Those of you who read this column on a regular basis know I am a professor who writes and talks about politics in various outlets, but my true love is teaching. There is nothing better than seeing a light bulb turn on after explaining a concept or getting someone interested in their own democracy and future. I am a tough educator and I like to keep my students on their toes. In doing so, I often give quick pop quizzes. You, dear reader, are in for a little Professor Greer classroom experience.
Pop quiz! What day is Election Day this month? When does early voting begin? What level of elections will be on your ballot (local, state, or federal)? What candidates from your district will be on your ballot? Do you have a competitive race in your district? Do you know where your polling station is … both for early voting and on Election Day?
Were you able to answer all questions correctly? If not, no worries. We still have time to get you up to speed. Election Day in NYC is on June 23. The Early Voting Period is June 13 through 21. However, your polling station for early voting (as well as the hours of operation) may differ from your Election Day polling center, so be sure to check http://whosontheballot.org/ to find out who is on your ballot and everything you need to know about your district and who is running.
These June primaries will set the stage for the November 3 general election, when Democrats and Republicans will face off against one another. The primary elections in June help decide which candidate from each party will advance to the November election.
Since New York has closed primaries, you can only vote for candidates from the political party with which you are registered. That is, for primary races, if you are registered as a Democrat, you can only vote for the Democrats running. Same goes for registered Republicans; they can only vote for Republicans on the ballot. If you are registered as an Independent, you may have few or no options, depending on your district and whether any Independents are running in the primary. You can always check out the ballot in your district at www.whoseontheballot.org or by contacting the Board of Elections for more information and to check your registration status or request an absentee ballot at www.vote.nyc.
I don’t think I need to explain just how important it is for us to send competent and non-corrupt people to Washington, D.C., to represent our best interests. Our fragile democracy only works if we are involved and attentive. Please make a plan to vote and spread the word.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.
