NYC Election 2020: Crown Heights, Prospect Heights Voter Guide

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Election Day 2020 is nearly here but New York City voters don't necessarily have to wait until then to cast their ballots.

New York offers a variety of ways to vote in the Nov. 3 election, from going to the polls that day to early voting to absentee ballots.

Any option, of course, depends on whether New Yorkers are registered to vote — and city dwellers can check here.

All good? Alright, now check out Patch's guide for voters in the Crown Heights and Prospect Heights area, including a list of deadlines, races to watch and how to vote either early, by mail or on Election Day:

What's On the Ballot

Below are the major races that include a portion of the Crown Heights and Prospect Heights, but be sure to check which legislative districts you live in to find out which candidates will be on your specific ballot. See the full list of candidates and races on the ballot here.

Here's the neighborhoods' top races:

• Congressional District 9: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, who has been in Congress since 2006, and three challengers, Republican Constantine Jean-Pierre, Libertarian Gary Popkin and Joel B. Amabilah-Azumah.
• Assembly District 56: Stefani Zinerman, who won the Democratic primary in June, will run unopposed to replace Assembly Member Tremaine Wright, who did not run for her assembly seat in the primary so she could run against Brisport for state senate.
• Assembly District 43: Incumbent Assembly Member Diana Richardson will face off against Republican Menachem M. Raitport.
• State Senate District 20: Incumbent State Senator Zellnor Myrie will face Libertarian challenger Tucker Coburn.

How To Vote

Absentee Voting

Any New York voter concerned about the coronavirus can request an absentee ballot.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot online, by email or fax is Oct. 27.

Requests by regular mail must be postmarked by Oct. 27 as well. Nov. 2 is the last day to request an absentee ballot in person.

Ballots have already started to go out, albeit with some problems in New York City. Be sure to check whether your name and address is correct on the ballot before you fill it out.

Once you fill out the ballot, fold it and put it in a smaller envelope. Sign and date the back of the envelope, seal it and put it in the larger envelope addressed to the Board of Elections. The ballot can then be mailed or delivered to the city's Board of Elections office.

Voters can track their ballots by clicking here. Click here for more information from the BOE on absentee voting. An online application can be found here.

Early Voting

New Yorkers have nine days to cast their ballots early running from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.
Times vary by day, so it's best to check the BOE's early voting schedule here. The site also includes a list of early voting locations across the five boroughs.
Voters can type their information into this poll finder website to find their early voting location, as well as their Election Day polling location.
Likewise, the New York State Board of Elections website has a tool that shows voter information and links to polling locations.
An absentee ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and must reach the Board of Elections no more than 7 days after the election to be counted.

Voting On Nov. 3

Voters who choose to vote on Election Day itself can easily find their polling location by clicking here.

What Happens After Nov. 3?

Nobody knows.

Experts predict results could take longer to get counted than other elections because of the coronavirus. Sit back, be patient and check Patch for updates.