There has been quite a bit of focus on the presidential primaries and the role that New York will play for Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. Now don’t get me wrong, presidential politics are incredibly important, and no one can deny the lure of 291 potential Democratic delegates. There is so much at stake right now, both domestically and internationally, and choosing the best candidate to continue the positive aspects of the Obama administration and lead this country is a decision that should not be made hastily. However, we have another set of elections to prepare for this June 28. Some of you may be aware that June 28 is election day in New York State, again! However, when we go to the polls on June 28, we will be voting for members of our party to represent us in Congress (not the presidency).
I have spoken to so many people who have been galvanized by this election season, but they did not register in enough time to participate in the presidential primary. Many people forget that voting is a two-stage process—one must first register to be able to vote. Registration is mandatory if you want to participate in electoral politics in the U.S. Unfortunately, only 11 states (and Washington, D.C.) have same-day registration. And because New York State does not have same-day registration, planning is a must. It is unfortunate some may not have registered in time for April 19 presidential primaries in New York, but there are still many opportunities to participate. You may have missed one election, but there are three more elections in New York in 2016. Here are some dates to remember if you’d like to participate in the Congressional primary elections June 28.
If you are a new voter and would like to register to vote, you must do so by June 3. If you’d like to request an absentee ballot, you must request it by June 21 by mail (or June 27 if in person). Your absentee ballot must be postmarked by June 27 and received by July 5. For information on how to register to vote or to request an absentee ballot, go to www.usvotefoundation.org.
Voting is a right and a privilege. There have been so many sacrifices that have been made by so many people in order for the franchise to be extended to most Americans. Although there are costs to voting—your time, organization and learning about candidates and their platforms—it is well worth it to participate if you can. This year there are several exciting races that present serious questions for voters who will have to decide if they want to stay loyal to their elected official or support a challenger who wants to bring a revitalized energy to Washington, D.C. Hopefully you will start making a voting plan for June 28.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University and the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream.” You can find her on Twitter @Dr_CMGreer.
