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Voter Guide English Print
Voter Guide English Print
Voter Guide English Print
New York State Primary Election: Tuesday, September 16th General Election: Tuesday, November 6th
We also operate a hotline for voters who have elections-related questions at (718) 460-5600.
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Federal & NY State General Election Tuesday, November 6th Voting hours 6:00 AM-9:00 PM
Important Dates
New York City Board of Elections
(212) VOTE-NYC [212-868-3692] (outside of NYC) 1-866-VOTE-NYC (Toll-free/only for NYC residents) Website: http://vote.nyc.ny.us/ Poll site locator (available in other languages) http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps How to use the new voting machines (available in other languages): http://votethenewwayny.com Voter registration confirmation (only available in English): http://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us
Affordable Housing
Immigrants face a number of housing challenges: overcrowding, high rental costs, poor housing conditions, harassment, and discrimination. Many live without a lease, and pay rent in cash. With the economic slowdown, immigrant homeowners have also been hit hard and are at high risk of losing their homes by foreclosure. Decent, affordable housing is a human right, and immigrant families should be able to find quality, affordable and safe home. Voters need to see what the candidates will do to stop needless foreclosures; expand affordable rental housing, revive a sustainable path to homeownership, and improve and preserve existing affordable housing.
Letter to the Voters...................................... 2 Voting information on the 2012 elections............3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on voting.......7 Policy Issues for the 2012 Elections...................10
Table of Contents
012 will be a significant election year. This fall in New York, we will elect the President, 1 Senator, 27 Congressmen, 63 State Senators, and 150 State Assemblymembers. The ones who are elected will have an important influence over all of our lives. Our country, city and neighborhoods face major challenges. The economy is still in recession, and 400,000 immigrants are deported every year with no immigration reform in sight. There are other policy issues like education, healthcare, and housing that affect our quality of life directly. The candidates that will be elected this fall must address these issues. But we can have an impact, by participating in the electoral process and voting. This guide provides you with easy-to-understand information about how you can exercise your right to vote. Please join us and help increase the power of the Korean, Asian and immigrant communities, by voting in the New York State primaries this coming September 13th, as well as the general election on November 6th. Every vote can make a huge difference. It is up to you.
Language Access
There are more than 2 million immigrants living in New York State who are Limited English Proficient (LEP). In New York City, nearly half of all Asian Americans are LEP, and the lack of translation is one of the biggest issues our community faces. New York City and New York State have required that government agencies provide interpretation services and translated documents in six language services, including Korean. However, many people have difficulties using these interpretation services and translated documents, because the policy has not been fully and properly implemented in the City and the State. Voters must see what roles and stances New York State and Federal candidates will take on expanding language access, and making sure governments provide the proper translation and interpretation services they have promised.
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In the 2012 elections, voters will elect a President and Vice President, 1/3 of the U.S. Senate, all 435 House of Representatives, all 63 New York State Senators, all 150 State Assemblymembers, and others. New Yorks voters elect candidates for each party in the primary elections on September 13th, and will elect candidates from all parties in the general elections on November 6th.
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U.S. House of Representatives: Comprised of 435 members, the House of Representatives makes up Congress, together with the Senate. The Census determines the number of representatives each state gets, and each member serves a 2-year term. Together with the Senate, the House of Representatives reserves the right to create and vote on legislation, levy taxes, make debt payments, regulate commerce, implement the draft, and declare war.
You may use the following documents in lieu of an identity card: Electric, gas, and other utility bills Student ID Bank statement Credit or debit card with photo EVEN if you do not have those documents, you may also vote using a provisional (affidavit) ballot by asking the poll workers for one. If you do NOT receive one, please contact the MinKwon Center at 718-460-5600. 11.What should I do if I am not on the voter list? Your registration form may not have received, or in the case of primaries, it is because you are not affiliated with any party. If you believe you are a qualified voter, you may use a provisional ballot (affidavit) ballot. After the elections, if the Board of Election reviews your ballot and determines that you are an eligible voter, your vote will count. However, if the Board of Elections determines that you are ineligible, a notification will be mailed out to you, along with a voter registration form. 12. Can I vote at the nearest poll site after a change of address? It is recommended that you notify the Board of Elections prior to the elections and vote at your designated poll site. Afterwards, you can use your nearest designated poll site. If you do not, it becomes very complicated to count your votes. If you were unable to notify the Board of Elections, you may use a provisional (affidavit) ballot to vote. In this case, the Board of Elections considers you as a resident at your previous address and determines your eligibility. 13.What do I do if I need assistance? If you have disabilities and need assistance reading the ballot, Federal laws allow assistance from a friend or a relative. You may also receive help from a poll worker. Depending on your district, there may be an interpreter present.
7. Can I change or cancel my party affiliation? Yes, you can change or cancel your party affiliation by sending a new voter registration forms marking a different party in Question #13. You can choose to cancel your party affiliation by marking the choice at the end stating that you do not wish to be affiliated with any party. Note that you must wait nearly a year to vote again after you have changed your party affiliation. For more information, call the MinKwon Center at 718460-5600. 8. I am disabled. Where can I go vote? Most poll sites are equipped with facilities for people with disabilities. If you find the facilities unsatisfactory, you can request to be transported to a different facility. Individuals with disabilities are also eligible to use an absentee ballot. People who are ill for a prolonged period of time may request a permanent absentee ballot and can vote at the comfort of their own homes.
2. Voter Registration
Voters who meet all qualifications must register as a voter to be able to vote. 1) Qualifications Be a U.S. Citizen Be of 18 years of age by December 31st of the year registering (For New York Elections: Be of 18 years of age by the date of the September 13th primary or the November 6th election) Those serving a sentence/on parole due to a serious crime are disqualified Cannot claim to vote in a different address 2)Ways to Register:There are 3 ways to register Online: Fill out a registration form at https://my.dmv.ny.gov/crm/. Create a MyDMV account and select Electronic Voter Registration Application to complete. The DMV will send the registration to the Board of Elections. By mail: + Download the registration form from the website (http:// vote.nyc.ny.us), fill it out, and send it to the Board of Elections. By phone: (Call toll-free 1-866-VOTE-NYC (868-3692), outside of New York City, call 212-VOTE-NYC, for those hard of hearing TDD-212487-5496 for a free voter registration form by mail. In person: Visit each boroughs Board of Elections office and fill out the registration form. (Board of Elections Hours of operation: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 AM-5:00 PM) You can also visit MinKwon Center (718-460-5600 / 136-19 41st Avenue, 3FL, Flushing, NY 11355) 3) Things to Note forVoter Registration You must sign the form and date it in black or blue ink. If you do not receive your registration card within 4-6 weeks, call 1-866-VOTE-NYC or 212-VOTENYC (if you are outside of New York City) to confirm You must report change of name, address, and party affiliation to the Board of Elections to maintain your voter registration status. 5
9.Who is eligible to use an absentee ballot? Absentee ballots are used by people who are ill, traveling during the elections, attending school in a distant location, or have other valid reasons. To use an absentee ballot, you must apply beforehand to the Board of Elections. 10.What should I bring to a poll site? If you registered as a voter before December 31st, 2002, you do not need to bring anything. Your signature is on the voter list, and you can confirm your identity by signing an identical signature next to it. Therefore, when you register as a voter, it is important to confirm that you have signed the form. However, if you registered as a voter after January 1st, 2003, you may need to provide either provide the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number, or have other documents that have your name and your address. It is also a good idea to bring your registration card the Board of Elections.
3. Polling Site
All voters are assigned a polling site to use for voting on the election days. If you do not know your poll site, you can call 1-866-VOTENYC or 212-VOTE-NYC (outside of New York City) to find out your location. You can also confirm by e-mail by sending an e-mail to the Board of Elections at vote@boe.nyc.ny.us. If you visit the Board of Elections website (http:// vote.nyc.ny.us) and click on Poll Site Locator on the menu, you can find out your electoral district and the address of your designated poll site. You can also call the MinKwon Center at 718-460-5600.
4. Absentee Ballots
If you are away on the elections days, or have limited physical mobility and are unable to make it to the poll site, you can vote with an absentee ballot. For an absentee ballot request application: Visit the Board of Elections office in person Call 1-866-VOTE-NYC (212-VOTE-NYC outside of New York City) Download the application from the Board of Elections website When filling out the application, you must sign and date the form and use a blue or black ink.