Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2008 and the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voting is the most important part of being a United States citizen. This guide will answer questions you may have about Election Day.
November 3 is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person and the postmark deadline to submit an absentee ballot by mail. November 4 is the last day to deliver an absentee ballot in person to your county board of elections.
There will be one statewide ballot issue concerning employment advantages for disabled veterans, and possibly local ballot issues, such as approval for bond issues for local projects. Look for them carefully at the top of the ballot (they’re easy to miss!), and vote “Yes” or “No” on each.
There will be candidates for federal, state, and local elective offices.
Not sure if you are registered? Call your county board of elections. To find the number of your county board of elections, check your phone book, check the NYS Board of Elections web site - www.elections.state.ny.us - or contact the League of Women Voters of New York State toll-free at 1-866-598-6971.
Ask your board of elections three questions:
1. Am I registered to vote?
2. Is my registration status set to “Active”? If not, to what is it set?
3. Will my name appear in the polling place roll book on Election Day?
Don’t know where to vote? You can also “look up your polling place” facility on the NYS Board of Elections web site www.elections.state.ny.us.
Polling places are required to post a sample ballot. If you do not know how to use the voting machine, ask for assistance.
Be sure to bring some identification - a current NYS driver’s license or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have either of these, you may provide a copy of a valid photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or some other government documentation that shows your name and address.
Most polling places in New York State will still use the mechanical lever machines. In addition as part of New York State’s implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), there will be at least one ballot-marking device per polling place, which will be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
There is one statewide proposal, which is an amendment to Article 5, section 6 of the state Constitution, in relation to additional civil service credit for members of the armed forces of the United States. The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement that veterans who were disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war be receiving disability payments from the United States Veterans Administration in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination for appointment or promotion.
We can see no downside to any amendment that helps veterans get the benefits to which they are entitled. This is one proposal that we ask you to vote YES to without any hesitation or reservation.
Source: League of Women Voters of New York State, 62 Grand Street, Albany, New York 12207. For more information go to lwvny@lwvny.org Website: www.lwvny.org.
