Common Cause/NY Releases Best Practices for Voting This Election

NEW YORK, NY (10/06/2020) (readMedia)-- With the deadline to register to vote on Friday October 9th, Common Cause/NY released its best practices for the upcoming election. New Yorkers have three ways to vote this fall: absentee, early or on Election Day. For more information, check out Common Cause/NY's FAQ.

For the absentee voter, Common Cause/NY's recommends:

  • Request the ballot as soon as possible. Voters must apply for it by October 27th, but we STRONGLY advise you to request your ballot online today, do NOT wait. If you do not have access to the internet, you can also fax, phone, or contact your local BOE by mail to request a ballot.
  • Make sure the name on the smaller oath envelope matches your own. If the name on the smaller envelope does not match your own, notify your local Board of
  • Elections immediately. If the name matches, you can fill out the ballot.
  • Voters can return their ballot via the mail or drop off their completed ballot at their local Board of Elections or any early voting or Election Day poll site within their county.
  • Return postage is not included. We recommend putting two forever stamps on your envelope.
  • If you do not feel comfortable going outside or do not have stamps, a trusted friend or family member can return it for you to a poll site.

For the early voter, Common Cause/NY's recommends:

  • Early voting runs from Saturday October 24th through Sunday, November 1st.
  • Look up your early voting poll site and make a plan to vote. The location may be different from your election day poll site, and hours vary.
  • Wear a mask to vote in person, and maintain social distancing.
  • The Center for Disease Control has released comprehensive safety guidelines for poll sites. Polling locations will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Poll workers and voters just wear masks.

For the Election Day voter, Common Cause/NY's recommends:

  • Polls across the state will be open from 6 am to 9 pm on November 3rd.
  • Wear a mask to vote in person, and maintain social distancing.
  • The Center for Disease Control has released comprehensive safety guidelines for poll sites. Polling locations will be cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. Poll workers and voters just wear masks.
  • Any voter can vote in person, even if they're requested and/or mailed in their absentee ballot. The in-person vote will override the absentee vote. Your vote will be counted only once.