New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary is happening during a heat wave that could push temperatures to 100 degrees, and no candidate has expressed more concern than Andrew M. Cuomo, the former governor with a strong base of support among older New Yorkers.
Mr. Cuomo began banging the drum about the heat last week, demanding that both Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Board of Elections ensure that polling sites were air-conditioned.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for New York City, its highest level of heat alert. Forecasters predict the heat in Central Park will hit 99 degrees on Primary Day, the highest temperature for June 24 since 1888.
Mr. Cuomo leads the field among older voters, according to recent polls, and older people are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures. New York City estimates that about 500 New Yorkers die prematurely every summer because of medical conditions exacerbated by heat.
Organizers for Brad Lander, the city comptroller who is running for mayor, have been trained to recognize signs of heat stroke, according to his spokeswoman, Dora Pekec.
Not all polling sites have air-conditioning. But on Saturday, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law a provision allowing refreshments to be provided to New Yorkers lining up to vote. Under previous law, such handouts could have been viewed as attempts to influence voters.
The city’s emergency management commissioner, Zach Iscol, said that day that his staff had been working with the Board of Elections to equip voting sites with bottled water and fans.
“This is to make sure that voters are safe, as well as poll workers, and that they’re able to execute their civic duty,” he said.
Vincent Ignizio, a spokesman for the Board of Elections, said on Monday that every polling site would have fans and water available for poll workers.
Dana Rubinstein covers New York City politics and government for The Times.
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