Tomorrow is Primary Day.
Voters in New York who are registered in a party can cast ballots to nominate their party’s candidates for a variety of elected offices, including United States Senator, United States Congress, governor, attorney general and state legislators.
Usually only the party faithful — those most devoted to a party, personality, cause or political philosophy — come out to vote on Primary Day, which always occurs in mid-September in New York (Sept. 11, 2001 was a primary day).
This year an extra element of drama is added to the day, as it is the first election in which New Yorkers will no longer cast their ballots by flipping a lever in those old, clunky, mechanical machines. Instead, voters will write their choices on a paper ballot, then slip them into an optical scanner, where the votes will be recorded.
Here’s some news you can use if you intend to vote tomorrow:
WHEN: Every polling place in New York City is open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
WHERE: The New York City Board of Elections will tell you where you are supposed to vote if you call 866-VOTE-NYC or search online with your home address.
WHAT TO WEAR: According to weather reports, it will be 75 degrees and sunny, so it’s your call: hold on to summer by wearing your flip flops or welcome in the fall with jeans and boots.
WHO’S ON THE BALLOT:
The Democratic candidates
United States Senate: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who has been serving out the term of Hillary Rodham Clinton, is facing a primary challenge from a political novice, Gail Goode, an attorney in New York City.
House of Representatives: Reshma Saujani, our neighbor, is challenging the nine-term Democratic incumbent, Representative Carolyn Maloney.
Attorney General: Five candidates are vying for this seat, which is open because Andrew Cuomo, the current attorney general, is running for governor. Mr. Cuomo does not have a Democratic primary opponent. The candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for attorney general are Richard L. Brodsky; Sean Coffey; Eric Dinallo; Kathleen Rice; and Eric Schneiderman.
The Republican Candidates
United States Senate: Gary Berntsen, a retired CIA officer, and Jay Townsend, a small businessman, are jockeying for the chance to run against Democratic incumbent Charles E. Schumer in November. And Bruce Blakeman, Joseph J. DioGuardi and David Malpass are competing to run for Kirsten Gillibrand’s unexpired term.
Governor: Rick Lazio, who has the party’s backing, is being challenged by Carl Paladino, an upstate businessman.
Lieutenant Governor: Suddenly, since the Eliot Spitzer fiasco, this largely ceremonial post is looming a bit larger. The two Republicans vying for the nomination are Gregory J. Edwards and Thomas V. Ognibene.
House of Representatives: Roger Blank; David Ryan Brumberg, and Dino LaVerghetta want to run for Carolyn Maloney’s seat in Congress.
