Election 2020: Tri-State Voter Resource Guide

To make your voting plan, familiarize yourself with your state’s voting information. Polling hours, registration deadlines, mail-in ballot procedures and even certain rights at the polls vary by state.

WFUV News has compiled a breakdown of information for New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. For voters outside the Tri-State area, nationwide resources can be found at Vote.org, Vote411.org and Rock the Vote.

Jump to: NY | CT | NJ

New York

Polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day.

Important Dates

  • October 9: Last day to register to vote
  • October 24: First day of early voting
  • October 27: Last day to request an absentee ballot online or by mail
  • November 1: Last day of early voting
  • November 2: Last day to request an absentee ballot in-person
  • November 3: Election Day
  • November 10: Deadline for absentee ballots to be received in order to be counted

Helpful Resources

Quick Links

You are eligible to vote if:

  • You are 18 years or older
  • You have been a resident of your NY city or country for at least 30 days
  • You have not claimed the right to vote elsewhere
  • You have not been declared mentally incompetent to vote
  • You are not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. (Felons on parole do have the right to vote in New York State.)

Check your Voter Registration

Make sure your personal information is accurate and up to date, especially if you have recently moved.

To check your registration status and look for poll sites near you, visit the NY State Board of Elections site.

Absentee Ballots / Voting by Mail

If you would prefer to vote by mail instead of going to your local polls, you must apply for an absentee ballot by October 27, 2020.

You can apply for an absentee ballot online, or you can apply by mail, phone and in-person with your county's Board of Elections.

If you would prefer not to file your absentee ballot by mail, you can bring it to an early voting or election day poll site by November 2, 2020.

If you are voting by mail, be sure to send in your ballot as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, reasons to request an absentee ballot include:

  • Being out of the county where you are registered on Election Day
  • Illness or disability
  • Being the caretaker of someone ill or disabled
  • Incarceration for non-felony offenses
  • Being detained in jail awaiting grand jury action or trial

You have the right to:

  • Take up to two hours of paid leave in order to vote. (Workers must inform their employers that they need time off at least two days before voting.)
  • Vote without ID unless you are a first-time voter who registered by mail without providing identification.
  • Vote by affidavit or provisional ballot if there are issues with your registration.
  • Receive instructions from a poll worker about how to use voting equipment.
  • Take “Challenge Oaths” if someone challenges your right to vote, once completed, you will have the right to cast a regular ballot.
  • Receive assistance with voter registration and casting your vote if you have a disability that would otherwise prevent you from doing so easily. Disabled voters also have the right to select their person of choice to assist them. If they do not have a preferred aide, they will be assisted by two election inspectors.
  • Vote free of harassment or discrimination.

If you feel that you are being denied any of these rights, contact the Civil Rights Bureau of the NY State Attorney General’s Office at (212) 416-8250 or Civil.Rights@ag.ny.gov

Jump to: NY | CT | NJ

Connecticut

Polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Important Dates

  • October 2: Absentee ballots become available
  • October 27: Last day to register to vote
  • November 2: Last day to request an absentee ballot
  • November 3: Election Day and last day to submit absentee ballots

Helpful Resources

Quick Links

You are eligible to vote if:

  • You will be 18 years or older on Election Day
  • You are currently living in Connecticut
  • You have not claimed your right to vote elsewhere
  • You have completed confinement/parole if you have been convicted of a felony

Check your Voter Registration

Make sure your personal information is accurate and up to date, especially if you have recently moved

To check your registration status and look for poll sites near you, visit this site, via the office of the Connecticut Secretary of State.

Absentee Ballots / Voting by Mail:

If you would prefer to vote by mail instead of coming into your local polls, you must apply for an absentee ballot by November 2, 2020.

You can apply for an absentee ballot online, or you can apply by mail, by phone and in-person with your county Board of Elections. (Visit your county’s Board of Elections website to learn more.)

If you would prefer not to file your absentee ballot by mail, you can bring it to an early voting or election day poll site by November 2, 2020

If you are voting by mail, be sure to send in your ballot as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted.

All voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in the 2020 general election due to COVID-19

In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, reasons to request an absentee ballot include:

  • Being out of the county where you are registered on Election Day
  • Illness or disability
  • Being an active duty in the US armed forces
  • Volunteering at polling sites for the duration of Election Day
  • Being the caretaker of someone ill or disabled
  • Incarceration for non-felony offenses
  • Being detained in jail awaiting grand jury action or trial

You have the right to:

  • Inspect a sample ballot before voting.
  • Cast a ballot if you are in line when the polls are closing.
  • Receive assistance in voting, including assistance in languages other than English.
  • Vote free from coercion, intimidation, discrimination and harassment.
  • Vote by provisional ballot if you are registered to vote but your name is not on the voter list.
  • Be informed of the process of restoring your right to vote if you were incarcerated for a felony conviction.
  • Vote independently and privately.

If you feel that you are being denied any of these rights, contact the CT State Elections Enforcement Commission at (866) 733-2463 or the United States Department of Justice at (800) 253-3931.

Jump to: NY | CT | NJ

New Jersey

Polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Important Dates:

  • October 13: Last day to register to vote
  • October 27: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail
  • November 2: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot in-person
  • November 3: Election Day and last day for postmarked absentee ballots
  • November 10: Last day for ballots postmarked by November 3 to be received and counted

Note on vote by mail ballots: All active registered voters will automatically receive a vote by mail ballot in the 2020 General Election. If you haven’t received your mail-in ballot by October 23, check your registration status and manually apply for an absentee ballot. Ballots will be mailed to voters by October 5, 2020. If you encounter an issue in having your ballot delivered, contact your county clerk for assistance.

Helpful Resources:

Quick Links:

You are eligible to vote if:

  • You will be 18 years or older on Election Day
  • You are a US citizen
  • You have been a resident of the county for at least 30 days
  • You have not claimed your right to vote elsewhere
  • You are not currently incarcerated

Check your Voter Registration:

Make sure your personal information is accurate and up to date, especially if you have recently moved.

To check your registration status and look for poll sites near you, visit the site of the New Jersey Division of Elections.

Absentee Ballots / Voting by Mail:

All residents of New Jersey will be automatically registered to receive mail-in ballots upon registering to vote. If you plan to vote via mail-in ballot and have not received your ballot by October 23, contact your county clerk for assistance.

As a result of this decision, counties will only be required to open 50% of normal polling locations. Voting by mail is highly encouraged, but if you would prefer to vote in-person, polling locations will require masks and proper social distancing practices. All in-person voters will cast provisional ballots in this general election.

Vote by mail ballots that are placed in the county’s ballot drop box or are delivered in-person to the county Board of Elections or any polling location must be delivered by 8 p.m. on Election Day (November 3).

If you are voting by mail, be sure to send in your ballot as soon as possible to make sure your vote is counted.

All voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in the 2020 general election due to COVID-19.

You have the right to:

  • Vote without intimidation, coercion or interference of any kind.
  • Bring your children into the voting booth with you.
  • Bring an assistant of your choice into the booth with you if you have a disability or if you cannot read or write in English. If you do not have a preferred aide, you have the right to receive assistance from a poll worker.
  • Vote by emergency paper ballot at your polling location if machines are malfunctioning.
  • Vote under your original name if you have changed your name since registering to vote.

Jump to: NY | CT | NJ

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