Voting is a fundamental right and a crucial part of participating in democracy. For residents of New York City, understanding where and how to vote is essential. If you’re asking “Where Do I Vote Nyc?”, this guide will provide you with the information you need to cast your ballot with confidence.
Finding your designated polling place in NYC is a straightforward process. The most direct way to locate your voting site is by checking your voter registration card. This card is mailed to registered voters and clearly indicates your assigned polling location for Election Day.
Voter receiving their paper ballot at a polling place in NYC.
Upon arriving at your NYC polling place, election officials are there to assist you. They will verify your address to ensure you are at the correct location for voting based on your registration. Once confirmed, you’ll proceed through a simple three-step process to cast your vote:
Step 1: Receive Your Paper Ballot
After signing in with the poll worker, you will be handed your paper ballot. To maintain the privacy of your vote, a privacy sleeve will also be provided. Proceed to a designated privacy booth to mark your ballot.
Step 2: Mark Your Paper Ballot
Inside the privacy booth, carefully fill in the oval shapes located below your chosen candidates and proposals. It’s important to use the pen provided and ensure you completely fill in the oval. Avoid using “X” marks, question marks, circling the oval, or making any stray marks on the ballot as this could affect the scanning process.
For those wishing to vote for a write-in candidate, fill in the oval associated with write-in votes and clearly write the candidate’s name in the space provided.
Accessibility is a priority at NYC polling places. Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) are available to assist voters who may need help marking their ballot due to disabilities or other reasons. If you make a mistake or need to change something before scanning, you can request a new ballot from a poll worker, up to a total of three ballots if necessary.
Step 3: Scan Your Paper Ballot
Once you have completed marking your ballot, take it to the scanner area to officially cast your vote.
Voter inserting their marked paper ballot into the vote scanner at a NYC polling site.
At the scanner, you’ll have the option to select your preferred language by touching the corresponding button on the screen. Then, insert your completed ballot into the scanner. There’s no need to fold your ballot, as the scanner is designed to accept ballots in any orientation and reads both sides. The scanner will confirm successful casting of your vote with a notification.
In the event of an overvote, meaning you have marked more choices in a particular contest than allowed, the scanner will alert you. You will then be given the choice to cast your ballot “as is,” in which case your vote for that specific contest will not be counted, or to have your ballot returned to you to obtain a new one from a poll worker.
Assistance is Available
If you require any assistance at your polling place, bi-partisan teams of poll workers are readily available to help. Interpreters are also available when needed for Spanish, Chinese-Mandarin, Chinese-Cantonese, Korean, and Bengali languages.
For voters utilizing the Ballot Marking Device (BMD), there are multiple access methods, including viewing the ballot on screen or listening through audio headphones. Input options include touch screen, keypad (Braille), sip & puff device, and rocker paddle, ensuring accessibility for all voters. After making your selections on the BMD, you can review them and make changes before printing your marked ballot to be scanned.
Voting in NYC is designed to be accessible and secure. By knowing where to vote and understanding the simple steps, every eligible New Yorker can make their voice heard on Election Day.
