Primaries in New York: what you need to know and how to get involved

On November 3, 2020, the Americans will elect a president. On the same day, midterm congressional elections and New York state legislatures will be held. And now, all over the country are primaries. Republicans have canceled presidential primaries in the region, but state residents have yet to express their opinion on candidates for the presidency from the Democratic Party, as well as candidates from the region to Congress and local authorities. About how to prepare for voting, how and when it will be held, told the publication The City.

Absentee voting

The primaries in New York were to be held on April 28, but due to a pandemic they were postponed until June 23. According to the court decision, supporters of the Democratic Party will see on the ballot the names of all the candidates who were supposed to be there as of April 28, even if by that time it would be clear that Joe Biden had already received a nomination from the party.

In connection with the pandemic, special rules were created in the state for voting in absentia.

To take part in the primaries, you need to request sending the newsletter to you by June 16, and then fill it out and send it back by mail.

On the subject: Presidential election 2020: Democratic party primaries canceled in New York

Given the presence of election races in the city, state and the US Congress, primaries will be held in almost all parts of the state. Only a few blocks in southern Brooklyn will not hold any preliminary vote due to a lack of nominees.

From whom we will choose

Residents of New York will face fierce Democratic contests for nominations to Congress from some constituencies. At stake is Yvette Clarke representing Brooklyn. In addition, constituencies in the Bronx and Westchester are re-elected.

Interesting battle ahead in congresswomen district Alexandria Ocacio-Cortez (it covers parts of the Broncas and Queens). The call was thrown to her by a former CNBC employee Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.

At the local level, the primaries will include two races - to elect the new president of Queens and to replace city councilor Rafael Espinal, who retired this year (his district is located in Bushwick).

How to find out who is racing in your area

To find out who is pushing from your county, use this tool: Enter your address, then click the "Ballot Information" button. He will generate a sample ballot for all race candidates in your county by lot.

Or use a similar tool from Ballotpedia, or read the voting guidelines on the website vote411.org or on the page Campaign Finance Board.

How to vote

New Yorkers still have the opportunity to vote in person, despite quarantine. Early voting within 9 days before the official day of primaries is also valid.

However, staff is working to expand the number of people voting by mail. Earlier, Governor Andrew Cuomo made this possible through a decree allowing all New Yorkers to vote in absentia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To do this, each registered voter will receive by mail a ballot for absentee voting.

How to get your newsletter

The government said it began sending out ballots to each registered voter on May 8.

If you did not receive the ballot, you can apply for voting online on the website of the Electoral Council NYCAbsentee.com, by fax or phone: 1-866-VOTE-NYC.

In a statement, anyone who wants to vote in absentia will need to check the box marked “temporary illness” as the reason for the request. Do not be confused by this wording: the fact is that the governor expanded the definition of a temporary illness to include not only the disease, but also the “risk of infection”.

If you left New York during the health crisis, make sure the newsletter was sent to your current place of residence. AT statement There is a section where you can specify the address at which you would like to receive the newsletter.

The last day to submit your application for your newsletter is June 16 (postmarked on the envelope).

However, it is best to do this as soon as possible. As soon as you receive the ballot by mail, fill it out and send it by mail or deliver it yourself to the election commission of your borough. Their addresses can be found here.

The last day on which you can send your completed bulletin by mail is June 22 (postmarked).

If you do not want to trouble yourself by absentee ballot and feel safe on the street, you can come to vote in person. But be prepared for some changes, such as reducing the number of polling stations and their mode of operation. This was done in order to encourage people to vote by mail.

On the subject: In the presidential election, Americans are running for more than just the head of the country: who else

How to fill out the ballot in absentia voting

Use blue or black ink. Be prepared that you will receive two envelopes with your ballot: one for sending the ballot back to the Board of Elections, and the other for keeping the voting secret. The completed ballot should be placed in a “confidential envelope”, it should be placed in the first envelope and sent in this way.

First of all, be very careful: read the information in the newsletter slowly and carefully and just follow the instructions.