Starting this Saturday, October 28 and until next November 5, citizens who are registered to vote will be able to do so in advance in local elections scheduled to elect councilors for the 51 districts of the Municipal Council, in the five counties. that make up the Big Apple: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island.
Voters will also be asked to weigh in on two statewide ballot measures and races for district attorneys in The Bronx, Queens and Staten Island. In addition to other elections of civil court judges and district leaders.
Early voting is like voting in person on Election Day, only with more flexibility and shorter lines. If you want to vote in advance at an early voting center, you should check the corresponding address, as it could be different from the location on election day.
The final date of the election will be next November 7.
But you should also know that this Saturday, October 28, is the last day to register to participate in this consultation.
Interested parties may use the Board of Elections’ online voter registration system to register to vote or update their registration information.
How do I know if I am registered?
If you live in all five boroughs, you can quickly check if you are registered to vote by visiting vote.nyc and clicking on the box in the center of the page that says “Am I registered?”
From this digital portal you will find several ways to obtain this information, including telephone numbers and online queries.
To find a complete list of races on your ballot, including the candidates, you can visit the Board of Elections Polling Site Locator and enter your address. Then click on “View Sample Ballot” at the top of the page.
Who can vote?
To be eligible to vote in New York City you must meet the following requirements: You must be a United States citizen and at least 18 years old before Election Day, you must have had an address in one of the five boroughs, for at least At least 30 days before casting your vote, you cannot be in prison for a felony conviction, nor be declared mentally incompetent by a court.
As the NYC Board of Elections highlights in its communications, “if you need help because you are disabled or cannot read the ballot, federal law allows you to have a friend or family member help you in the booth. On-site election inspectors will also be ready to assist you.”
Why is it important to vote?
Possibly you have your energy focused on the Presidential and Congressional Elections next year 2024, but know that your participation in these local elections, which will be held starting this week to choose, among other positions, your local legislators, is also very relevant for New Yorkers.
These council members present laws that have to do with the quality of life of their street, their neighborhood, their county and the entire Big Apple. They also discuss the City budget with the mayor to decide where your tax dollars will go.
Additionally, they supervise each of the municipal agencies to ensure that they are providing their services effectively.
Finally, you have in your hands a democratic tool that will allow you to choose, starting this weekend, the political leader closest to your neighborhood, from whom you can demand better services “face to face” in a more direct way.
“In fact, your vote in local elections can have a greater impact on your daily life than national elections. City laws begin as legislation written and voted on by the City Council. They recently decided on issues such as paid sick leave, child care services and salary transparency,” says ‘NYC Votes’ in a statement, an initiative of the Election Campaign Finance Board that ensures that local elections are fair. inclusive and open.
You have questions about how and where to vote:
- If you have any questions about the process, including all issues regarding your registration, consult the official website of the New York City Board of Elections. All updates are available in Spanish. Click on vote.nyc.com
- For ballot details and candidate profiles in your precinct, you can also check out nycvotes.org
- You can ask an election official for help if you are confused when casting your vote.
- If you do not speak English, you can count on an interpreter if you need linguistic help.
- If for some reason the voting machine does not work, you can exercise your right manually.