Go Vote

Are you a first time voter? Check out this quick and helpful guide to answer all your voting questions: www.onlinecolleges.me/resources/student-voting-guide/

YOUR VOTE, YOUR VOICE — In such a chaotic year wrought by crisis and confusion, it is more important than ever for every citizen to exercise their voice in our democracy. Where do you see our country going? Where do you want it to go? If you have something to say about what’s going on, VOTE!

Guide to registration.

You will need:

  •  your New York State DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) issued driver license, permit, or Non-Driver ID — it must be your most recently issued document — you will need the ID number and document number.
  • the ZIP Code currently on record with the DMV 
  • the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (SSN).

Once you apply to register online, your application will then be sent from the DMV to your County or City Board of Elections for review. After the documents are processed, you will be notified by your local government that you are registered to vote, or that you still need to provide additional information in order to complete the application. It should take at most 6 weeks to be processed.

Requirements to vote in the State of New York.

Make sure you are eligible to vote! Here are the requirements: 

  1. Be a United States citizen,
  2. Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file this form. You must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote,
  3. Be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election,
  4. Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardoned or restored rights of citizenship),
  5. Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court,
  6. Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

CHECK YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION STATUS:

All about absentee ballots. 

Absentee ballots allow voters to mail their votes rather than submit them in person. All New Yorkers can vote by mail in the November 3, 2020 election, per an Executive Order from Governor Cuomo, by requesting an absentee ballot.

**REQUEST FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE DUE by OCTOBER 27, 2020, and must received by the Board of Elections by November 3rd, in person at your voting site, or must be postmarked by 5PM on Nov. 3. 

  1. Go to this website – www.nycabsentee.com – and your ballot will be mailed to the address you request. The Governor also required county Boards of Elections to mail absentee ballot applications to all eligible voters, which you can complete and return to receive the ballot. Make sure to check “temporary illness” as your excuse for needing an absentee.
  2. You may also download a PDF version of the New York State

Absentee Ballot Application Form and print it:
New York Absentee Ballot Application (English)
New York Absentee Ballot Application (Spanish)

Track your absentee ballot here if you mailed it out already –> https://nycabsentee.com/tracking

Early voting in NYC:

  1. October 24-October 31, 2020 in NYC. You can vote early in-person between the dates above for the November 3rd, 2020 election. 
    YOUR EARLY VOTING POLLING SITE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR REGULAR POLLING SITE.
    CHECK HERE TO FIND YOUR VOTING SITE: https://nyc.pollsitelocator.com/search

Tips and Tricks

How to Participate in Politics

Do You Have a Voting Plan? : Implementation Intentions, Voter Turnout, and Organic Plan Making

Ever heard of the knowing-doing gap? This is a big problem in voting. People want to vote, and KNOW they should vote, but something gets in the way of them actually DOING it. One of the best ways to MAKE SURE you vote is to create a specific voting plan, which means committing to when, where, and how you’re going to vote. A 2010 Harvard study shows that having such a plan in place increased voter turnout by 9.1%. Here’s what you can do:

  • Take the time to research where your local polling place is and how to get there.
  • Figure out your schedule ahead of time and determine what specific time you can go to the polling station. 
  • Get some voting buddies to accompany you to the polls! Peer pressure in the name of democracy is A-OK. 

Seriously, why does it matter?

How else you can help?

Obviously, voting is not the only way to participate in our democracy. Getting involved with politics is important as well!

GET INFORMED!

CAMPAIGN, JOIN NON-PROFITS, JOIN YOUR COMMUNITY BOARD!