NEW YORK—On Sunday Aug. 19, the New York City Board of Elections will be open until midnight, but they will not be counting votes—they will be waiting for you.
Sunday is the final day to register to vote for the Sept. 13 primary elections for state Senate, Assembly, and other state offices, and citizens who wish to have their voices heard with their votes need to be registered.
Registration cannot currently be done online, so forms must be mailed by Friday Aug. 17, or can be dropped off at Board of Election offices by midnight on Sunday, Aug. 19.
Voting in the primaries is often overlooked but according to NYC Votes! Director of Voter Assistance Onida Coward Mayers, it is just as important as voting in November.
“Primaries are our stepping stone to what will happen in the general election,” said Mayers. “We have very strong and very wonderful parties and if we want the best representation out of each of them, it really takes us going out there.”
Less than 10 percent of New York City’s 4.3 million registered voters participated in the June primaries, a growing trend according to Mayers.
Mayers said that the people she speaks to are concerned with issues in their communities such as education, jobs, the environment, health, and the arts; however voter confidence may be turning them away from the polls.
“If they [voters] don’t feel that level of confidence in who is on the ballot or how they perform once they are in office, there is less participation overall,” she said.
Busy schedules can be another deterrent, “New Yorkers live very busy lives, and in order for it to make a difference to carve out a time in their day when the electoral system isn’t as convenient as it could be, it takes a lot,” Mayers said.
Mayers advocates a system that is easier to participate in such as registering online and even voting online. “Things that make it easier for them to vote will then increase their level of participation.”
Potential voters may register up to 25 days before an election.
Sunday is the final day to register to vote for the Sept. 13 primary elections for state Senate, Assembly, and other state offices, and citizens who wish to have their voices heard with their votes need to be registered.
Registration cannot currently be done online, so forms must be mailed by Friday Aug. 17, or can be dropped off at Board of Election offices by midnight on Sunday, Aug. 19.
Voting in the primaries is often overlooked but according to NYC Votes! Director of Voter Assistance Onida Coward Mayers, it is just as important as voting in November.
“Primaries are our stepping stone to what will happen in the general election,” said Mayers. “We have very strong and very wonderful parties and if we want the best representation out of each of them, it really takes us going out there.”
Less than 10 percent of New York City’s 4.3 million registered voters participated in the June primaries, a growing trend according to Mayers.
Mayers said that the people she speaks to are concerned with issues in their communities such as education, jobs, the environment, health, and the arts; however voter confidence may be turning them away from the polls.
“If they [voters] don’t feel that level of confidence in who is on the ballot or how they perform once they are in office, there is less participation overall,” she said.
Busy schedules can be another deterrent, “New Yorkers live very busy lives, and in order for it to make a difference to carve out a time in their day when the electoral system isn’t as convenient as it could be, it takes a lot,” Mayers said.
Mayers advocates a system that is easier to participate in such as registering online and even voting online. “Things that make it easier for them to vote will then increase their level of participation.”
Potential voters may register up to 25 days before an election.
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