By Joe Anuta
Same-sex couples can officially get married on July 24, but anyone hoping to get hitched in New York City will still need a little bit of luck.
In response to the deluge of applications, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has instituted a lottery system to make the process manageable for city clerks.
“The last thing we want is for couples to wait on line for hours and hours, only to walk away upset on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives,” Bloomberg said. “The fairest way to determine who gets the chance to wed on Sunday and ensure everyone can properly plan for their own big day is through an even-handed lottery system.”
As of Tuesday, the city estimated it had received 1,728 same-sex online applications since July 5, when couples were first allowed to pre-register. But the city typically expects additional walk-in marriage applications.
Couples can register for the lottery on the city clerk’s website at www.nyc.gov through July 21 at noon.
Borough Hall, at 120-55 Queens Blvd., will have 400 slots available on opening day.
The city estimated 764 couples will tie the knot citywide on Sunday, when the office is normally closed. It would be the most marriages ever in one day for New York City.
For those couples who are not selected, the Queens city clerk’s office will be open extra two extra hours — until 6:30 p.m. — throughout the week.
