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Reminder: NY's Voter Registration Deadline For The Midterms Is THIS FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Oct 9, 2018
Modified Oct 9, 2018
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ALBA VIGARAY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Oct 9, 2018
Modified Oct 9, 2018
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The midterms are fast-approaching, and if you care about democracy and/or not being accosted while waiting for the bus by a roving haircut and his camera crew, it is imperative that you register to vote. In New York, the deadline for both online and in-person registration is this Friday, October 12th. Applications can also be sent by mail to the board of elections, and must be postmarked no later than, again, October 12th.
In case we weren't clear, the deadline to register to vote in New York is: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12TH!!!!!!! It's also Hugh Jackman's birthday, and the 245th anniversary of the first insane asylum opening in America, if that helps you remember.
Unfortunately, because New York's voting laws are among the worst in the country, and because the person with the power to change that doesn't seem much interested in doing so, you are not presently able to vote early in this state. We don't have automatic registration or even same-day registration for that matter, either. And if you want to vote in next year's primaries, you'll need to make sure you're enrolled in the correct party by October 12th: New York State rules require that voters set their future party registrations by 25 days before the general election of the previous year in order to vote in a party primary the following year.
Those out of the country on election day (or anyone who meets a handful of other exceptions) may be able to fill out an absentee ballot. The last day to apply in-person for an absentee ballot is November 5, though the final day to mail in an application for an absentee ballot is October 30th. You can download the application through the state board of elections here.
It is also a good idea to make sure that you are still registered to vote in New York—considering the Board of Election's tendency to purge voter registration, you should probably do this even if you're sure that you've registered. You can check that here. (And if you aren't on the rolls when you show up to vote on election day, be sure to demand an affidavit ballot.)
Lastly, it doesn't hurt to remind your friends and family that they, too, should register to vote (particularly if your friends and family live in, I don't know, Nevada or Arizona or Tennessee or Texas or Nebraska or even Mississippi). The midterms are Tuesday, November 6th, and the ramifications could be nothing short of yuge.
Tagged
midterms
midterms 2018
polls
psa
voter registration
voting
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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