By Judie Gorenstein

To vote in the upcoming elections, you much get registered THIS WEEK!  We are grateful to guest blogger, Judie Gorenstein of the Huntington League of Women Voters for this Election Day FAQ:

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6.  In New York, in order to vote, you MUST BE registered 25 days before the election.  Therefore,  the last day to register this year is Oct. 12. You can  click on suffolkvotes.org  website to make sure you are registered, see if you are enrolled in a party and if so which one, and where your poll site is.  If you check and your name does not come up, you can call the Suffolk Board of Elections to try to resolve any issues.  If it is before Oct. 12, you can register and mail in your form.  If you wish to be enrolled in a party and are not or enrolled in another party, you must re-register before Oct. 12 to be in your new party for the 2019 elections. 

What else can you do?  Speak to people you know to see if they are registered.    If they are turning 18 in 2018 they should register.  If they are 18 by Election Day and register by Oct. 12, they then can vote.  If they turn 18 after Election Day, they will be able to vote next year.

What happens if you cannot get to the polls on Election Day?  Thirty seven states have early voting, when people can vote before Election Day. Not NY. What you can do is request and vote on an absentee ballot.   NY is one of  only 13 states that has no early voting and requires an excuse for voting as an absentee.  If you will be out of the county on Election Day for vacation, school, work, are in a hospital imprisoned, have a disability or primary care responsibilities that do not allow you to get to the polls, you can vote absentee.  This is a two step process.  First you need to send in an application requesting your ballot.  You can get the request from at a library, post office, on line which must be completed and mailed to the Board of Elections by Oct. 30.  The Board of Elections will then mail you your ballot which must be completed and postmarked  by Nov. 5.
 
What should you do if you are uncertain that you will be able to get to the polls for the reasons mentioned?  In these cases, you CAN and you SHOULD request and mail in an absentee ballot.  The absentee ballots are only counted after Election Day when the poll books are back at the BOE  and names are with signatures of those who votes.  The absentee ballots mailed by people who voted are not counted.  In fact, the Board Of Elections keeps data of how many absentee ballots are requested, how many mailed back, and how many not counted for various reasons : i.e., postmarked too late, not signed or filled out correctly, person voted at the polls.  All other mailed in ballots are counted and tabulated and added to  the poll numbers reported election night.  At times, the absentee ballots have changed the outcome of elections.  

What happens if you anticipated being able to get to the polls and find out after Oct. 30th, that you will be unable to do so?  The Suffolk County Board of Elections will be opened the weekend before Election Day.  Check on their website or call to see times and days they will be opened.  You can go to the BOE at those times and vote on your absentee ballot. The absentee ballots completed at the BOE will be counted with the mailed in absentee ballots.
Remember your vote counts and will be counted but only if you vote.

It is important that you not only vote but are an educated voter.  Before voting, know who is on your ballot. You can access your ballot on  LWVNY’s electronic voter guide by going to my.lwv.org/new-york-state and clicking on the voter guide VotingNewYork.  You will learn about your candidates, their background information, who is endorsing then, and their positions on major issues. If you choose, you can also get a reminder to vote.

In addition, you should try to meet and hear from the candidates themselves.  Attend candidate events such as debates, forums etc.   Sometimes the organizations who are sponsoring them are partisan.  Organizations like the LWV are nonpartisan and are fair to all the candidates.  You can check the LWVNYS webpage or your local leagues to find out their schedule of candidate events. 

On Nov. 6 Election Day turn out to vote.  You checked and know where your poll site is and hours it will be open.  Many states require you to bring id when you vote In fact 17 states require photo id. NY does not.  If when you registered you put in either your driver’s license or last 4 digits of social security number, you will not be asked for any id at the polls.  If you did not include these when you registered and this is your first time voting, you will be asked for some ID.

What happens if for some reason your name is not in the poll book? Never leave the polls without voting!  Ask for a provisional ballot, also called and affidavit ballot.  Complete the  form and vote.  The affidavit ballot will be brought to the BOE with the other ballots.  Often the omission of a name is a clerical error.  If you are a registered voter and at the correct poll site, be assured that your vote will count and be counted correctly. Our voting machines which are paper ballot optical scanners, makes certain that if there is any question about the outcome, your actual ballots which drop into a box when you vote, can be recounted and if necessary counted by hand.  In these times, when there is so much question about security, NY does have the safest system of voting.
 
Voting is not only a right but a responsibility.  It is your power. Don’t abdicate it to others.  Be a voter!
 

We are pleased to have Judie Gorenstein, Vice President of the League of Women Voters, Huntington, as a guest blogger! She wrote an informative piece for us in September about the upcoming elections and their primaries. Now, she wants you to learn about the important proposals on the BACK of the ballot, where to get an absentee ballot if you need one, and where you can find out more. Check it out!  

Election Day is November 7th. Register to vote by October 13th.   
     It is important that voters show up at the polls on November 7 and cast their ballots.  On the front of the ballot will be the candidates running for county, town, and local offices.  On the back of the ballot will be three New York State proposals.  Often voters do not know about the proposals and do not vote on them but the proposals ARE very important. We urge people to become knowledgeable. Have YOUR voice heard.

Proposal Number One: An Amendment

Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same?

    What will this amendment do if approved?
     The NYS Constitution requires that every 20 years the people decide if a Constitutional Convention should be held to consider amendments to the State Constitution.  This proposal gives the voters of NY the opportunity to to decide if there should be a convention.  If the majority of voters vote NO, then there will not be a convention.  If a majority vote YES, there will be a convention held in 2019 and two more opportunities for the voters to have a say in what happens.   In Nov. 2018, the voters will elect the delegates to this convention. These delegates will meet in 2019 and adopt amendments that will be submitted to the voters.  The voters will vote on whether to accept the amendments in November 2019.

     Proponents  for the constitutional convention see it as not only  an opportunity to streamline our State Constitution but to effect election, ethics and voting reform, which has been avoided by the state legislature. Other areas of change could be judicial reform, environmental issues, healthcare and women's issues and protections for vulnerable populations.  Opponents of the proposal argue that a convention will allow for a complete overhaul of the Constitution and may remove or revise clauses protecting state pensions, the Adirondack forest preserve and school funding.  They also argue that funding from outside interest groups could play a major role in delegate selections resulting in the convention being influenced by the special interests.

Proposal Number Two: An Amendment

Allowing the complete or partial forfeiture of a Public Officer's Pension if he or she is convicted of a certain type of felony.

           What will this amendment do if approved?
     The N.Y.S. Constitution now provides that the benefits of a public pension or retirement system cannot be reduced or impaired.  This proposed amendment would allow a court to reduce or revoke the pension of a public officer who is convicted of a felony that has a direct and actual relationship to the  performance of the public officer's duties.  The court would need to consider the public officer's crime, the  proportionality of a reduction or revocation to the crime, whether the forfeiture would result in undue hardship to dependent children, spouse or other dependents, and any other factors required by the legislature.

     Proponents of this amendment believe it is necessary to discourage elected officials from engaging in unethical behaviors.  After a string of corruption charges at local and state levels the legislature did pass this amendment to deter public officials  from committing crimes while in office.  The crimes eligible for pension forfeiture would only include crimes related to the public officer's official duties. Opponents believe that forfeiture can unfairly hurt the families of those who committed the crimes.

Proposal Number Three: An Amendment

Authorizing the Use of Forest Preserve Land for Specified Purposes

     What will this amendment do if approved?
     New York State's Constitution protects the State's forest preserve as wild forest land and generally prohibits the lease, sale, exchange, or taking of any preserve land.  The Adirondack forest preserve is protected under the "Forever Wild " clause of the NYS Constitution.   The proposed amendment will allow counties and townships to conduct repairs on roads and bridges.  It would also allow for the installation of new bike paths , broadband internet, and water well infrastructure.  
     The amendment will create a land account with up to 250 acres of forest preserve land eligible for use by towns, villages, and counties that have no viable alternative to using forest preserve land to address specific health and safety purposes.  Second, it will allow bicycle paths and specified types of public utility lines to be located within the certain highways that traverse forest preserve land. Supporters of this amendment feel it is necessary to in order for these regions to maintain the safety of residents and ensure that quality of life is maintained.

     Although environmental advocacy groups typically oppose amendments to the "Forever Wild" clause, they did support this amendment and there are no known groups opposing it.

Learn More
     You can read more about these proposals by going to the LWVNYS website. You can also find more information on your ballot including candidates by going to vote411.org.  
    
     Become an educated voter. If you  think or know you will be unable to get to the polls on Election Day because you will be away, have  an illness or disability, or caregiver duties that will prevent you from voting that day, apply for an absentee ballot as soon as possible and before Oct. 31.  You can get an application at the post office, library, town hall or online.  Mail it to your county board of elections. They will mail you your ballot. You must then mail your ballot by November. 6.  
    
     Absentee ballots count and  they are counted.  Be a voter!

   It is important that voters show up at the polls on November 7 and cast their ballots.  On the front of the ballot will be the candidates running for county , town, and local offices.  On the back of the ballot will be three New York state proposals.  Often voters do not know about the proposals and do not vote on them but the proposals ARE very important. We urge people to become knowledgeable and have YOUR voice heard.

Proposal Number One: An Amendment

Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same?

    What will this amendment do if approved?
 The NYS Constitution requires that every 20 years the people decide if a Constitutional Convention should be held to consider amendments to the State Constitution.  This proposals gives the voters of NY the opportunity to to decide if there should be a convention.  If the majority of voters vote NO, then there will not be a convention.  If a majority vote YES, there will be a convention held in 2019 and two more opportunities for the voters to have a say in what happens.   In Nov. 2018, the voters will elect the delegates to this conventions. These delegates will meet in 2019 and adopt amendments that  will be submitted to the voters.  The voters will vote on whether to accept the amendments in November 2019.
     Proponents  for the constitutional convention see it as not only  an opportunity to streamline our State Constitution but to effect election, ethics and voting reform, which has been avoided by the state legislature. Other areas of change could be judicial reform, environmental issues, healthcare and women's issues and protections for vulnerable populations.  Opponents of the proposal argue that a convention will allow for a complete overhaul of the the Constitution and may remove or revise clauses protecting state pensions, the Adirondack forest preserve and school funding.  They also argue that funding from outside interest groups could play a major role in delegate selections resulting in the convention being influenced by the special interests.

Proposal Number Two: An Amendment

Allowing the complete or partial forfeiture of a Public Officer's Pension if he or she is convicted of a certain type of felony.

           What will this amendment do if approved?
N.Y.'S Constitution now provides that the benefits of a public pension or retirement system cannot be reduced or impaired.  This proposed amendment would allow a court to reduce or revoke the pension of a public officer who is convicted of a felony that has a direct and actual relationship to the  performance of the public officer's duties.  The court would need to consider the public officer's crime, the  proportionality of a reduction or revocation to the crime, whether the forfeiture would result in undue hardship to dependent children, spouse or other dependents, and any other factors required by the legislature.

     Proponents of this amendment believe it is necessary to discourage elected officials from engaging in unethical behaviors.  After a string of corruption charges at local and state levels the legislature did pass this amendment to deter public officials  from committing crimes while in office.  The crimes eligible for pension forfeiture would only include crimes related to the public officer's official duties. Opponents believe that forfeiture can unfairly hurt the families of those who committed the crimes.

Proposal Number Three: An Amendment

Authorizing the Use of Forest Preserve Land for Specified Purposes

     What will this amendment do if approved?

New York State's Constitution protects the State's forest preserve as wild forest land and generally prohibits the lease, sale, exchange, or taking of any preserve land.  The Adirondack forest preserve is protected under the "Forever Wild " clause of the NYS Constitution.   The proposed amendment will allow counties and townships to conduct repairs on roads and bridges.  It would also allow for the installation of new bike paths , broadband internet, and water well infrastructure.  The amendment will create a land account with up to 250 acres of forest preserve land eligible for use by towns, villages, and counties that have no viable alternative to using forest preserve land to address specific health and safety purposes.  Second, it will allow bicycle paths and specified types of public utility lines to be located within the certain highways that traverse forest preserve land. Supporters of this amendment feel it is necessary to in order for these regions to maintain the safety of residents and ensure that quality of life is maintained.

Although environmental advocacy groups typically oppose amendments to the "Forever Wild" clause, they did support this amendment and there are no known groups opposing it.

Learn More
You can read more about these proposals by going to the LWVNYS website. You can also find more information on your ballot including candidates by going to vote411.org.  Become an educated voter. If you  think or know you will be unable to get to the polls on Election Day because you will be away, have  an illness or disability, or caregiver duties that will prevent you from voting that day, apply for an absentee ballot as soon as possible and before Oct. 31.  You can get application at post office, library, town hall or on line.  Mail it to your county board of elections and they will mail you back your ballot which you must then mail back by November. 6.  Absentee ballots count and  they are counted.  Be a voter!

   It is important that voters show up at the polls on November 7 and cast their ballots.  On the front of the ballot will be the candidates running for county , town, and local offices.  On the back of the ballot will be three New York state proposals.  Often voters do not know about the proposals and do not vote on them but the proposals ARE very important. We urge people to become knowledgeable and have YOUR voice heard.

Proposal Number One: An Amendment

Shall there be a Constitutional Convention to revise the Constitution and amend the same?

    What will this amendment do if approved?
 The NYS Constitution requires that every 20 years the people decide if a Constitutional Convention should be held to consider amendments to the State Constitution.  This proposals gives the voters of NY the opportunity to to decide if there should be a convention.  If the majority of voters vote NO, then there will not be a convention.  If a majority vote YES, there will be a convention held in 2019 and two more opportunities for the voters to have a say in what happens.   In Nov. 2018, the voters will elect the delegates to this conventions. These delegates will meet in 2019 and adopt amendments that  will be submitted to the voters.  The voters will vote on whether to accept the amendments in November 2019.
     Proponents  for the constitutional convention see it as not only  an opportunity to streamline our State Constitution but to effect election, ethics and voting reform, which has been avoided by the state legislature. Other areas of change could be judicial reform, environmental issues, healthcare and women's issues and protections for vulnerable populations.  Opponents of the proposal argue that a convention will allow for a complete overhaul of the the Constitution and may remove or revise clauses protecting state pensions, the Adirondack forest preserve and school funding.  They also argue that funding from outside interest groups could play a major role in delegate selections resulting in the convention being influenced by the special interests.

Proposal Number Two: An Amendment

Allowing the complete or partial forfeiture of a Public Officer's Pension if he or she is convicted of a certain type of felony.

           What will this amendment do if approved?
N.Y.'S Constitution now provides that the benefits of a public pension or retirement system cannot be reduced or impaired.  This proposed amendment would allow a court to reduce or revoke the pension of a public officer who is convicted of a felony that has a direct and actual relationship to the  performance of the public officer's duties.  The court would need to consider the public officer's crime, the  proportionality of a reduction or revocation to the crime, whether the forfeiture would result in undue hardship to dependent children, spouse or other dependents, and any other factors required by the legislature.

     Proponents of this amendment believe it is necessary to discourage elected officials from engaging in unethical behaviors.  After a string of corruption charges at local and state levels the legislature did pass this amendment to deter public officials  from committing crimes while in office.  The crimes eligible for pension forfeiture would only include crimes related to the public officer's official duties. Opponents believe that forfeiture can unfairly hurt the families of those who committed the crimes.

Proposal Number Three: An Amendment

Authorizing the Use of Forest Preserve Land for Specified Purposes

     What will this amendment do if approved?

New York State's Constitution protects the State's forest preserve as wild forest land and generally prohibits the lease, sale, exchange, or taking of any preserve land.  The Adirondack forest preserve is protected under the "Forever Wild " clause of the NYS Constitution.   The proposed amendment will allow counties and townships to conduct repairs on roads and bridges.  It would also allow for the installation of new bike paths , broadband internet, and water well infrastructure.  The amendment will create a land account with up to 250 acres of forest preserve land eligible for use by towns, villages, and counties that have no viable alternative to using forest preserve land to address specific health and safety purposes.  Second, it will allow bicycle paths and specified types of public utility lines to be located within the certain highways that traverse forest preserve land. Supporters of this amendment feel it is necessary to in order for these regions to maintain the safety of residents and ensure that quality of life is maintained.

Although environmental advocacy groups typically oppose amendments to the "Forever Wild" clause, they did support this amendment and there are no known groups opposing it.

Learn More
You can read more about these proposals by going to the LWVNYS website. You can also find more information on your ballot including candidates by going to vote411.org.  Become an educated voter. If you  think or know you will be unable to get to the polls on Election Day because you will be away, have  an illness or disability, or caregiver duties that will prevent you from voting that day, apply for an absentee ballot as soon as possible and before Oct. 31.  You can get application at post office, library, town hall or on line.  Mail it to your county board of elections and they will mail you back your ballot which you must then mail back by November. 6.  Absentee ballots count and  they are counted.  Be a voter!