Yes, it’s election time again. On June 28 New Yorkers need to go to the polls to vote in their primary elections. The important offices of governor, lieutenant governor, state assembly, and judges are races where voters will have the choice to select a candidate who will face their partisan opponent in the fall, Nov. 8 to be exact (so put that general election day on your calendar).
First things first, to find out if you are registered to vote go to www.vote.nyc/page/am-i-registered to check your registration status. You can also call 1-866-868-3692 to find out your status.
Reminder, in New York once you are officially registered, you are permanently registered unless: you moved your residence outside the city or county in which you were registered; you are an inactive voter who has not voted in any election (that includes two consecutive Federal Elections and have not confirmed your address during that period); you are convicted of a felony and imprisoned or on parole (however, you can vote after conviction of a felony if you have received a pardon from the governor or you are on probation); or you are judged mentally incompetent by a court.
If you are confused about your registration status or eligibility, contact the number above so you can be sure to participate in the many elections this year alone. I don’t want to confuse the issue, but New Yorkers will go back to the polls on August 23 for congressional primary elections, but not to worry, I will remind you of that election day closer to the date.
So, for the primary elections this month, election day is Tuesday June 28 and early voting is from June 18-26. If you choose to participate in early voting, please note that your polling station may be different from your normal polling site, so be sure to check possible new locations. To find your polling station and hours of operation go to www.findmypollsite.vote.nyc to assist you.
Another resource I use is www.whosontheballot.org to help me know who is on my ballot. You can also find resources on how to register to vote, how to contact the Board of Elections, how to navigate getting an absentee ballot, find accessible polling stations, and check your districts to name just a few resources.
With recent events in New York and around the nation, it is imperative we support candidates doing good work and assist them as they seek to remain in office or aim for a higher office. There are a few bad apples in the political bunch, but there are definitely some hardworking and faithful public servants on the ballot and it is our collective civic duty to support them and participate in our own democracy. So, make a voting plan since election day is just around the corner.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.