When you register, you are invited to select a political party affiliation. Selecting a political party is not required in order to vote on election day. However, you must be affiliated with a political party in order to participate in the primary election. Candidates approved in the primary election appear on the ballot for the general election.
With the Democratic Party so strong in Queens, the reality is that the primary election really decides whether many local politicians are elected. After the primary, the general election tends to be a cakewalk.
When to Vote
- Primary Election - September 9, 2008
- Deadline for Primary Voter Registration - August 15, 2008
- General Election - November 4, 2008
- Deadline for Voter Registration - October 10, 2008
- Deadline for Voter Change of Address - October 18, 2008
Who Can Vote in NYC?
To register in NYC (of which Queens is a borough), you must:
- Be a citizen of the United States. (People born in Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands are citizens.)
- Be a New York City resident for at least 30 days.
- Be 18 years of age before the next election.
- Not be serving a jail sentence or be on parole for a felony conviction.
- Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.
- Not claim the right to vote elsewhere (outside the City of New York).
How to Register
Register in Person:- Board of Elections Office in Queens
- 126-06 Queens Blvd, Kew Gardens, NY 11415
- 718-730-6730
Register by Mail:
- Download and fill out a registration form from the Board of Elections (available in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese) and mail to:
- Board of Elections in the City of New York
- 32 Broadway, 7 Fl
- New York, NY 10004
Where to Vote
Polling places are located throughout the city, usually in schools or other public institutions. You can only vote at your designated polling place.Your voter registration form will tell you your polling place. If you are unsure, either call NYC Voter Phone Bank at 1-866-VOTE-NYC or email your complete home address to the Board of Elections at vote@boe.nyc.ny.us.
Absentee Voting
If you are unavailable to vote in person on election day (with a legitimate reason), you must apply for an absentee ballot:- By mail, by downloading an absentee ballot, and mailing it in, postmarked no later than October 28, 2008 for the general election (or September 2 for the primary).
- In person at the Board of Elections Office (see above). The hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and on the weekend prior to Election Day. Deadline for in--person application is November 3, 2008 for the general election (or September 8 for the primary)
