Vote - THEATER IN ASYLUM

We believe that voting is paramount to our democracy.
Below are some resources we hope will help you get involved.
Click here to download the "How to Vote" guide we've been handing out all over NYC

How to Vote

How to Register

Voting Rights

What are New Yorkers Voting On?

How to Vote

Mark your calendar. The General Election is 11/8.
Find out IF and WHERE you are registered at CanIVote.org.
If you are not registered, do that. See below.
Research! Find out what you can vote for. Additional NYC voting issues are below. Check out the televised debates and our theatrical presentations here.
Find your polling place. NYC residents can find their polling places here, others can find them here.
Make sure you have the proper identification. In New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, you don't need any ID to vote. Your name will be on a list at check in. In Connecticut you need a non-photo ID. Other states have stricter laws that you can find out about here.
Vote!
Call your mom. Call your uncle who watches cable news all day. Call your sister who just had a baby. Call your ex. Call everyone and ask them if they've voted!

Registration, Absentee, & Early Voting for the November 8th General Election

New York

Register online here by October 14. Paper applications must be postmarked by October 14 and received by October 19.
Absentee ballots must be requested by November 1 and returned by November 7. Details are here.
New York State does not allow early voting.

New Jersey
Paper registration form here. Paper applications must be received by October 18.

Connecticut
Register online here by November 1.

Pennsylvania
Registration has passed.

Massachusetts
Register online here by October 19.

If you live in a different state, Rock the Vote has clear deadlines and instructions here.

Voting Rights & What to Do if They're Violated

You have a right to vote for representation (at many levels) if you are at least 18 years old and a citizen of the United State without a felony conviction.
You have a right to decide your own vote. It is illegal for anyone to bully or intimidate you into a vote.
You have a right to be counted. Contact a poll worker or use the phone number below if you believe your voting machine is not working or if there is a problem with your ballot.
You have a right to privacy. No one can ask to see your vote.

More Voting Rights for New York State

You have a right to up to two hours of paid time off to vote if your work schedule prevents you from voting while polls are open. You must inform your employer at least two but no more than ten days before exercising this right.
You have a right to bring materials into voting booths. However, you may not display campaign clothing, stickers, or buttons at the polling place. Hide them in your bag and put them back on as soon as you're done voting!
If someone challenges your right to vote, you have a right to take a “Challenge Oath." If you can complete the oaths, you have a right to cast a regular ballot. More info on challenges here (starting page 119).
You have a right to receive instructions from a poll worker on how to use voting machine before you close the voting booth.
You have a right to vote without an ID unless you are a first-time voter voting on a machine.
You have a right to vote by affidavit or provisional ballot (a paper ballot in an envelope) if you have problems with your registration. For example, if poll workers cannot find your name on the list when you check in, you can still vote via affidavit or provisional ballot.

More information on NY voting rights may be found on the NY Civil Liberties Union here.

If you have any questions or experience any problems on voting day, lawyers will be ready and waiting to help and defend you at:

1 (866) OUR-VOTE.

What are New Yorkers Voting on?

New Yorkers have State and City Primary elections on Tuesday, September 13, 2016. For these elections you must register by Friday, August 19. Absentee ballots can be requested until September 6 and returned by September 12. Polls in NYC will be open from 6am-9pm. Registration, absentee ballot, and polling site info are here.

Federal
(Primaries already happened, Election November 8)

The Presidency: Yup. Big time. Hillary Clinton (D), Donald Trump (R), Jill Stein (G), Gary Johnson (L).
Senate: Yes, Senators Chuck Schumer (D) is up for reelection. Wendy Long (R), Alex Merced (L), and Robin Laverne Wilson (G) are running against him. New York's other Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand (D), is not up for reelection until 2018. All residents of New York State can vote for Senate seats. The Senate is currently controlled by the GOP but this chamber could flip to the Democrats in this election.
House of Representatives: All 27 of New York's House Representatives are up for reelection. You can find your representative and district number here and who's running for your district here. The House is currently controlled by the GOP with a strong majority and is unlikely to flip in this election.
Referendums: None. This doesn't really happen.

State
(Primaries September 13, Election November 8)

Governor: Nope. Governor Andrew Cuomo is not up for reelection until 2018.
State Senate: All 63 State Senators are up for reelection every two years, including this year. You may only vote for representatives running to represent the district where you live. Click here to find out which is your district and here for a complete list of candidates running. The State Senate is currently controlled by the GOP but news outlets report that this chamber could flip to the Democrats with this election.
State Assembly: All 150 State Assembly members are up for reelection every two years, including this year. You can find your State Assembly district here and who's running to represent that district here. The State Assembly is currently controlled by the Democrats with a strong majority and is unlikely to flip with this election.
Referendums: None this time around.

City
(nothing to vote on until next year)

Mayor: Nope. Mayor Bill De Blasio is not up for reelection until 2017.
City Council: Nope. Council members are elected every four years and the next election will be in 2017. To find out who is your City Council member click here.
City Comptroller: Nope. Comptroller Scott Stringer is not up for reelection until 2017.
City Public Advocate: Nope. Public Advocate Letitia James is not up for reelection until 2017.
Referendums: None this time around.

Borough
(nothing to vote on until next year)

Borough Presidency: Nope. Borough Presidents are elected every four years and the next election will be in 2017. To find out who is your Borough President click here.
Borough Community Board Representation: Nope. Representatives are appointed by the local Borough President. Half of the members are nominated by the community district's City Council members. To find out who is your City Council member (and to get their phone number and email address so you can talk to them about your Borough Community Board...) click here.
Borough District Attourney: Nope.
Referendums: None this time around.

Disclaimer

This Voting guide was prepared by Theater in Asylum. We are not lawyers nor voting experts. If you believe something on this page is incorrect, please email us at info@theaterinasylum.com.

All expenditures for The Debates are paid for by Theater in Asylum. No actions, script lines, voting guides, or events are authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Theater in Asylum does not endorse any candidate in this race. We simply want more people, people like you, to engage and participate. While many moments in our shows are mimicked alongside video, our way of quoting, others are departures meant to serve only as parody and satire. No copyright infringement, defamation, libel, or slander is intended. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email us at info@theaterinasylum.com. Please don’t sue us!