Voter registration deadline 10/8
The deadline to register to vote for the November 2nd elections is October 8th.
Forms can be found online at
A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE
WHO CAN REGISTER?
In order to be eligible to register to vote you must:
■ Be a U.S. citizen ( including anyone born in its territories, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam)
■ Be a naturalized U.S. citizen (foreign-born individuals who are granted citizenship by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
■ Be a New York resident for at least 30 days prior to an election
■ Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file a form (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote)
■ Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardoned or restored rights of citizenship)
■ Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
■ Not claim the right to vote elsewhere You also need to register to vote if:
- You have changed your address since the last time you voted or registered to vote.
- You wish to change your party affiliation.
- You have changed your name since last voting.
■ You must be registered at least 25 days before an election
■ The last day for voter registration by mail or in person to vote in the November 2, 2021 general election is October 8, 2021.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “voting” as the formal expression of a preference for a candidate for office or for a proposed resolution of an issue. Voting is the foundation upon which our democracy rests. The vote is our voice and it should be used loudly and regularly. Use your voice. Vote!
POLITICAL PARTIES
The voter registration form should be used to change your party enrollment from one party to another or to enroll for the first time in a party. Due to a new Executive Order the deadline for a change of enrollment has been extended up until February 16th. Forms RECEIVED at your local board of elections up to and including February 16th will be accepted and processed. If you submit your party change online through DMV the deadline is midnight February 16th for electronic delivery on the 16th. Changes received on or after February 17th until seven days after the June Primary will be set aside and opened the seventh day following the June Primary and entered in the voter’s registration record.
HOW DO I REGISTER?
Registering to vote is easy to do.
The City University of New York makes voter registration forms available to all CUNY students when they register for classes and through voter registration events.
Also, the NYS voter registration form is available through your CUNYfirst account. It’s a personalized form that you can mail in yourself. You don’t even need a stamp. It’s as simple as that.
Ask about voter registration and the collection of application forms at your campus.
For more information about voting, please call or visit the following websites:
■ THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK cuny.edu/vote
■ THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
(212) VOTE-NYC; vote.nyc.ny.us
■ NEW YORK CITY CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD
(212) 409-1800; nycvotes.org
■ THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
(212) 725-3541; lwvnyc.org
CONFIRMATION OF REGISTRATION
You will receive an official postcard from the Board of Elections in the mail indicating your election district, polling place and schedule for voting. You will also be sent a Voter’s Identification Card. If either card is not received within two weeks of registering, call the Board of Elections hotline at (212) VOTE-NYC.
HOW TO OBTAIN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION
If you cannot get to your poll site on Election Day you may qualify to vote by absentee ballot. You can vote by absentee ballot if you are temporarily or permanently ill/disabled, or if you are out of town on Election Day for business, vacation, school or similar circumstances. For the general election, the last day to request an absentee ballot by mail is Oct. 18, 2021, and in person Nov. 2, 2021. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 2, 2021, or delivered by Nov. 9, 2021, at a Board of Elections office. To obtain an absentee-ballot application, check the first box in Section 15 of the voter registration form, call the Board of Elections at (212) VOTE-NYC or download the form at vote.nyc.gov.