Queens Borough President Election Canceled Amid Coronavirus Worry

QUEENS, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday that this month's special election for Queens borough president will be canceled, as city and state officials ramp up their efforts to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.

Polling places had already opened Saturday for an eight-day early voting period leading up to the March 24 election, which would have determined a replacement for former Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, now the borough's district attorney, for the next nine months.

Reached by phone Sunday, Valerie Vazquez-Diaz, a spokesperson for the NYC Board of Elections, told Patch the election is postponed, not canceled entirely, but that she had no further information: "We don't have a date set as of yet," she said.

Acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, who was set to step down after the election, will continue serving in the role "for as long as necessary," she said Sunday. Lee previously served as deputy Queens borough president under Katz.

To keep up to date with coronavirus developments in Queens, sign up for Patch's news alerts and newsletter.

"The decision to suspend an election is extraordinary, but warranted given the urgency and magnitude of the situation," Lee said in a statement. "I made a commitment to represent and serve the people and families of Queens to the best of my ability and for as long as necessary, and this commitment still stands. Government must not and will not shut down.

The decision to call off the special election, announced during a somber press conference Sunday, marks an abrupt 180 from the mayor and the governor's insistence last week that the election would happen as planned.

After some candidates in the six-person race pushed officials to postpone the election or expand absentee voting criteria, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday signed an executive order to allow any Queens resident to vote absentee in the election, not just those who are ill or outside the country.

The next day, de Blasio went even further and called off the election. It's unclear how the NYC Board of Elections will inform voters of the cancelation and what will happen with the votes already cast.

Voters are already due to head to the polls in June for a primary election for Queens borough president, followed by a general election in the fall to decide who will fill the last year in Katz's term.

As of 7:30 p.m. Sunday, most of the candidates in the race had signaled their support for the decision. Former Queens prosecutor Jim Quinn called it "the most prudent course of action," and former City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley said: "Our politics will see another day."

"While we’re grateful to everyone who came out to vote early this weekend, we respect the Mayor’s decision to suspend the special election," City Council Member Costa Constantinides said. "I know my colleagues and I will continue to put the well being of Queens residents first in these challenging weeks ahead."

City Council Member Donovan Richards, who had said Friday that the mayor and the governor should postpone the election, said it was "the right thing to do."

"Many of our most vulnerable are the ones who always come out to vote or spend the day working our poll sites," Richards said. "It would be irresponsible to make them decide whether they want to take the risk and vote or stay at home and remain safe."

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 329 in New York City as of Sunday evening, and five people have died, officials said.

RELATED:

Coronavirus In NYC: A Roundup Of What's Happened

New York City Public Schools Will Close, Officials Say

Coronavirus Spells Disaster For NYC's Economy, Workers Fear