Everything Queens voters need
BY JACOB KAYE
Earlier this year, Queens
had to wait a little over a month
to hear the final results of many
of the Democratic primary
races held in June. As a result
of the COVID-19 pandemic, a
large portion of voters chose to
send their ballots via absentee,
and the count — taken on by
the Board of Elections — was
a big one, delaying when races
could be called.
With the Nov. 3 general
election approaching, and the
COVID-19 pandemic still very
much in full swing across the
country, Queens residents can
likely expect a similar process.
Regardless of the irregularities
of voting this year, there
is no need to be discouraged.
Voting and making your voice
heard is still important.
So in case you’ve forgotten,
need a refresher, or just want to
double check, here is a breakdown
everything you need
to know about the upcoming
election.
Dates to remember
Early voting begins this
year on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Voters can head to their designated
polling site to vote early,
or use the time to drop off their
absentee ballots, rather than
send them in through the mail.
Queens has 18 early voting
sites this year, a list of which
can be found on the city’s Board
of Elections website, where you
can search by your address for
the nearest site.
Find below the operating
hours of all early voting sites.
Saturday, Oct. 24,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 26,
from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27,
from noon to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28,
from noon to 8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29,
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30,
from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1,
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The final day to request
an absentee ballot is Tuesday,
Oct. 27. Absentee ballots
can be requested online. Voters
are also able to request an
absentee ballot in person at an
early voting site or at the Board
QNS/File
of Elections Queens County office
(located at 118-35 Queens
Blvd., Forest Hills, NY 11375),
but must do so before Nov. 2.
If mailing in the absentee
ballot, the envelope must be
postmarked by Nov. 3, the
day of the election. Expecting
a large number of absentee ballots,
the United States Postal
Service has encouraged those
voting absentee to send in their
ballots as soon as possible
More information on absentee
voting can be found here.
Tuesday, Nov. 3, is the day
of the election. If you’re choosing
to vote in person, head to
the polls and make your voice
heard.
A few things to keep
in mind
With many irregularities,
this year’s election is shaping
up to be a confusing one. Here
are a few things to keep in mind
while figuring out your plan for
voting.
If you’re choosing to vote in
person, you must wear a mask
and practice social distancing
at your polling site. Poll workers
will be required to practice
the same COVID-19 protections
as the voters. Hand sanitizer
will be available at all polling
locations, and voting booths
will be socially distanced and
regularly cleaned.
If voting absentee, be sure to
follow all the rules and regulations
put forth by the Board of
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.12 COM | OCT. 23-OCT. 29, 2020
Elections. If these rules are not
followed, your vote will likely
not be counted.
After making your votes on
the ballot, the ballot must be
folded and placed in a smaller
envelope. The voter must sign
and date the back of the envelope.
After sealing the envelope,
it must then be placed in a larger
envelope that is addressed to
the county’s Board of Elections
(118-35 Queens Boulevard, Forest
Hills, NY 11375). The ballot
can then be mailed or delivered
to the Board of Elections office,
early voting place or regular
polling place on the day of the
election.
The candidates
In addition to the presidential
election between Donald
Trump and Joe Biden, a handful
of other races will appear
on your ballot.
Here is a full list of every
candidate running for office in
Queens on Nov. 3.
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards (Democrat
)C
ouncilman Donovan Richards
beat out four challengers
to win the Democratic primary
for Queens borough president
in June. Richards has served
in the City Council since 2013.
Joann Ariola (Republican)
Running on the Republican,
Conservative and Save
Our City party lines, Ariola is
the chairwoman of the Queens
County Republican Party.
Fifth Congressional
District
Gregory Meeks (Democrat)
Meeks serves as the chairman
of the Queens Democratic
Party. He’s held his seat in
southeast Queens since 1998.
Meeks is running unopposed.
Sixth Congressional
District
Grace Meng (Democrat)
The incumbent, Meng, is
vying for her fifth term in Congress.
She is the first and only
legislator of Asian descent to
represent New York in the U.S.
House of Representatives. She
won 90 percent of the vote in
2018.
Thomas Zmich (Republican
)Z
mich, a supporter of President
Donald Trump, is Meng’s
challenger.
Seventh Congressional
District
Nydia Velazquez (Democrat)
Velazquez, the incumbent,
is a longtime congresswoman,
serving in the legislative body
since 1993.
Brian Kelly (Republican)
Velazquez’s Republican challenger,
Kelly previously ran for
City Council in 2017, state Senate
in 2010 and 2016 and State
Assembly in 2014. He has never
won a general election.
Gilbert Midonnet (Libertarian)
M
idonnet, a software developer
from Cobble Hill, Brooklyn,
is running on the Libertarian
party line.
Eighth Congressional
District
Hakeem Jeffries (Democrat)
Jeffries, the incumbent, has
served in Congress since 2013.
Jeffries won over 94 percent of
the vote in 2018.
Garfield Wallace (Republican
)Wallace is running against
Jeffries on the Republican party
line.
12th Congressional District
Carolyn Maloney (Democratic)
The longtime Congresswoman
faced a tough challenge
during June’s Democratic primaries,
eking out a victory over
three progressive challengers.
One of the top Democrats in
Congress, Maloney has served
in the body since 1993.
Carlos Santiago-Cano (Republican)
Santiago-Cano is running
against Maloney on the Republican
party line. He supports
President Donald Trump,
according to his Twitter
profile.