“Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the
struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.”
John Lewis, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America, 2017
As the November 2020 presidential election draws closer, we at The Laundromat Project want to share our hopes for the future—one in which a country built on stolen land and stolen labor powerfully transforms to one centered in repair, wellbeing, safety, and joy of all its members, especially including its Black and brown people. While the electoral process has not been a panacea for injustice, we live in an urgent moment that highlights many valid forms of civic action, and one of our most cherished tools remains the right to vote.
Grounded in our deep belief that we create change by addressing community challenges and creating opportunities for new visions, we are sharing how-to resources to make sure our community is able to effectively vote by November 3. In addition, we want to help empower you for the long fight for multifaceted justice by highlighting year-round community based organizing that helps all people have their electoral voices heard today and tomorrow. Take a look below for questions you or people in your community may have regarding how to navigate the (unnecessarily!) complex voting process in New York City, and across the country when possible.
Am I Registered to Vote? | NY State Deadline October 9
- New York: Check your registration in New York State or call: 866.VOTE.NYC (TTY: 212.487.5496 for deaf and hearing impaired individuals)
- National: Check your registration in any state here
How Do I Request an Absentee Ballot?| NY State Deadline October 27* via Online, Email, Mail or Fax Request
This year, all New York voters can vote by mail due to the risk of contracting coronavirus.
- Once you are registered, visit nycabsentee.com to request your ballot.
- If you plan to vote in person or vote early, you can look up your poll site online or call 866.VOTE.NYC.
*Important Info – Because of the current status of the USPS, the Post Office recommends you send your request for an absentee ballot no later than October 20th.
How Do I Send in the Absentee Ballot?
You have multiple options for submitting your absentee ballot. You can:
- Put it in the mail, ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 3.
- Bring it to the County Board of Elections Office no later than November 3 by 9pm.
- Bring it to an early voting poll site between October 24 and November 1. (Find the NYC early voting poll site closest to you here.)
- Bring it to a poll site on November 3 by 9pm. (Find your NYC poll site here.)
How About Early Voting?
In New York State, voters can opt to vote before General Election Day, between October 24 and November 1, 2020. Look up your county to find the times and places where you can vote early in New York State. (Reminder: if you request an absentee ballot, you can also opt to drop it off at your early voting site, rather than voting in person.)
Where Do I Vote in Person?
- Visit: findmypollsite.vote.nyc
What is On the Ballot?
- For a nonpartisan resource that compares candidates past history and explains referendums to support informed voting, take a look at Ballot Ready
- For a New York-specific resource, visit Who’s On the Ballot
How Can I Become a Poll Worker?
Sign up to become a poll worker, or learn more about what the job entails:
- New York State: elections.ny.gov/BecomePollworker.html
- National: workelections.com
More Info on How to Vote
- New York State: Direct government information from the Board of Elections on voting deadlines in New York State and steps for registering for an absentee ballot: elections.ny.gov/votingabsentee.html
- National: vote.org
Further Action on Voting and the Electoral Process
- Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
- Black Voters Matter
- Make the Road New York
- Fair Fight
- Movement Voter Project
- Community Voices Heard
- Brooklyn Movement Center
Community-Centered Visions We Believe In
The Laundromat Project is propelled by love in everything we do. We value love as a radical and essential act of power and protest to create the kind of world we all deserve to live in. It is for this reason that we encourage everyone in our community to VOTE by November 3 and move us one step closer to a new future of love, justice, and peace.
P.S. And don’t forget to also complete the Census—the deadline is Saturday, October 31!