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What You Need To Know Before Going to Your Poll Site

  • Correctly Marked OvalIt's Easy to Use – The new way to vote is simple. Fill in the ovals below the names of the candidates/proposals of your choice with the pen provided. Instead of using a pen, a ballot marking device (BMD) is available to assist any voter, to mark a paper ballot.

  • It's Private – You can mark your paper ballot in a privacy booth designed to shield your ballot from view while you are marking it. ADA accessible privacy booths will also be available at every poll site. After marking your paper ballot, you may use a privacy sleeve to take your ballot to the scanner. Do not try to insert the privacy sleeve into the scanner; only insert your ballot. The scanner accepts ballots in any direction and reads both sides of the ballot. Remember, to keep your vote private, only you should insert your ballot into the scanner. Poll workers are available to assist you, but only if you request their assistance.

  • It's Secure – All equipment, including the paper ballots, is delivered to the poll site securely sealed. After being scanned, the ballots are securely stored to ensure all election results are verifiable. After the polls close, the vote tallies and locked boxes containing the paper ballots are transported by New York City police officers.

  • Don't Worry If You Make a Mistake – If you need to make a change after marking your paper ballot, request a new ballot from a poll worker. The poll worker will take your original ballot, mark it void, and give you a new ballot. Each voter is allowed up to three ballots total. To ensure privacy, void ballots are placed into a special envelope with all other void ballots. Votes on void ballots are not counted.

  • Accidently Overvote? – Instructions on the ballot will tell you how many candidates you can vote for in each contest. If you accidentally mark more choices than allowed in a contest, the scanner will notify you of an overvote and give you the option to cast the ballot "as is" or return the ballot. If you cast your ballot "as is" your vote in that specific contest will not be counted. If you choose to have the ballot returned, give your ballot to a poll worker and request a new ballot. Your original ballot will be voided and you will receive a new ballot.

  • Turn the Ballot Over – The paper ballot has two sides, so remember to turn it over. Ballot propositions will appear on the back of the ballot.

  • Need Help at the Polls? – Bi-partisan teams of poll workers will be available to provide assistance at any time while you are at the poll site. A magnifying sheet, which will be provided in the privacy booth, or a ballot marking device can be used to enlarge the print on the paper ballot. Interpreters will be available where required for Spanish, Chinese-Mandarin, Chinese-Cantonese and Korean.

  • Want to Practice Voting? Visit one of the Borough Learning Centers to have a hands-on experience voting using a paper ballot.