165,000 vote early in NYC's first weekend as reports of federal door-knocking raise intimidation fears

More than 165,000 New Yorkers voted in the first two days of early voting, NY1 reported Monday, citing the city Board of Elections. The board counted 165,143 check-ins: 86,215 on Saturday and the rest on Sunday.

By borough, according to NY1:

• Brooklyn: 47,177
• Manhattan: 46,314
• Queens: 40,281
• The Bronx: 17,595
• Staten Island: 13,776

Early voting runs every day through Sunday, Nov. 1. Polls are closed Monday, Nov. 2, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Hours and sites vary; the city's 311 voting page lists them.

The weekend also brought worry. amNY reported Sunday that armed Homeland Security officers have reportedly knocked on doors in other parts of the country to question residents about immigration status and voter eligibility, raising fears that similar visits could come to New York City. The Department of Homeland Security says it is investigating voter fraud. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, "If you illegally vote, we will arrest you, and you will be charged," according to amNY. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams told amNY, "Of course it's voter intimidation." The outlet cited a CBS News review that found fewer than 200 people charged with voting-fraud offenses since the start of the Trump administration.

What our records add

Bills on federal immigration enforcement are waiting. Several measures in the Committee on Immigration deal with how the city works with federal agents:

• Int. 209, from Shahana K. Hanif, would create a private right of action related to civil immigration detainers and city cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It has 19 Council sponsors and the Brooklyn borough president. It was introduced Jan. 29 and has had no hearing in 270 days.
• Int. 261, from Shekar Krishnan with 12 sponsors, would bar the city from contracting with entities engaged in immigration enforcement. It was heard March 9 and laid over.
• Int. 739, from Hanif with seven sponsors, would require agency training and published plans for handling immigration enforcement and requests from non-local law enforcement. It has waited since March 10.
• Int. 1077, from Elsie Encarnación, would limit when the NYPD may hold someone on a civil immigration detainer. It was introduced Sept. 24.
• Res. 246, from Crystal Hudson, backs the federal VISIBLE Act, which would require immigration agents to display visible identification.

The Council acted on jail voting last week. On Oct. 22 the Council passed two bills on voting from city jails, covered in our earlier story. Our ballot guide explains the five city charter questions on this year's ballot.

What's next

The Immigration Committee holds a joint hearing Friday, Oct. 30, on pregnancy- and birth-related health outcomes for immigrants (meeting), and meets again Nov. 20. None of the bills above is on either agenda as of today.