Who can participate?
Where and when do I vote?
How do I register to vote for Bernie?
Do I have to be a registered Democrat to vote for Bernie?
How do I vote by mail?
Can I vote early?
Do I need to bring my ID?
What is provisional voting?
Can I bring anyone to help me? Can I bring an interpreter?

Who can participate?

In order to vote in New York, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen;
• A resident of New York; and 
• At least 18 years old by June 23, 2020.

If you have been convicted of a felony, you will automatically regain your voting rights after completing your incarceration in state prison and parole. If your sentence has been suspended or you did not have to serve time in prison as a part of your sentence, you can still vote. For more information about your voting rights, please click here.

Where and when do I vote?

You can find your polling location here. Polling places will be open from 6am to 9pm in New York City and the counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange,

Putnam, and Erie. In all other counties, polls will be open at 12pm and close at 9pm. Anyone in line by 9pm will be allowed to vote!

How do I register to vote for Bernie?

The deadline to register to vote for Bernie is May 29, 2020. You can register to vote online here.

You can also register to vote: 

• By filling out this form and mailing it to your county board of elections.
• In person at your county board of elections or at any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center. 
• By submitting a voter application form at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
• By requesting a New York State Voter Registration form by mail by entering your name directly into their mailing list database. 
• By calling 1-800-FOR-VOTE hotline to request a voter registration application.

If changing your party to Democrat, you can follow the same steps above to fill out a new voter registration form to change your party affiliation until February 14, 2020 in order to be eligible to vote for Bernie in the Democratic Presidential Primary Election.

Do I have to be a registered Democrat to vote for Bernie?

Yes, you must be a registered Democrat to vote for Bernie in New York. The deadline to change your party to Democrat was February 14, 2020. 

You can check your voter registration status here.

How do I vote by mail?

You can vote absentee, only if you have a permissible excuse. The following are listed as acceptable excuses: 

• Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City, absent from said city, on Election Day.
• Unable to get to the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability; or because you are the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
• A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
• Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

For more information about voting by mail, please click here. 

Requesting your vote-by-mail ballot:

• Fill out this form and mail it to your county board of elections. It must be postmarked by June 16, 2020. 
• You can also request an absentee ballot in-person at your county board of elections. The deadline to make the request in-person is June 22, 2020.

Returning your vote-by-mail ballot:

• Your completed mail ballot must be postmarked by June 22, 2020. 
• You can also deliver your vote-by-mail ballot in-person by Primary Election Day on June 23, 2020.

Can I vote early?

Any registered Democrat in New York can vote early in-person from June 13 through June 21. You can check your early voting location at your county board of elections.

Do I need to bring my ID?

No, you are not required to bring ID for when you vote. 

However, if it is your first time voting and you did not provide any ID when you registered to vote, you must bring a form of identification for when you vote. Acceptable forms of ID include: 

• Current and valid photo ID; 
• Current utility bill; 
• Bank statement;
• Government check or paycheck;
• Government document that lists both your name and address.

What is provisional voting?

If your name does not appear on the voter list, if you do not have a photo ID with you, or if the poll workers question your eligibility for any reason, do not give up voting for Bernie! 

First, make sure you are at the right polling location. If you are at the wrong polling location and are able, make sure you get to your assigned polling location.

If it’s confirmed that you are at the right polling place but your name isn’t on the voter list, ask for a provisional ballot! You have the right to cast a provisional ballot even if your name isn’t on the voter list. It will be counted after the election official determines that you were eligible to vote.

Can I bring anyone to help me? Can I bring an interpreter?

Yes! You have the right to bring someone into the voting booth to help you vote, as long as they do not represent your employer or union. You can bring a relative, a friend or anyone else you trust.

In addition, every polling place is required to be accessible and have voting systems that allow voters with disabilities to vote independently and privately.