Frequently Asked Questions of Social Service Agencies
What are the benefits of hand delivering completed voter registration forms?
What are the voting options for Domestic Violence survivors concerned with address confidentiality?
How can homeless people register to vote?
What's the deadline to register to vote, submit absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots?
Where can I get a non-partisan poster reminding people to vote?
Can I give clients a candidate comparison?
What are some good ways to remind clients and staff to vote?
Do employers need to allow employees time to vote on Election Day?
What is HAVA (HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT) and what are its implications?
What are some important things to note regarding ID when going to the polls on Election Day?
Where and when do we vote in NYC?
Are there any recent developments with voter registration in NYC law?
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAND DELIVERING COMPLETED VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS TO BOE?
Hand delivery of voter registration forms is not mandatory, however from our research many agencies recommend this because: if submitted in person (even one person from your agency can hand deliver a collected stack of hundreds of completed forms) all those voters you registered should not be asked at the polls on Election Day for proof of ID, to meet the new HAVA (Help America Vote Act) requirement.
If the forms are mailed in, then each voter will get a letter from the BOE acknowledging receipt, and requesting proof of ID copy via mail or at the polls, which could cause confusion.
So hand delivery by one person from your agency on behalf of all those registered may avoid this.
WHEN HAND DELIVERING VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS TO THE BOE, SHOULD I GET A RECEIPT? WHAT SHOULD BE ON IT?
The BOE does not give receipts when you hand deliver forms to them, but its good idea to make your own on letterhead and have them stamp and sign it. Here is suggested information to include on the receipt:
"This is to acknowledge that these forms have been submitted in person and have fulfilled the HAVA ID requirement." Include on the receipt: date, received by signature, name, # of forms.
WHAT ARE THE VOTING OPTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS CONCERNED WITH ADDRESS CONFIDENTIALITY?
Unfortunately, NY State is behind on voting for DV survivors. Many states (15) have special rules that protect DV survivors when they register - but NY is not one of them. (Although there is a bill pending that would address this that several advocacy groups are currently lobbying for). NYC local law also does not address this issue.
So what are the options for DV survivors that want to register?
According to the BOE they can register using their last address and can go to that Borough's BOE office sometime within the last few days before the election (up to about a week before the election) or on election day itself and can vote there. Clearly, this is not an ideal solution - but apparently it's all we've got for now.
HOW CAN HOMELESS PEOPLE REGISTER TO VOTE?
Homeless people absolutely do have the right to vote. A great resource is www.partnershipforthehomeless.org . Click on the link for their voter registration drive and then see the left side menu and click on "Voter Rights". PFTH has established an impressive voter campaign.
PFTH registers many people by having them complete a form at intake when entering a shelter. When they discharge, they fill out another voter registration form to change to their new address. Please note a homeless person can even list a street location as an address such as "park bench in Washington Square Park".
MY AGENCY HAS AN INPATIENT REHABILATION FACILITY OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR REGISTERING CLIENTS AND SUBMITTING THE FORMS TO BOE?
If clients will be in an inpatient facility on Election Day and their permanent home address is in NYC, use NYC BOE voter registration forms and absentee ballots: Fill in their NYC permanent home address in #4 and then the rehab facility as the mailing address in #5. Then have them complete an absentee ballot application. Have a staff member hand deliver the forms and applications to any BOE in NYC.
Clients will then get absentee ballots mailed to them at the facility, two weeks prior to Election Day and they can vote by mail.
A TIP: Facility staff might want to encourage voting with a GET OUT THE VOTE day: Publicize this and have everyone vote by absentee ballot together that day.
WHAT'S THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE, SUBMIT ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS?
At the time we created this web page, New York City Board of Elections had not posted their 2005 deadlines to register to vote in the primary and general elections, or submit absentee applications and ballots. You can periodically check their website at www.vote.nyc.ny.us , or call the main office at 212-487-5300.
YOU DISCOVER THAT A FORM SUBMITTED TO YOU DOES NOT HAVE BOX #9 (ID REQUIREMENT) FILLED IN. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SUBMIT THAT TO THE BOE AS-IS?
First make every effort to have Box #9 filled in. However, if you notice after the form is submitted to you that Box #9 is not completed, and you submit this to the BOE, they will not discard or nullify the form. The voter will be notified by mail they need to submit proof of ID, either via mail or at the polls.
To further ensure that this person you registered does not have trouble at the polls, you may want to contact the person to let them know they did not fill in the ID requirement, and remind them to bring ID to the polls. If they do not hear from the BOE by two weeks prior to Election Day, they can call 212-VOTE-NYC or 1-866-VOTE-NYC, to inquire about their status.
WHERE CAN I GET A NON-PARTISAN POSTER REMINDING PEOPLE TO VOTE?
The NYC Board of Elections has posters free of charge, and can be picked in-person. To verify availability and get exact locations contact one of the six NYC offices:
Bronx 718-299-9017
Brooklyn 718-797-8800
Manhattan 212-886-2100
Queens 718-730-6730
Staten Island 718-876-0079
NYC Board of Elections (Main Office) 212-487-5300
Or for a more creative, eye-catching poster, recruit clients, staff or volunteers at your agency to create a poster!
CAN I GIVE CLIENTS A CANDIDATE COMPARISON?
Yes you can, but remember that you must be completely non-partisan. In order to do this, include ALL candidates running in that particular race (even third and minor party candidates).
Human Services Council member Partnership for the Homeless has compiled a good comparison for 2004 that you can review as a sample. Visit their website: http://www.partnershipforthehomeless.org/ and click on left menu: "Voter resources"
REMEMBER however, when distributing information or educating clients, it MUST be completely NONpartisan and must show ALL of the candidates running.
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD WAYS TO REMIND CLIENTS AND STAFF TO VOTE?
1/ Wear nonpartisan buttons that remind people to vote on Election Day
2/ Add notice to paychecks or agency-wide announcements, newsletters, etc.
3/ Create “Remember to Vote” postcards that you can have voters self-address when you register them to vote. These postcards can then be mailed out closer to Election Day.
4/ Hang posters that you can get from the Board of Elections, or get creative and make your own.
5/ Speak with each client you see and remind them to vote.
6/ Call clients and remind them to vote.
7/ Talk about Election Day at group meetings.
8/ Ask clients if they know where their polling place is, and offer to find it for them. Call the NYC BOE: 212-VOTE-NYC or 1-866-VOTE-NYC
9/ Distribute nonpartisan educational information about the election and voting.
10/ Ask clients if they have questions about how to vote. If they have internet access refer them to the NYC BOE video on how to use a voting machine. www.vote.nyc.ny.us/voting.jsp
11/ Help to arrange transportation and childcare for clients who need it in order to vote.
12/ Have a Get-Out-The-Vote party. This could be just before Election Day, or on Election Day.
DO EMPLOYERS NEED TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TIME TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY?
YES! It's the law!
New York State Election Law 3-110 states: If you do not have sufficient time outside your working hours to vote, you may take off up to 2 hours at the start or end of your shift, WITH PAY to allow you time to vote.
"Sufficient time" is defined as four consecutive hours either between the opening of the polls and the beginning of your working shift OR between the end of your working shift and the closing of the polls. You must notify your employer between 2 and 10 days prior to Election Day that you plan to take the time. (Information provided by NYS BOE, phone 518-474-1953)
WHAT IS HAVA (HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT) AND WHAT ARE ITS IMPLICATIONS?
The general rule is simple:
New voters who registered BY MAIL after January 1, 2003 must present ID, unless they already provided their drivers license number or the last four digits of their social security number. In NYC, the poll books will contain the line "ID required" to alert the poll workers to ask for ID when the voter signs the book. If a voter required to provide ID does not present it, the voter will receive an affidavit ballot (or should request one!), and the ballot will count unless there is evidence of fraud.
WHAT ARE SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE REGARDING ID WHEN GOING TO THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY?
1/ BRING ID with you
2/ If your name is NOT on the voter lists, re-check with the poll site supervisor, and if still not, do not leave without voting by affidavit/provisional ballot (a written ballot that will count as long as you are later shown as eligible to vote).
WHERE AND WHEN DO I VOTE IN NYC?
1/ In NY, polls are open 6 AM - 9 PM
2/ To check your poll site go to: http://www.mypollingplace.com (The first one -stop to finding your polling place anywhere in the USA.)
3/ Bring a photo ID to the polls with you as a safety precaution
4/ If you are told your name is NOT in the voter rolls, insist on voting by affadavit/provisional ballot. It's your right!
5/ Complaints and questions/problems at the polls should be directed to:
212-822-0282 (NYPIRG) or 1-866-VOTE-NYC (NYC BOE). For multi-lingual voter help lines see our link “Election Day Voter Helplines”.
ARE THERE ANY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS WITH VOTER REGISTRATION IN NYC LAW?
Yes, It's back on the radar screen:
On November 30, 2004 the NY City Council Government Operations Committee Meeting focused on Electoral Reform. Recently, city council members proposed amending the existing NYC Pro-Voter Act. Good government groups such as NYPIRG and others, testified to the need for amending and strengthening the existing law to encourage agencies to register voters.
Recent NYC council member-sponsored PROPOSED changes to the Pro-Voter Act (voter registration law) include:
- Mandated annual training to social service agencies by the Voter Assistance Commission;
- More specific language regarding the provision of and assistance with voter registration forms to clients;
- Designating a voter registration coordinator within each agency;
- Requiring each agency to provide the same degree of assistance with regard to voter registration application form as is provided by the agency with regard to the completion of its own forms;
- Requiring agencies to prominently display the existence of voter registration services.
NYPIRG (New York Public Interest Research Group) and others testified that the current administration has under-funded and neglected the NYC Voter Assistance Commission. NYPIRG recommended the city council consider the following important issues when amending the Pro-Voter Act:
1/ making sure that agencies distribute forms to clients
2/ having agencies offer verbal assistance to clients upon registering to vote
3/ forms should be collected by city agencies and transmitted to the Board of Elections
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