NEW YORK NURSE
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september 2020
NYSNA 2020 Voter Guide
O
ur Voter Guide provides endorsements for State Assembly and State Senate races, and for President of the United States. This Guide lists candidates for elected office—US House of Representatives/Congress, NY State Senate, NY State Assembly— who have been endorsed by NYSNA. For the Presidential race, NYSNA conducted an advisory poll of members in which an overwhelming majority—70%— voted to endorse Joe Biden. Congratulations to the members who participated in the poll and made their voices heard. Our ability to address issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis and to pass legislation like safe staffing and healthcare for all depends on each of us doing our part to elect candidates who have stood with nurses and our communities.
How to use this election guide For easy referral, candidates are listed by region and by Assembly or Senate District. There are candidates highlighted in each region who are involved in important races. Many have gone above and beyond to stand with us—on picket lines, at meetings with employers, and wherever we’ve needed their support. Use this Election Guide to familiarize yourself with the candidates in your district and be prepared to vote—either early voting beginning October 24, on Election Day November 3, or by absentee ballot. Over the next few weeks, there are a few steps you can take to prepare to vote.
1. Register to vote / Confirm your voter registration! The New York State Board of Elections web site provides links for registering, checking your voter registration, changing political party affiliation, district maps, and more: www.elections.ny.gov Share the link with family and friends who aren’t yet registered or want to confirm that their registration is current. You can register to vote online, by mail or in person 25 days before Election Day. If registering by mail, it must be postmarked 25 days before Election Day and received 20 days before Election Day.
2. Early voting starts October 24 You can avoid the crowds and vote in person each day between Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, November 1. Find your polling location here: https://voterlookup. elections.ny.gov/. NYC residents can look up their polling site at https://nyc. pollsitelocator.com/search.
3. Request an absentee ballot If you will be out of town on November 3 or wish to limit your exposure to COVID-19, you can request an absentee ballot. You can request your absentee ballot online by visiting the State Board of Elections website at https:// www.elections.ny.gov/votingabsentee.html. NYC residents can also request an absentee ballot online: https://nycabsentee.com/ The deadline to send in your absentee ballot application by email, mail or fax is October 27. You will receive your absentee ballot by mail, which must be sent to the Board of elections by November 3.
Volunteer to GOTV! Please consider volunteering your time over the next several
weeks to ensure NYSNA-endorsed candidates are elected. With several opportunities to elect and re-elect NYSNA champions, we have an excellent opportunity to change the landscape of New York politics to move a bold agenda to protect the public’s health including staffing, healthcare for all, and fair taxation. NYSNA is also partnering with our labor allies to get out the vote for President and Vice President in battleground states. Take the pledge to vote and sign up to volunteer at https:// nysna.salsalabs.org/pledgetovote
Know your right to vote! In New York State, a registered voter may, without loss of pay for up to three hours, take off so much working time as will enable him or her to vote at any election. The employee shall be allowed time off for voting only at the beginning or end of his or her working shift, as the employer may designate, unless otherwise mutually agreed. If the employee requires working time off to vote the employee shall notify his or her employer not less than two working days before the day of the election that he or she requires time off to vote in accordance with the provisions of this section. Not less than ten working days before every election, every employer shall post conspicuously in the place of work where it can be seen as employees come or go to their place of work, a notice setting forth the provisions of this section. Such notice shall be kept posted until the close of the polls on election day. If you wish to volunteer for a political campaign or as a poll worker, you can request time off from your employer through the usual process.
November 3 is fast approaching!