It is important we get out and vote in the 2020 elections, as the races will determine the direction of our country, state and communities for many years to come.
In New York, voters will elect a U.S. President, congressional representatives, state legislators and in some communities, judicial and local offices.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State has several options for you to cast your vote.
Vote in person
Election Day is November 3. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. statewide that day. As this edition went to press, all polling locations in New York will be open as usual.
Absentee ballots
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law legislation to allow New Yorkers who are concerned about in-person voting due to COVID to apply for an absentee ballot. If you are interested in applying for an absentee ballot because of COVID, you must submit an absentee ballot application and check the box for “temporary illness or physical disability.”
The new state legislation requires that all ballots postmarked on or before Election Day and received within seven days after Election Day must be counted. All ballots without a postmark received on November 4 (the day after Election Day) will also be counted.
Voters can request their absentee ballots now, but voters are advised to request and return a ballot early due to an expected influx of absentee ballots. To get an absentee ballot application, visit elections.ny.gov or contact your local Board of Elections.
Early voting
If you don’t feel comfortable voting in person on Election Day or are worried about your absentee ballot being delivered on time, you can vote early in person. Early voting runs from October 24 – November 1.
Visit https://cseany.org/boe-links and click on the link for your county for polling times and locations for early voting.
If you need to register to vote or need to update your address, visit https://dmv.ny.gov/. Applications must be postmarked no later than October 9.
