All You Ever Wanted to Know About Voting in 2020
Evan Farley, ‘20
January 2020
The long-awaited 2020 has finally rolled around, and with it, America’s 58th presidential election. Many Y2s will be voting in their first election, however, and elections can be confusing. Especially with the New York State Senate voting on new election bills as recently as this January, much has been changing. On February 4th, BHSEC will be holding a voter registration drive where you can sign up to vote. Before then, here are some common FAQs:
When is the election?
There are actually TWO primaries this year: April 28th and June 23rd. The presidential primary will be held in April and local primaries in June. The latter is where Congress and state legislatures are elected, among other officials. Additionally, the general election is on November 3rd.
I turn 18 in July, can I vote in the primary anyway?
Unfortunately, in New York, you must be 18 on the day of the election. Even if you were born on April 29th or June 24th, you would be ineligible to vote in that election.
When can I register to vote?
Thanks to laws recently passed by the New York State legislature, you may now pre-register when you are 16! However, you may not vote until you are 18. BHSEC will be having a voter registration drive on February 4th and you should register then!
When is the last day I can register to vote in the April primary?
April 3rd is the very last day to register. Why not do it before then?
I have a green card, can I vote?
You must be a US citizen to register to vote. As such, citizens should not squander this privilege
Do I have to enroll in a political party?
No. You may choose from one of eight political parties, write in your own party, or enroll in no party at all. However, New York State has closed primaries, which means you have to be enrolled in a party to vote in their primary. I personally would recommend enrolling in the Democratic Party. That way you will have a voice in selecting the nominee who is likely to win in the general, but can vote for whoever you want in the November election.
I am (probably) going to college out of the state. Should I register here or there?
You can register in both, as long as you only vote in one place. If you go to college in a swing state like Pennsylvania or Ohio, it makes a lot more sense to vote there regardless of political party because your vote will have more of an impact.
How do I request an absentee ballot?
You can check off a box on the form and they will send you one at your mailing address. You can also print one out online and mail it in, as long as it is sent seven days before the election. I would, however, encourage you to vote in whichever state you live.
Who should I vote for?
Not for me to say but I would encourage you to vote for a candidate that inspires you. Listen to their vision and ask, is their America one in which I would want to live? Voting offers you a chance to choose your leader and exercise your hard earned right. If you think politics does not affect you, I would encourage you to look at the publicly funded train or bus you took to the publicly funded school you attend. Money like that is controlled by the city, state and federal governments, so your vote can impact that at the very least. And in local elections like the recent Queens DA race, there was a 55 vote margin, so each ballot definitely counted.
If you have any other questions at all, I would encourage you to visit the Board of Elections website (www.elections.ny.gov) or catch me in the hall! The voter registration drive is on February 4th, so I hope to see you there.