused travel and overcrowding issues.
After hearing concerts from constituents, Constantinides allocated $500,000 to the School Construction Authority so that the agency could install a ramp to meet ADA requirements. Now, residents with wheelchairs and walkers who live in northern Astoria will have easier access in time for the 2017 general election.
“Enfranchisement is one of our country’s most sacred rights,” Constantinides said in a statement. “We must ensure that all eligible voters have an accessible, safe and convenient place to cast their ballot. After years of northern Astoria voters being moved around and reassigned polling places, I’m proud that we can re-open P.S. 2 for voters who live nearby. Voters at P.S. 2, as well as other polling places, will now have shorter distances to travel in order to vote and will enjoy less crowded sites.”
Voters in Election Districts 46/36, 47/36, 48/36 and 83/36 will now vote at P.S. 2. To find your polling site visit nyc.pollsitelocator.com. The primaries will take place on Sept. 12 and the general elections will occur on Nov. 7.
