Today Is Election Day! Here's What Voters Should Expect

NEW YORK, NY (11/05/2024) (readMedia)-- Today is Election Day! Depending on where they are registered, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote for candidates for President, Congress, the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, judges and local party offices. Voters will also have the opportunity to vote on several state and local ballot initiatives. Find your poll site In NYC or Outside of NYC here. Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY, is available throughout the day for comment.

"Thanks in part to another successful early voting period, voters can be confident that our elections are safe, secure and transparent. Election officials are already hard at work checking mail votes to determine eligibility, but democracy takes time, which is why we urge voters to be patient and wait for the final, most accurate count," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York. "If any voter runs into any problems as they vote, they should approach a member of our nonpartisan election protection program, or call 866-OUR-VOTE, where a trained professional will help them. Now it's time to get out, vote and make your voice heard!"

Voters can expect to know the final results in the next few weeks. Here's what to expect:

• Tonight's results will only include ballots cast on Election Day and during early voting, as well as valid absentee or mail ballots that have been received by the end of early voting on November 3.
• That means that election night results are not complete. The deadline for receipt of absentee and vote by mail ballots dropped off in person is Tuesday, November 5th, while the deadline for receipt of absentee and vote by mail ballots mailed and postmarked no later than November 5th is Tuesday, November 12th. Absentee and vote by mail ballots will continue to be counted as they are received.
• Until the results are final, Common Cause New York cautions against candidates declaring victory too early in close races, which is both inaccurate and a disservice to voters who made their voices heard.

Throughout Election Day, Common Cause/NY will have nonpartisan Election Protection monitors stationed at busy poll sites in NYC and across the state. Digital poll monitors will be searching social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to assist voters in real time. These nonpartisan Election Protection monitors are trained volunteers who can answer any questions that voters have and will be there to observe for any potential issues voters encounter. Learn more here.

Before New Yorkers head to the polls, Common Cause/NY encourages all voters to familiarize themselves with their rights, and to call with any questions or report any misconduct to 886-OUR-VOTE, a national election protection hotline. Here's what to know:

• Trusted election officials are counting and verifying every ballot to ensure that every vote is correctly counted. Our election system is safe and secure and follows the law.
• Polling sites will be open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Election Day. Do not leave your poll site without casting your ballot, whether that means placing it into a scanner or voting by affidavit ballot (also known as a provisional ballot)!
• You have the right to vote free of harassment. No matter who asks, you never need to show an ID in order to vote if you've voted in New York before. If someone asks for your ID, no matter who it is, simply let them know that you are not required to show ID in New York, except in limited circumstances for first time voters.
• When in doubt, call 1-866-OURVOTE: a free hotline of legal personnel can talk you through it. Spanish, Arabic and Asian languages support are also available via the Election Protection website and by phone.
• Due to a change in election law, New Yorkers can no longer cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have been sent an absentee or vote by mail ballot and then decide to vote in-person. Voters will be directed to vote via affidavit ballot instead.
• Affidavit ballots will be kept separate until after the election. If the voter's early mail or absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter's early mail or absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.