When will the program be shown?
See the TV Schedule page.

Will candidate statements be available in other languages?

Statements from candidates running for Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller are available in Spanish, Chinese and Korean.  Statements from candidates running for other offices are available in Spanish (for all candidates), Chinese (for candidates seeking office in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens) and Korean (for candidates seeking office in Queens).  Click on “Watch the Video Voter Guide” to review candidate statements and their translations.

Is every candidate for City office required to participate in the Video Voter Guide?

No.  Participation in the Video Voter Guide is purely voluntary.  All participating candidates, however, are required to sign an affidavit accepting basic nonpartisan rules designed to assure the appropriate use of this important public resource. Candidates who have chosen not to participate in the Video Voter Guide do not appear on the program, but are still listed at www.nyc.gov/videovoter.

How long are candidate statements?

Statement running times depend on the City office that the candidate is seeking:

• Candidates for City Council: Two (2) minutes 
• Candidates for Borough President: Three (3) minutes 
• Candidates for Mayor, Comptroller, and Public Advocate: Four (4) minutes

What happens if I can't vote on Election Day?
If you will be out of town on Election Day or are physically unable to go to the polls, you can vote by absentee ballot. Call 212-VOTE-NYC for more information.

Who can vote?
You must be a registered voter in order to vote in the general or primary elections. To register, you must:

• Be a United States citizen;
• Be 18 years old by the date of the election you want to vote;
• Live at your present address for at least 30 days before an election;
• Not be in jail for a felony conviction;
• Not be on parole for a felony conviction; and
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

How will I know where to vote?
You should receive a postcard from the Board of Elections in August, telling you where to vote and which election district number you need to know on Election Day. You can also locate your poll site at http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm or email your complete home address to vote@boe.nyc.ny.us.

I'm disabled. Where can I vote?
Most polling places are now accessible to the handicapped. If yours is not, you may ask to have your records transferred to a nearby accessible polling place where the ballot will be the same as in your election district. 

You may also vote by absentee ballot. If you have a long-term or permanent illness or disability, you can apply for a permanent absentee ballot and you will automatically receive one before each primary and general election.

What do I need when I go to vote?
The "Help America Vote Act" (HAVA), which was enacted into law in 2002, requires all first-time voters who registered by mail on or after January 1, 2003, to provide additional identification either on or with the voter registration application, i.e., driver's license number or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number. If you do not provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number at the time you submit your registration form by mail, you can include a copy of any of the following documentation with your registration application:

• Non-Driver ID Number
• Current and Valid Photo ID
• Current Utility Bill
• Bank Statement
• Government Check or Paycheck
• Government Document that shows Name and Address

If the voter has not provided any of the acceptable forms of identification by the time they vote in a Federal Election, the voter will not be allowed to vote by machine, but will be able to vote by affidavit ballot. The voter will not be denied the right to vote.

If I register to vote, will I be called for jury duty?
Jurors are drawn from lists of state taxpayers and licensed drivers as well as from voter registration rolls. Do not give up your right to vote in the hope that you will avoid jury duty. Chances are, if you pay taxes or drive a car, you will still be called. Besides, serving on a jury is a privilege, one that permits you to personally stand up for all Americans' right to a trial by a jury of their peers.

Can a felony conviction affect my right to vote?
You may NOT vote or register to vote if you have been convicted of a felony and for that felony:

• you are currently serving time in jail or prison; or
• you are currently under parole supervision.

You may vote or register to vote if you were convicted of a felony and for that felony:

• you were sentenced to probation;
• you were not sentenced to incarceration;
• your prison sentence was suspended;
• you served your maximum prison sentence, in which case your right to vote was returned automatically to you;
• you were on parole and then discharged, in which case your right to vote was returned automatically to you; or
• you were pardoned.

Do I have to be a citizen to vote?
In order to be eligible to register, you must be a citizen of the United States. A permanent resident, green card holder, or a person who is in this country on a visa is not eligible to register to vote until s/he obtains citizenship.

In order to be processed, line #2 of the voter registration form must be checked - "Are you a U.S. citizen? ___Yes ___No." If this box is not completed, the registration form will be returned to the registrant requesting that the material be furnished and the form be completed. If a voter's citizenship has been challenged, the Board of Elections has a right to investigate and verify the authenticity of the claim. 

Learn more about the voter registration process

How do I become an Election Day worker?
Call 866-VOTE-NYC

How do I vote by absentee ballot?
Call 212-VOTE-NYC

Can I still register to vote?

Primary Election: August 21, 2009 is the last day to register to vote for the primary election, which is scheduled for September 15, 2009.   

General Election: October 9, 2009 is the last day to register to vote for the general election, which is scheduled for November 3, 2009.

Can I still change my address?

Primary Election: August 21, 2009 is the last day to modify your voter registration for the primary election, which is scheduled for September 15, 2009.   

General Election: October 9, 2009 is the last day to modify your voter registration for the general election, which is scheduled for November 3, 2009.