Deadline is Oct. 14
Recently, my grandmother registered to vote for the first time in her life. We were discussing the upcoming presidential election and she voiced her support for a specific candidate. I asked if she was planning on voting, when she told me she was not even registered to vote.
I was a bit surprised by this statement, having registered to vote myself shortly after turning 18. My grandmother is a life-long citizen of the United States, but said she had been confused about how to register to vote and didn’t know where to begin. Luckily, registering to vote is easier than ever, and one can do so online, in-person or by mail.
I told her the options and she opted to fill out an application and bring it to her local board of elections. After completing her registration and submitting it, my grandmother said she felt emotional because the process was much easier than she thought, and it was something she could have done years ago but never had the information available to complete. For the first time in her life, my grandmother will be taking part in one of the most important responsibilities of a U.S. citizen.
To vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, the deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 14. Absentee ballot applications must be sent in by Nov. 1.
The qualifications for voting in New York State are as follows:
∙Be a U. S. citizen.
∙Be 18 years old by the date of the primary, general or other election.
∙Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election.
∙Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction.
∙Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
Citizens in New York State can register to vote by filling out a voter registration form and sending it to their county board of elections. In Onondaga County, registration forms can be found online at ongov.net/elections/voterRegistration.html or at local public libraries, U.S. Post Offices, or village and town clerks. Applications can be completed in person by visiting the Onondaga County Board of Elections at 1000 Erie Boulevard West, Syracuse, NY 13204. Completed applications must be delivered in-person or postmarked to this address by Friday, Oct. 14 to be eligible. Extended hours for in-person applications will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Onondaga County Board of Elections.
Residents also have the option to use the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles’ website to register. To sign up to use the DMV’s website, go to dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application. To create a secure MyDMV account, individuals must use their New York State driver license, permit or non-driver ID, last four digits of their Social Security Number and the ZIP code currently listed on their driver license, permit or non-driver ID record. Upon completion, DMV sends the voter registration applications to the County Board of Elections for action. This must also be completed by Oct. 14.
Additionally, residents can use either of these options to change party affiliation or home address. If you are unsure of your voter registration status, go to voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/votersearch.aspx. The deadline to do this is also Oct. 14.
Absentee ballot applications can be found online, and must be postmarked by Nov. 1 or brought in-person by Nov. 7. Residents of Onondaga County can find their polling place or request an absentee ballot by going to ongov.net/elections/index.html or calling 435-8683.
The ability to vote is a right that all citizens of the United States should not take for granted. Having a high voter turnout ensures that the best candidates for all levels of government — local, state and federal — are the ones who are representing the public’s best interests in important policy-making decisions.
So whether you’re 18-years-old or in your 70s, please think about registering to vote and making a impact by going to the polls. You won’t regret it.
