Not sure if you are registered to vote with a specific party? Or whether you’re even registered to vote at all? CLICK HERE to find out.
Whether you really “Feel the Bern” with Bernie Sanders or wish to “Make America Great Again” with Donald Trump (or if your heart is with a different candidate altogether), your opinion won’t count if you aren’t registered to vote. The primary election, which is when the presidential candidate for each political party is selected by registered voters, will be held on April 19, 2016. If you aren’t yet registered to vote, it isn’t too late. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 25th and received by a board of elections no later than March 30th to be eligible to vote in the Primary. Staten Islanders may register in person at the Richmond County Board of Elections Station (located at 1 Edgewater Plaza), but your application must be received no later than March 25th.
If you are registered to vote but not with a specific party, we have some unfortunate news for you. The deadline for New Yorkers to change their political party passed in October. This means that all New Yorkers currently registered in the Independent Party, Green Party, or Working Families Party will not be eligible to vote for a Republican or Democratic candidate in the upcoming presidential primary election. In addition, if you are registered as a democrat, you will only be eligible to vote in the democratic primary; conversely, if you are a registered republican, you can only vote in the republican primary election. All registered voters, however, are able to vote in the general election in November. New York is one of 11 states requiring this type of closed primary election. Of those 11, our state has the earliest change-of-party deadline.
CLICK HERE for more information on important voting deadlines.
CLICK HERE to visit the New York State Board of Elections website, where you can print out a voter registration form, an absentee ballot form, a change of address, name, or party form, and more.
