32 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 22, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Everything that voters in Queens need to
BY JACOB KAYE
jkaye@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Earlier this year, Queens had to wait a
little over a month to hear the fi nal 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. If you’re
unsure which voting site you are assigned
to, you can search your address.
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.
Th ursday, 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.
Th e fi nal day to request an absentee
ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 27. Absentee ballots
can be requested on the city’s Board
of Elections website. Voters are also able
to request an absentee ballot in person
at an early voting site or at the Board of
Elections Queens County offi ce (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 online.
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 fi guring 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 Elections. If these rules are
not followed, your vote will likely not be
counted.
Aft er making your votes on the ballot,
the ballot must be folded and placed in a
Queens Early Voting
Poll Sites
smaller envelope. Th e voter must sign and
date the back of the envelope. Aft er 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). Th e ballot can then be mailed or
delivered to the Board of Elections offi ce,
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 offi ce in Queens on Nov. 3.
Queens Borough
President
Donovan Richards (Democrat)
Councilman 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)
Th e incumbent, Meng, is vying for her
fi ft h term in Congress. She is the fi rst 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.
Th omas Zmich (Republican)
Zmich, 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)
Midonnet, a soft ware developer from
Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, is running on the
Libertarian party line.
Eighth Congressional District
Hakeem Jeff ries (Democrat)
Jeff ries, the incumbent, has served in
Congress since 2013. Jeff ries won over 94
percent of the vote in 2018.
Garfi eld Wallace (Republican)
Wallace is running against Jeff ries on
the Republican party line.
12th Congressional District
Carolyn Maloney (Democratic)
Th e longtime Congresswoman faced a
tough challenge during June’s Democratic
voter guide
QNS/File
Rockaway YMCA 207 Beach 73rd Street 11692
Resorts World Casino New York City 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard 11420
Holy Trinity Parish Church 222-05 116th Avenue 11411
Rochdale Village Community Center 169-65 137th Avenue 11434
York College –
Academic Core Building
94-20 Guy R Brewer Boulevard 11451
Creedmoor Hospital 79-25 Winchester Boulevard 11427
Korean Community Services 203-05 32nd Avenue 11361
Helen Marshall Cultural Center at
Queens Borough Hall
120-55 Queens Boulevard 11424
Queens College 65-30 Kissena Boulevard 11367
The Boys’ Club of New York –
Abbe Clubhouse
133-01 41st Road 11355
Board of Elections – Queens Voting
Machine Facility Annex
66-26 Metropolitan Ave 11379
Queensborough Elks Lodge No. 878 82-20 Queens Boulevard 11373
Rego Center Community Room 61-00 97th Street 11374
LaGuardia Community College 31-10 Thomson Avenue 11101
Queens Public Library
at Jackson Heights
35-51 81st Street 11372
First Baptist Church of East Elmhurst 100-10 Astoria Boulevard 11369
Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens 21-12 30th Road 11102
Museum of the Moving Image 36-01 35th Avenue 11106
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