Election Guide 2020: Upper West Side Voter Guide

Upper West Side NY

26 October, 2020

5:04 PM

Description

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Election Day 2020 is nearly here, but New York City voters don't have to wait until then to cast their ballots. New York offers a variety of ways to vote in the Nov. 3 election, from going to the polls that day to early voting to absentee ballots. Some Upper West Side early voting sites have already seen strong turnout and long lines. Any option to vote, of course, depends on whether New Yorkers are registered to vote — and city dwellers can check here. Here's a brief rundown of local races and how to cast a ballot in them. Local Races Aside from the high-profile presidential election, more local offices are also up for grabs this fall, including Congressional, State Senate and State Assembly races. Jerry Nadler, a Democrat who has represented the Upper West Side in Congress since 1992, is seeking another term. He is being challenged by Republican Cathy Bernstein and Libertarian Michael Madrid. Also seeking re-election are State Senators Jose Serrano and Brian Benjamin, who both represent portions of the Upper West Side. Benjamin will face Republican challenger Oz Sultan, and Serrano will face Republican nominee Jose Colon. State Senator Brad Hoylman, who represents a small part of the Upper West Side, is running unopposed. In the Assembly, Linda Rosenthal and Danny O'Donnell are also both running unopposed. Absentee voting Concerned about going to the polls with the coronavirus pandemic still going strong? New York has you covered. Any New York voter concerned about the coronavirus can request an absentee ballot. The deadline to request an absentee ballot online, by email or fax is Oct. 27. Requests by regular mail must be postmarked by Oct. 27 as well. Nov. 2 is the last day to request an absentee ballot in person. Ballots have already started to go out, albeit with some problems in New York City. Be sure to check whether your name and address is correct on the ballot before you fill it out. Once you fill out the ballot, fold it and put it in a smaller envelope. Sign and date the back of the envelope, seal it and put it in the larger envelope addressed to the Board of Elections. The ballot can then be mailed or delivered to the city's Board of Elections office. Voters can track their ballots by clicking here. Click here for more information from the BOE on absentee voting. An online application can be found here. Early voting New Yorkers have nine days to cast their ballots early, from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. Times vary by day, so it's best to check the BOE's early voting schedule here. The site also includes a way to find your assigned early voting location, which is not always the same as each voter's assigned Election Day polling place. Voters can type their information into this poll finder website to find their early voting location, as well as their Election Day polling location. Likewise, the New York State Board of Elections website has a tool that shows voter information and links to polling locations. An absentee ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and must reach the Board of Elections no more than 7 days after the election to be counted. Voting On Nov. 3 Call it classic voting. Voters who choose to vote on Election Day itself can easily find their polling location by clicking here. What Happens After Nov. 3? Experts predict results could take longer to get counted than other elections because of the coronavirus. Sit back, be patient and check Patch for updates. Matt Troutman contributed to this report.