Early voting has been a welcome development in New York City since it was first implemented in 2019. It has increased turnout, reduced wait times, accommodated people’s varied schedules and strengthened the democratic process. But it’s time to reconsider the use of New York City public schools as early voting sites.

For the educators and students at the 33 public schools in Staten Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan that served as early voting sites in 2023, early voting has posed a range of concerns.

For the week prior to each election, schools must give up the use of a large space such as a gym, cafeteria or auditorium, in some cases requiring students to forgo physical education, outdoor recess and after school activities. When a school cafeteria was used for early voting, schools could not serve hot breakfast and lunch to their students on those days.

And there are inherent safety issues when voters are allowed to enter school buildings when classes are in session. According to UFT members in the affected schools, a few voters gained access to classrooms and student bathrooms and, in at least one instance, responded aggressively to staff members when questioned about their presence there.

There are plenty of libraries, community centers, houses of worship and other sites more suitable for early voting than schools.

While participation in early voting has been relatively low in primary and most general elections, a whopping 36.3% of city voters submitted ballots early in the 2020 presidential elections. With a presidential election later this year that will no doubt again prompt lots of early voting, the city Board of Elections must act now to ensure our public schools are not hurt in the name of civic participation.