Question 1

What am I voting on this June?

Accepted Answer

On June 22nd, NYC will hold a Primary election for local offices including Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, City Council, and District Attorney (Manhattan).

Question 2

What is a Primary Election?

Accepted Answer

It’s the election before the election. In primary elections, you decide which candidate will be your party’s nominee for the general election. You must be a member of a political party to vote in a primary.
Learn more about types of elections

Question 3

What is a General Election?

Accepted Answer

General elections are the championship match, where candidates from different parties compete to win elected office. Winners of primary elections represent their party in the general election. General elections sometimes include ballot proposals, where voters choose whether to adopt new laws or policies.
Learn more about types of elections

Question 4

What is a Special Election?

Accepted Answer

Special elections are held when an elected official leaves office before the end of their term. The winner serves in office until the end of that term.
Learn more about types of elections

Question 5

Where can I find information about the candidates who will be on the ballot?

Accepted Answer

Right here! To learn more about the candidates on your ballot, just click on “Meet the Candidates” in the navigation up top. You can enter in your address to find which offices will be on your ballot, and a list of candidates running for each office. You can also find profiles submitted by candidates, including videos and more.
Meet the candidates

Question 6

Can I vote in the June 22 primary election?

Accepted Answer

You are eligible to vote in the June 22 primary election if you are a registered voter who is a member of a political party that is holding a primary. To find a list of primary races happening on June 22, enter your address into our online Voter Guide in the Meet the Candidates section. You can view each office that will be on the ballot, and the parties holding primaries for each office. 
See online Voter Guide
Check your party enrollment

Question 7

What is Ranked Choice Voting?

Accepted Answer

In primary and special elections for local offices, you can rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one.
Learn more about Ranked Choice Voting

Question 8

How does Ranked Choice Voting work?

Accepted Answer

You can rank up to five candidates in order of preference, instead of choosing just one. If a candidate receives more than 50% of 1st-choice votes, they are the winner. If no candidate earns more than 50% of 1st-choice votes, then counting will continue in rounds. At the end of each round, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated. If you ranked that candidate 1st, your vote will go to the next highest ranked candidate on your ballot. This process will continue until there are two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes wins.

Question 9

Can I still vote for just one candidate?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can still vote for just your 1st- choice candidate. However, ranking other candidates does not harm your 1st choice. If your 1st and only choice is eliminated, your vote will have no influence on the outcome of the election. (You may hear folks call this an “exhausted ballot.”)

Question 10

Do I have to rank a total of 5 candidates?

Accepted Answer

No. You can rank up to five candidates, but you do not need to rank a total of 5.
Learn how to fill out your Ranked Choice ballot

Question 11

Can I rank my favorite candidate more than once?

Accepted Answer

Can I rank my favorite candidate more than once?

Question 12

Can I rank multiple candidates as my first choice?

Accepted Answer

No. You can only choose one candidate for each ranking. If you choose more than one candidate as your 1st choice, your ballot will not be valid.
Learn how to fill out your Ranked Choice ballot

Question 13

How do I vote for a write-in candidate with Ranked Choice Voting?

Accepted Answer

To vote for a candidate whose name is not on the ballot, write their name on the “Write-in” line and fill in an oval to rank your write-in choice.
Learn how to fill out your Ranked Choice ballot

Question 14

Does ranking 5 candidates mean I have 5 votes?

Accepted Answer

No. Your vote only counts for the highest active candidate on your ballot. Your vote will only count for your 2nd choice if your 1st choice is eliminated, and so on.
Learn how votes are counted with Ranked Choice Voting

Question 15

Will the voting machine tell me if I make a mistake on my ballot?

Accepted Answer

If you vote in person, the voting machine will let you know if you give multiple candidates the same ranking. If you make a mistake, you can ask a poll worker for a new ballot. However, the voting machine will not let you know if you skip rankings or rank the same candidate multiple times, since your top-choice vote will still count in those cases.
Learn how to fill out your Ranked Choice ballot

Question 16

When can I expect results in Ranked Choice Voting elections?

Accepted Answer

Final results in Ranked Choice elections will not be known until all absentee and military ballots are counted, which could take several weeks after Election Day.
Learn how votes are counted with Ranked Choice Voting

Question 17

Where can I find official election results?

Accepted Answer

The NYC Board of Elections will share unofficial election results after polls close on Election Day. However, these results will not include any absentee ballot votes. After they receive all absentee ballots, they will finish counting and release certified final results. You can find election results at the NYC Board of Elections website.
Visit the Board of Elections website

Question 18

Can I still vote in person if I request or submit an absentee ballot?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you vote in person after requesting or submitting an absentee ballot, your absentee ballot is automatically disqualified. Only your in person vote will count. You can either vote early or on Election Day. You do not need to bring your ballot with you.
Learn more about voting by mail

Question 19

Can I drop off my absentee ballot at my poll site?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can drop off your completed absentee ballot at any NYC poll site. Ballot boxes will be available at the front desk. You can also drop off your ballot at any Board of Elections office. You do not need postage if you are dropping off your ballot.
Learn more about voting by mail

Question 20

Can I track my absentee ballot after I return it?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The Board of Elections’ ballot tracker will let you know the status of your ballot after you submit a request. It will also let you know if they have received your completed ballot and whether it’s valid.
Track your ballot

Question 21

Can I fix my absentee ballot if I made a mistake?

Accepted Answer

The Board of Elections is required by law to notify you if there is a curable error on your ballot envelope, such as a missing or incorrect signature. If there is a fixable error on your ballot, they will contact you by mail, email, and phone (if available) within 1 day of discovering the error. You will then have a minimum of 5 days to correct the error by returning a signed affirmation.
Learn more about voting by mail

Question 22

Can I vote absentee in person?

Accepted Answer

Sounds strange, but it’s true! You can vote absentee in person at your borough’s Board of Elections office. Offices are open 9am-5pm Monday through Friday, and on the weekend prior to Election Day. This can be a helpful option if you miss the deadline to request a ballot online or by mail. On Election Day offices are open until 9pm.
Find your local Board of Elections office

Question 23

Can I join a permanent absentee ballot list?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you are permanently ill or disabled and cannot get to your poll site, you can join the Board of Elections permanent absentee ballot list. To join, check the box marked “permanent illness or physical disability” on the absentee ballot application. The Board of Elections will automatically send you an absentee ballot application for every election you are qualified to vote in. 
Request absentee ballot
Download absentee ballot request form

Question 24

What happens if the Board of Elections doesn’t receive my ballot by Election Day?

Accepted Answer

The Board of Elections can receive ballots up to seven days after Election Day. However, you must postmark by June 22 for your ballot to be valid.
Learn more about voting by mail

Question 25

Where do I vote on Election Day?

Accepted Answer

You must vote at your assigned poll site on Election Day.
Find your poll site

Question 26

When are polls open on Election Day?

Accepted Answer

Polls are open from 6am-9pm on Election Day.
Find your poll site

Question 27

Can I vote early before Election Day?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can vote early in person from June 12-June 20. You can also vote by mail by requesting an absentee ballot.
Learn about more ways to vote

Question 28

Can I vote on Election Day if I requested or submitted an absentee ballot?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you vote in person after requesting or submitting an absentee ballot, your absentee ballot is automatically disqualified. Only your in person vote will count. You do not need to bring your absentee ballot to your poll site.
Learn more about Election Day

Question 29

If I’m in line at my poll site when polls close, can I still vote?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You have the right to vote as long as you are a registered voter in line by 9pm on Election Day.
Learn more about Election Day

Question 30

Will I know who won on Election Day?

Accepted Answer

Maybe, but don’t be surprised if we have to wait a few weeks. The Board of Elections can receive absentee ballots until seven days after Election Day, so the results of some races may not be known until all ballots have been received. In addition, primary elections for city offices will use Ranked Choice Voting. In Ranked Choice Voting elections, voting can take several rounds if no candidate receives a majority of votes in the first round. In these cases, the Board of Elections will not begin the additional rounds of counting until all absentee ballots have been received. It’s worth taking the time to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
Learn more about how ballots are counted in Ranked Choice Voting elections

Question 31

Am I eligible to vote?

Accepted Answer

You are eligible to register to vote if you are:

a U.S. citizen
a New York City resident for at least 30 days
at least 16 years old (you can pre-register to vote at 16 or 17, but you must be 18 to vote)

Learn more about registering to vote

Question 32

How do I register to vote?

Accepted Answer

If you have a New York State ID, you can register online with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Register to vote online
If you do not have a New York State ID, you can complete a voter registration form and mail it to the Board of Elections. You can also visit your Borough Board of Elections office to register in person.
Download a voter registration form
If you don’t have a New York State ID or a printer, you can digitally fill out a form with TurboVote and have them print and mail it to you, so you can sign and return to the Board of Elections. The platform also works on mobile, so you don’t even need a computer.
Register to vote with TurboVote

Question 33

How can I check if I’m registered to vote?

Accepted Answer

You can check your voter registration status, which political party you are enrolled in, and your political district information by using the NYS Voter Lookup tool.
Check your registration

Question 34

Do I need to update my voter registration if I move?

Accepted Answer

Yes! When you move, you should change your address with the Board of Elections by submitting a new voter registration form. Complete the section labeled “Voting information that has changed” by entering your old address. If you would like to become a member of a political party, or remain a member of your current political party, make sure to select your political party on your registration. In order to vote in the June 22 primary election, your change of address must be received by the Board of Elections by June 2.
Learn more about registering to vote

Question 35

Do I have to join a political party when I register?

Accepted Answer

No. You do not have to join a political party when you register to vote. However, only members of political parties are eligible to vote in primary elections. So if you’d like to vote in primary elections for a particular party, you should join that party when you register.
Learn more about primary elections

Question 36

Can I change my party affiliation after I register to vote?

Accepted Answer

Yes! To update your party affiliation, you must submit a new voter registration form. On your form, make sure to select the political party that you would like to join. The deadline for already registered voters to change their party affiliation before the June 22 primary was February 14. However, new voters can register and join a political party through May 28.
Learn more about registering to vote

Question 37

Can I register to vote if I have a felony conviction?

Accepted Answer

If you are currently on probation you have the right to vote. If you were previously registered, your voter record should still be active.
Check your voter registration status
If you are currently on parole, and have been pardoned, you have the right to vote. In 2018, Governor Cuomo granted conditional pardons to those on parole to restore voting rights.
Check the status of your pardon

Question 38

What are my rights while voting?

Accepted Answer

At your poll site you have the right to:

Ask a poll worker for help
Use an interpreter if you need language assistance
Bring any voting materials with you 
Vote even if the voting machine is broken
Vote by affidavit ballot if your name is missing from the list of voters at your polling site
Not show an ID if you are not a first time voter

Learn more about your voting rights

Question 39

Do I have a right to take time off work to vote?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You have the right to take two paid hours off from work at the beginning or end of your shift if polls are open for less than 4 hours before your shift starts and after it ends. That means on Election Day, you can take paid time off if you are scheduled to start work before 10am and end work after 5pm. You must notify your employer at least two days before you plan to vote.
Learn more about your voting rights

Question 40

Who should I call if there’s an issue at my poll site?

Accepted Answer

You can call the NYC Board of Elections about any issues at your poll site. Call 1-866-Vote-NYC (1-866-868-3692).
TTY-212-487-5496

Question 41

Who can I contact if my rights, or someone else’s, are being violated?

Accepted Answer

You can contact the Election Protection hotline to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer and get free legal support. Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

Question 42

Can I vote if I was formerly incarcerated?

Accepted Answer

If you are currently on probation you have the right to vote. If you were previously registered, your voter record should still be active.
Check your voter registration status
If you are currently on parole, and have been pardoned, you have the right to vote. In 2018, Governor Cuomo granted conditional pardons to those on parole to restore voting rights.
Check the status of your pardon

Question 43

Can I vote if I’m experiencing homelessness?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you are experiencing homelessness, you can register and vote in New York City. You must include a mailing address where the BOE can send you notices on your registration form.

Question 44

What support is available if I need filling out my ballot?

Accepted Answer

Ballot Marking Devices are available at all poll sites to help voters fill out their ballots during early voting and on Election Day. These devices can be helpful to voters who are blind, visually impaired, or have a disability or condition that make it difficult or impossible to mark a ballot with a pen. However, any voter can request to use a Ballot Marking Device.
You can use a Ballot Marking Device to see your ballot on a display screen, listen to your choices through headphones, or translate your ballot into additional languages. If you’d like to use a Ballot Marking Device, just ask a poll worker! 
The device provides four ways to mark your ballot:

Touch screen
Sip & puff device
Keypad (Braille)
Rocker paddle

Learn more about Ballot Marking Devices from the Board of Elections

Question 45

Can I bring someone to help me vote?

Accepted Answer

Yes! As long as they are not your employer or union representative, you can bring someone to help you vote. You can also always ask a poll worker for help.
Learn more about accessibility

Question 46

Can I request an accessible absentee ballot?

Accepted Answer

Yes! If you are visually impaired or have a disability that requires you to use an accessible version of the absentee ballot that can be read by a screen reader and marked digitally, you may request an accessible ballot from the NYC Board of Elections.
Request an accessible absentee ballot

Question 47

Are poll sites accessible?

Accepted Answer

Yes! The NYC Board of Elections ensures that every poll site in the city is accessible to all voters during early voting and Election Day. If there are any issues with your poll site, you can contact the Board of Elections at 1-866-Vote-NYC (212-487-5496).

Question 48

Can I bring a translator to help me vote at my poll site?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as long as they are not also your employer or union representative. Some poll sites have materials in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Bengali. The languages available at your poll site are based on local Census data.
 
In addition, interpreters are available at some poll sites to provide assistance in these languages and others, such as Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, and Yiddish. You can learn which poll sites offer translators in each language at the Civic Engagement Commission’s website.
Learn more about your rights as a voter

Question 49

Can I vote on a ballot in a language other than English?

Accepted Answer

It depends on where you live. By law, New York City ballots and other voting materials are translated into Bengali, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish at certain poll sites based on local Census data.

Question 50

Does Contribute store my financial information?

Accepted Answer

Contribute will not store your financial information, but credit card transaction information may be stored by the Contribute payment processor, Stripe. Refer to the Contribute Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions for more details.

Question 51

Is my contribution tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

No, contributions to political campaigns are not tax deductible, whether they are made online or in person.

Question 52

Do I need to set up an account to use Contribute?

Accepted Answer

You are not required to create a Contribute account to contribute to campaigns. You can create an account if you would like to save your personal and credit card information to simplify the process of contributing to a campaign in the future. If you would like to create an account, go to contribute.nycvotes.org/signup, and select the “For Contributors” tab.

Question 53

Will my contribution be matched with public funds?

Accepted Answer

If you are a New York City resident and you do not have business dealings with the city, your contribution may be eligible to be matched at an $8-to-$1 rate. That means that a $10 contribution from a NYC resident to a participating candidate could be worth as much as $90 to their campaign. It is the campaign’s responsibility to report your contribution correctly and claim it for matching funds.

Question 54

What happens to my money when I contribute to a campaign?

Accepted Answer

Candidates running for local New York City office have the option of using Contribute as their online fundraising platform. When you donate on Contribute, your contribution is sent directly to the campaign’s bank account via the site’s third-party credit card processor, Stripe. Stripe charges the campaign a nominal and standard fee (2.9% + $0.30) for each contribution.

Question 55

What do you do with my personal information when I contribute to a campaign?

Accepted Answer

In accordance with the Campaign Finance Board Rules, campaigns are required to report each contributor’s full name, residential address, occupation, employer, and business address. The following information will be publicly disclosed in the Campaign Finance Board’s Follow the Money Database:

The contributor’s full name.
The city, state and zip code of the contributor’s residential address.
The contributor’s occupation and employer.
The amount, date, and form (cash, check, credit card, etc.) of the contributor’s contribution.

Question 56

I made a mistake while contributing. Who should I contact?

Accepted Answer

Using the campaign’s contact information listed on the Campaign Finance Board website, reach out to the campaign directly to correct your information. If you are unable to contact the campaign, email contribute@nyccfb.info.

Question 57

How can I request a refund?

Accepted Answer

Request a refund directly from the campaign using the campaign’s contact information listed on the Campaign Finance Board website. If you are unable to contact the campaign, email contribute@nyccfb.info.

Question 58

Can I set up a recurring contribution?

Accepted Answer

No. To reduce the risk of campaigns accepting over-the-limit contributions, Contribute does not allow for recurring contributions.

Question 59

Is Contribute free to use?

Accepted Answer

The CFB does not charge campaigns to use Contribute. Stripe, the credit card processor Contribute uses to direct funds to your bank account, charges a nominal and standard fee (2.9% + $0.30) for each contribution. Stripe will deduct the fee from each contribution prior to funds being deposited into your committee’s bank account.

Question 60

I used Contribute for a previous election cycle. Do I need to create a new account for the current election cycle?

Accepted Answer

If you had a Contribute account in a previous election cycle, you can simply log in using your existing email and password, then you will be prompted to connect to a Stripe account. If you ran in a previous election, you cannot reuse an old Stripe account. After logging into your Contribute account, you must create a new Stripe account by using an email address that is easily accessible by the candidate, treasurer, and anyone else monitoring your Contribute account, as time-sensitive emails may be sent by Stripe to this email address.

Question 61

How do I sign up for Contribute?

Accepted Answer

1.    Sign up at contribute.nycvotes.org/signupAfter registering with the CFB, your campaign will have access to Contribute. To create your account, go to contribute.nycvotes.org/signup.
 2.    Create your passwordClick the For Candidates tab and enter the email address listed on your CFB registration and a unique password. Only candidates and treasurers are eligible to have a Contribute account.
Best practice: Both the candidate and treasurer should create their own Contribute accounts to receive important communications from Contribute@nyccfb.info.
3.    Agree to the affirmation statementReview the affirmation statement and click I Agree.
4.    Activate your account and connect with StripeYou will receive an email, which will prompt you to activate your Contribute account. You must then connect your Contribute account with Stripe, the credit card processor Contribute uses to direct funds to your bank account. Candidates who have run in the past must create a new Stripe account for each election.
After logging into your Contribute account, click the Connect with Stripe button.
After clicking Connect with Stripe, you will be directed to a registration form to create a Stripe account. Your Stripe account is separate from your Contribute account and will be used to process contributions made to your campaign on Contribute to your campaign’s bank account. Some of the information you will need to enter in the registration form includes:

Business Details: Enter your committee’s information in this section. You will need to complete fields such as:

Type of business: Select “Nonprofit Organization”
Legal business name: Enter the committee’s name (as disclosed to the IRS and CFB)
Business website: If your committee does not have a website, you can use contribute.nycvotes.org for this field
Business description: Select “Political Organization”
How long after paying will customers typically receive their goods or services?: Select “Within One Day”

Executive Details: The campaign’s Stripe account should be created by the candidate (strongly recommended), treasurer, or another campaign representative with significant managerial control. The individual who creates the account will be the Stripe account holder and will need to provide personal identifying information. (For example, home address and the last four digits of Social Security Number.)
Credit Card Statement Details: In this section, you will be able to customize how contributions made to your campaign will appear on your contributors’ bank statements.

Statement descriptor: This is the “business name” that will appear on your contributors’ bank statement. You should use the committee’s name to avoid disputes over unrecognized transactions.
Support phone number: Enter a phone number that can be used to contact you and your campaign.
Customer support address: Use the committee’s address.

Bank Details: Enter your committee’s bank account number and routing number to set up transfers for contributions received. You must use the same bank account on file with the CFB.
Two-Step Authentication: Choose one of Stripe’s security methods to protect your account.
Save your Stripe account: Create your login credentials for your Stripe dashboard. Use these credentials to log in directly at www.stripe.com. You can choose to use the same email address linked to your Contribute account, but it is not necessary.

Click the Authorize access to this account button to complete the registration form for Stripe.
5.    Receive Contribute linkAfter creating your Stripe account, you will receive an email that confirms that your Contribute account has been connected to Stripe, and that contains your unique Contribute link. This link can be used for promotional materials, campaign flyers and mailings, and social media posts.
Once you have connected your Contribute account with Stripe, your campaign can begin receiving contributions.
Best practice: Have the candidate or treasurer make a small test contribution (which may be matchable) and upload it to C-SMART.

Question 62

How long does it take for contributions to be deposited in my committee bank account?

Accepted Answer

Transfers will occur daily and consist of contributions received two business days prior. Your first transfer may take up to one week to process. You will receive a monthly Stripe account statement from Contribute, which shows the contributions received for the month as well as the month’s total of Stripe processing fees deducted from your contributions.
You can confirm your payout schedule and estimated payout timing in your Stripe Dashboard.

Question 63

How do I upload contributions to C-SMART?

Accepted Answer

After receiving contributions, you must upload your credit card contribution data and documentation directly into C-SMART. You must perform the upload for contributions to appear in C-SMART; otherwise, your disclosure statement will not include contributions received via Contribute and you will lose the opportunity to claim any eligible contributions for matching funds.
IMPORTANT: Do not manually enter C-SMART contributions received via Contribute. If you notice that a contribution is not uploading correctly into C-SMART, contact your Candidate Services liaison.
1.    Sign in to your campaign’s Contribute accountGo to contribute.nycvotes.org/login and enter your CFB-registered email address and Contribute password.
2.    Enter your C-SMART encryption keyWhen you log in, you will be automatically directed to the Data section of your account page. Contributions received via Fundraising Events will be included in the total number of contributions that appear under this alert. To upload data from Contribute, enter your C-SMART encryption key in the Encryption Key field and click Upload. Contribute will alert you if you have any contributions that have not been uploaded to C-SMART. You will be able to use the upload function only if there are contributions that have not yet been uploaded to C-SMART.

Question 64

What should I do after uploading contributions to C-SMART?

Accepted Answer

1.    Review each contribution in C-SMARTReview the Contribute Upload Report in C-SMART to ensure that each contribution was uploaded. For more information on how to access and use this report, review Reports in C-SMART Help. You should also compare the total number of contributions on the C-SMART report to the total number displayed in the Contribute Activity Report, which can be accessed through your Contribute account page. In C-SMART, you can review the backup documentation for each contribution uploaded by Contribute. For more information on viewing this documentation, in Monetary Contribution Documentation in C-SMART Help.
2.    Merge duplicate name recordsUploads from Contribute to C-SMART might create duplicate name records for your contributors in your C-SMART database. This will occur when a name record already exists in C-SMART for someone who donates through Contribute. To ensure accurate disclosure and prevent over-the-limit contributions, you must merge any duplicate name records after each upload. For instructions, see Merge Duplicate Names in C-SMART Help.
3.    Check for over-the-limit-contributionsReview your contributions for any over-the-limit contributions. The easiest way to do this is to generate the Contributions Over the Limit report in C-SMART, which will list all contributions for a contributor whose total contributions have exceeded the contribution limit for the office sought.
4.    Claim eligible contributions for matching fundsContributions from Contribute are not automatically claimed for match. After each upload, you must enter a matching amount for eligible contributions received through Contribute. For more information on how to edit contributions to claim them for matching funds, see Monetary Contributions in C-SMART Help
Use the Contribute Upload Report in C-SMART to assist you when claiming contributions from Contribute for match. The report contains each contribution’s C-SMART transaction ID and the matching amount. Additionally, the report includes an indicator that tells you whether the matching amount has been updated.

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