New York State’s 29 electors officially cast their votes on Monday for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

This day held more significance than usual under such tumultuous times nationally, but harsh reminders of the ongoing pandemic were also surrounding each elector.

Governor Andrew Cuomo was voted to be President of the state’s Electoral College and took a moment to address how the virus changed how this historical day took place. 

 “This pandemic, these masks, this physical configuration; stark reminders to the nation that government matters, and leadership matters and, good government can not only improve people’s lives but can literally save people’s lives,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said addressing the group of electors in the New York State Assembly chambers. “So today let the people choose our government and let us move forward.”

Electors entered in masked up, one group at a time and were taken to desks socially distanced apart with Plexiglas in between.

The New York State Constitution requries that electors meet and cast their votes in person at the State Capitol, but because of the persisentent threat of COVID-19, there was talk about potentially having Governor Andrew Cuomo sign an executive order that would have allowed electors to meet virtually. 

However, with the significance of this year’s election, the Cuomo administration decided not to risk it, and every elector made the trek to the New York State Capitol.

 This included both Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton.

"It’s absolutely monumental,” Madame Secretary Clinton said after she cast her vote. “We’re going to have a president and a vice president who are going to work for all the people and make a real difference for everybody.”

Another one of the State's electors, Attorney General Letitia James, also took a moment to reflect on her personal relationship with Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and the impact a woman of color in this position will have on this country. 

"As you know she is the first African American Attorney General and I, the second, so we share a lot in common," Attorney General James explained. "I met her on a couple of occasions and it truly is a historic moment for all girls, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, that they too can dream big. It’s also a historic moment for Joe Biden in a time when our nation finds itself more divided then ever."

The U.S. Constitution requires that electors meet and vote on the second Wednesday in December. The Electoral College ballots will be formally counted by Congress on January 6 and President-Elect Biden will be sworn in as President on January 20, 2021.