Have you always wanted to learn more about the political process? Starting this month, we will be sending a monthly update geared to the topics of politics, elections and the legislative process.
These updates will be prepared by Amy Kellogg, a member of the New York State Women, Inc. Advocacy Committee, a Past State President and a partner at Harter Secrest & Emery in the Albany, NY office where she practices Government Affairs. For more detailed information, she can be reached at
[email protected].
Now is the time to begin thinking about election season. On Tuesday, September 10, 2015, there will be Primary Elections in New York, and on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, there is the General Election.
Hopefully, you are registered to vote. If you aren’t, the deadline to register to vote in the September Primary Elections is August 15. To register, visit this link
http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html.
You can also register to vote in person by going to your local board of elections. To register in person, you must visit the local board of elections by August 14, since August 15 is a Saturday, and the local boards of elections will be closed.
You cannot vote in any election whether it is a local, state or federal race unless you are registered to vote. Many ask why bother? Voting is a fundamental right of every U.S. citizen over 18 years of age, yet many never bother to register. Statistics show that there are 51 million people in the U.S. who are eligible to vote but haven’t registered. Many people feel that their vote won’t matter, but this isn’t the case. Every vote truly makes a difference. There have been races, in New York, in the past few elections cycles that have literally been decided by a handful of votes.
Regardless of whether your vote will impact the outcome of an election, your vote is still important. It is your way to shape policy in the State, to have your voice heard and to make a difference. If you don’t vote, your voice is literally not heard. While your candidate may not win, at least you are engaged in the process and fulfilling your civic duty.
Make sure you register to vote if you haven’t already and go vote on election day!