2020 NYS Election Information and Calendars

"Voting is how we participate in a civic society - be it for president, be it for a municipal election. It's the way we teach our children - in school elections - how to be citizens and the importane of their voice." -Loretta Lynch

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES

The Presidential Democratic Primary has been rescheduled from April 28th to June 23rd by Executive Order of the Governor.

Applications must be postmarked no later than May 29, 2020 and received by a board of elections no later than June 3, 2020

to be eligible to vote in the Primary.

Haven't registered yet? Fill out the online NYS VOTER REGISTRATION FORM: ENGLISH | SPANISH

ABSENTEE VOTING

Voters may request and vote via an absentee ballot for any election held on or before June 23, 2020 due to the potential to contract the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). To request an absentee ballot, voters may fill out an absentee ballot application and check “temporary illness or physical disability” as the reason they are requesting an absentee ballot. A voter may request an absentee ballot as follows:

You may also download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form:
- Download English Form
- Download Spanish Form
Upon completion, applications must be mailed, emailed or faxed to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election or delivered in person no later than the day before the election.

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot

In addition to the potential to contract COVID-19, a voter may request an absentee ballot application for the following reasons:

Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from said city, on Election Day.
Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability; or because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
- Again, voters may select “Temporary Illness or Physical Disability” as their reason for requesting an absentee ballot due to the potential of contracting COVID-19.
A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

Contact and Absentee Information for all County Boards

For full details go to: NYS Board of Elections

DEADLINES FOR 2020 VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

FOR PRIMARY ELECTION AND RESCHEDULED PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
Date	Deadline Information
June 16	Last day to postmark an application or letter of application by mail, or send an email or fax for an absentee ballot.
June 22	Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot.
June 22	Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than June 30th.
June 23	Last day to deliver ballot IN-PERSON to the local board of elections (by someone other than the voter).

FOR GENERAL ELECTION
Date	Deadline Information
October 27	Last day to postmark an application or letter of application by mail for an absentee ballot.
November 2	Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot.
November 2	Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 10th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than Nov. 16th.
November 3	Last day to deliver ballot IN-PERSON to the local board of elections (by someone other than the voter).

Why are there separate primary days in NY?

Before 2012, the congressional and state primaries both took place in September. Separate votes happened after a U.S. District Court judge ruled that the primary date violated the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, which says overseas service members must get absentee ballots at least 45 days before a federal election to make sure the ballots can be sent back and counted in time.

A September primary didn’t allow enough time before the November general, so Northern District Chief Judge Gary Sharpe ruled that the congressional primary would be moved to the fourth Tuesday in June.

“It is unconscionable to send men and women overseas to preserve our democracy while simultaneously disenfranchising them while they are gone,” Sharpe wrote in his decision.

Though Sharpe ruled that June was best for the congressional primary, he said the state can select a different date and ensure that both federal and state primary votes happen on the same day. But legislators have been unable to agree on a shared date.

Democrats favor moving the state primary to June, as well, while Republicans prefer moving both primary elections to August, arguing that a state primary in June would conflict with the end of the legislative session.

SITES WITH MORE ELECTION DETAILS

WEVOTE.COM - Information about candidates, including political positions, causes, endorsements, etc.

BALLOTPEDIA.COM - The encyclopedia of American politics.

NYC CHARTER - Information and dates of hearings to develop the 2019 City Charter, our local constitution.

LOCATIONS OF POLLING/VOTING SITES IN FOREST HILLS

1. PS 144 — 93-02 69 Ave.

3. PS 196 — 71-25 113 St.

4. PS 175 — 64-35 102 St.

5. JHS 157 Stephen Halsey — 63-55 102 St.

6. American Legion Post 1424 — 107-15 Metropolitan Ave.

7. Queens Community House — 108-25 62nd Dr.

8. Forest Hills Library — 108-19 71st Ave.

9. Beaverbrook Apartments — 77-35 113 St.

10. PS 303 — 108-55 69th Ave.

11. JHS 190 — 68-17 Austin St.

12. Forest Hills High School — 67-01 110th St.

13. North Forest Park Library — 98-27 Metropolitan Ave.

POLITCAL CALENDAR: SIGNIFICANT DATES PERTAINING TO ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK STATE

For complete information be sure to consult NY State’s Election LawS and Regulations.

SOURCE: NY STATE BOARD OF ELECTONS

Voting is how we participate in a civic society - be it for president, be it for a municipal election. It's the way we teach our children - in school elections - how to be citizens, and the importance of their voice. Loretta Lynch
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/loretta_lynch_765103