When To Vote In New York

You Can Still Vote In Person If You Request An Absentee Ballot

Even if you request or cast and return an absentee ballot, you may still go to the polls and vote in person. The Election Law recognizes that plans change. The Board of Elections is required to check the poll book before canvassing any absentee ballot. If the voter comes to the poll site, on Election Day or during early voting and votes in person, the absentee ballot is set aside and not counted.

The First Mayoral Debate

• Thursday, May 13, 7 p.m. The first official, city Campaign Finance Board-sanctioned Democratic mayoral primary debate is set to broadcast from 7 p.m. to 9 pm. And were co-hosting with our friends from NY1, WNYC/Gothamist, Latino Leadership Center, Citizens Union and John Jay College. Heres how to catch the big event.

New York City Gives Noncitizens Right To Vote In Local Elections

By Kelly Mena, CNN

New York New York City on Thursday became the largest municipality in the US to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections

This story has been updated with comment from the RNC.

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Convicted Felons’ Voting Rights

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

On May 4, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed S830 into law, providing for the automatic restoration of voting rights for individuals convicted of felonies upon completion of their prison sentences. Previously, state law provided for the restoration of voting rights after completion of both prison time and parole.

Voting rights for convicted felons vary from state to state. In the majority of states, convicted felons cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.

National Conference Of State Legislatures Report 2018

On February 14, 2018, the National Conference of State Legislatures released a report on the costs of election administration in the states: “The Price of Democracy: Splitting the Bill for Elections.” The report’s authors noted that “no one knows how much spend on elections … good research on election costs is slim.” Generally, local units of government are primarily responsible for election administration costs, though states and the federal government may also contribute. The report identified the states listed in the table below as assuming financial responsibility for at least some aspects of election administration.

To access the complete NCSL report, click here.

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What If I Still Want To Vote In Person

Poll sites will still be open across the city.

Hours are different if you are voting early. New Yorkâs early voting period begins October 24 and lasts through November 1.

If you would like to vote in person, doing so during this time allows for voter traffic to be spread out so there are fewer people at polling places on Election Day.

Workers at voting sites will take precautions to keep themselves and voters safe. Theyâll be social distancing, wearing masks, and disinfecting when and where they can. If you go to vote, you should do the same.

Because of expanded absentee voting, some winners may not be announced until days or weeks after Election Day.

The winner of these general elections will be elected to office.

Can I Track My Absentee Ballot

Yes. New York City voters can track their ballots with the city Board of Elections online tracker. Those in the rest of the state should contact their county Board of Elections to track their ballots. New Yorkers who serve in the U.S. military or are overseas can use the state Board of Elections online tracker.

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Ny Legislators Rewriting Gun Laws After Supreme Court Ruling

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ALBANY, N.Y. New York lawmakers began a special legislative session Thursday with the intent of limiting the proliferation of firearms in public after the Supreme Court gutted the states century-old handgun licensing law.

The state is overhauling its rules for carrying guns after the court decided that ordinary citizens had a right to arm themselves in public for self-defense, something New York had limited mostly to people working in law enforcement or security.

New rules being rushed through an emergency session of the Legislature would allow many more gun owners to apply for a license to carry a concealed weapon, but would seek to set new restrictions on where firearms can be carried.

Lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochuls staff had hoped to have a vote Thursday, but work drafting the bills was unfinished when the day ended at midnight. Work continued until shortly before 1:30 a.m. Friday, and was set to resume later in the day.

Were continuing to have serious discussions because the implications are hard to overstate. We want to ensure we are doing this in a constitutional way, in a way that comports with the courts opinion, Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Brooklyn Democrat, said during an afternoon press conference in New Yorks State Capitol. Were just trying to close the loop on some details.

Gun advocate groups are critical of the new proposed restrictions, saying some of them infringe on the rights upheld by the Supreme Court.

Mark Your Paper Ballot

Fill in the ovals below the names of the candidates/proposals of your choice with the pen provided.

• Do not use an “X” or a “?”

• Do not circle the oval or make stray marks on the ballot

• For a write-in candidate, fill in the appropriate oval and write in the candidate’s name.

• Ballot marking devices are available for voters who need assistance.

• You may request a new ballot at any time prior to inserting it into the scanner .

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General Voting Dates And Deadlines

• : Early Voting for the General Election
• : General Election

• : Last day to postmark, email, or fax application or letter for a General Election ballot.
• : Last day to apply in person for a General Election ballot.
• : Last day to postmark your General Election ballot. The ballot must be received by the board of elections no later than Nov 9.
• : Last day to deliver your General Election ballot in-person to your county board or your poll site, by close of polls.

• : Changes of enrollment to the Democratic Party must be received by the Board of Elections by this date.
• : Last day to register in-person for the General Election.
• : Last day to postmark your voter registration application for the General Election. It must be received by the Board of Elections by Oct 13.
• : Any Changes of Address must be received by the BOE on this date for the General Election.

What Is Early Voting

Early voting is just like voting in-person on Election Day, just with more flexibility and shorter lines. Find your Early Voting poll site at Voting.NYC or by calling 1-866-Vote-NYC.

Here are the dates and times that Early Voting poll sites will be open in New York City prior to the General Election:

Saturday, October 23, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday, October 24, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday, October 25, 2021 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM Friday, October 29, 2021 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday, October 31, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

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How Can I Get An Absentee Ballot Are There Important Deadlines

• Online: Request an absentee ballot on the state Board of Elections website. The deadline to complete your application online for the primary is June 13 and for the general is Oct. 24.

• Mail or phone: Download an application from the state Board of Elections website, fill it out online or by hand, print it and mail it to your local county Board of Elections office. You can also call your local county Board of Elections office and request an application be mailed to you. Your application must be postmarked or mailed by June 13 to vote in the primary and by Oct. 24 to vote in the general.

• In person: Visit your county Board of Elections office and fill out an application. You can also designate another person to deliver your application to your county Board of Elections office and receive your ballot. Submit your application by June 13 to vote in the primary and Oct. 24 to vote in the general.

Your completed absentee ballot must be postmarked by June 28 and received by your county Board of Elections office by July 5 for the primary. The last day to deliver your completed absentee ballot to your local Board of Elections office or polling place in person for the primary is June 28, Election Day. For the general election, absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 8 and received by your county Board of Elections by Nov. 15. The last day to submit your absentee ballot in person to your local Board of Elections office or polling place is Nov. 8, Election Day.

Scan Your Paper Ballot

Take your ballot to the scanner area.

• Select the language of your choice by touching the corresponding button on the screen.

• Insert your marked ballot into the scanner to cast your vote.

• Do not fold your ballot before inserting it into the scanner.
• The scanner accepts ballots in any direction and reads both sides of the ballot.

If you mark more choices than you are supposed to, the scanner will notify you of an overvote. It will give you the option to cast your ballot “as is” or return your ballot.

• If you cast your ballot “as is” your vote in that contest will not be counted.

• If you choose to have your ballot returned to you, see a poll worker to receive a new ballot.

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New York Absentee Ballots

• In Person:Received 1 day before Election Day.
• Postmarked 7 days before Election Day.
• Online:Received 7 days before Election Day.

Research The Candidates & Their Stances

ElectNYC.org, a project of Citizens Union Foundation, offers a clear guide to “everything you need to know about the candidates running to represent you, the issues they care about, what they can actually do, and how you can vote on the future of New York City.” The site allows you to search for candidates and races based on your address, and contains detailed information about candidates’ experience, how they are being funded, and their positions on a range of issues.

Vote411, the online voters’ guide from the League of Women Voters, allows you to type in your address to see the races on your ballot. Candidates’ positions can be compared side-by-side, and you may print out your preferences as a reminder and take it with you to the polls on Election Day.

The Internet Archive launched TV News Search and Borrow in 2012 “to enhance the capabilities of journalists, scholars, teachers, librarians, civic organizations, and other engaged citizens” by repurposing closed captioning “to enable users to search, quote and borrow U.S. TV news programs.” It contains clips dating from 2009 to the present from over two million recorded programs which can be searched by keyword.

Open States “aggregates legislative information from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.” Users can enter their address to find out who represents them in their state legislature, what bills their reps have sponsored and how they’ve voted.

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What If I Cant Make It To The Polls

Though New Yorkers are supposed by applying for absentee ballots by 15 days before the election, you can still apply for an online absentee ballot on Election Day. Were still in a pandemic, afterall. Visit absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov if you cant make it out on Tuesday. You can also send a proxy to your local election board to pick up a ballot for you on Election Day.

How Do I Vote

All New Yorkers have three ways to vote in the November 2021 General Election. Choose the best option to make your voice heard:

Early Voting

Vote in-person from Saturday, October 23 to Sunday, October 31st. Your Early Voting site may be different from your Election Day poll site, so be sure to check your poll site location on the poll site locator.

Vote by Mail

All registered voters also have the option to vote by mail .

• The deadline to request your absentee ballot online or by mail is Monday, October 18, 2021. The deadline to request your ballot in-person is Monday, November 1, 2021.
• Ballots must be postmarked on or before Tuesday, November 2 andreceived bythe Board of Elections When you receive your ballot, make sure to sign and date the back of your absentee ballot envelope.

When applying for an absentee ballot, you may select Temporary illness or disability, as your reason, which includes the risk of contracting the coronavirus.

You can track your absentee ballot here.

Election Day

As always, all registered voters can vote in-person on Tuesday, November 2. We anticipate high turnout this year, so lines may be long at some poll sites. If youre worried about crowds, consider voting early between October 23-October 31st.

Whats on the ballot?

This following local races are on the General Election ballot:

• NYC Mayor

Learn about the candidates on your ballot by visiting voter guides published at Voting.NYC .

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Can I Vote Without Having To Go To A Poll Site In Person

Yes, New Yorkers are encouraged to vote absentee because of the coronavirus pandemic. Voters can apply online at nycabsentee.com.

The âtemporary illnessâ category has been expanded to cover voters affected by COVID-19 or facing the potential of contracting it.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3 and reach the Board of Elections no later than seven days after the election to be counted. No plans have been confirmed at this time to extend the postmark date, as was the case in the June primary.

You can also drop off your signed absentee ballot at:

• An early voting poll site between October 24 and November 1
• A poll site on November 3 by 9 p.m.
• Your local Board of Elections Office no later than November 3 by 9 p.m.

If you drop off your absentee ballot at a poll site or at a local Board of Elections office, it does not require postage, but the BOE recommends two stamps if you mail it to ensure it has enough postage.

Whos Running For Governor The Democratic Candidates:

Hochul, who was vaulted into office last fall when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, is trying to hold on to her job.

Hochul, a Democrat from western New York, is facing challenges from New York Citys elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate congressman from Long Island.

Hochul, who was Cuomos lieutenant governor for six years, promised to restore New Yorkers faith in its government after stepping into the office last summer, but she hit a major stumbling block in April when her handpicked lieutenant governor was arrested in a federal corruption probe.

Williams, a progressive running to Hochuls left, said Hochul is either consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction. Suozzi, running to Hochuls right, says shes not being tough enough on crime, suggesting she should have gone further to harden the states bail law.

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