Election 2020: Midtown-Hell's Kitchen Voter Guide

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Election Day 2020 is nearly here, but New York City voters don't 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. Some Midtown early voting sites have already seen strong turnout and long lines, but officials hope that crowds will shrink as early voting remains open through Nov. 1.

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

Here's a brief rundown of local races and how to cast a ballot in them.

Local races in Midtown and Hell's Kitchen

Aside from the high-profile presidential election, more local offices are also up for grabs this fall, including congressional, State Senate and State Assembly races.

Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat who has represented Midtown and the Upper East Side in Congress since 1993, is seeking another term. She is being challenged by Carlos Santiago-Cano, running on the Republican and Conservative party lines, as well as Libertarian Steven Kolln.

Jerry Nadler, a Democrat whose congressional district covers the West Side of Manhattan and includes Hell's Kitchen, is likewise seeking re-election. He faces Republican Cathy Bernstein and Libertarian Michael Madrid.

Also seeking re-election is Brad Hoylman, an incumbent Democrat who represents much of Central, Western and Southern Midtown. He is running unopposed.

Further east, Liz Krueger, a Democrat who has represented parts of Midtown, Murray Hill and Gramercy in the State Senate since 2002, is running for another term. She faces Michael Zumbluskas, who is running on the Republican and Independence party lines.

In the State Assembly, incumbent Democrat Richard Gottfried is running unopposed for re-election in the 75th District, which covers parts of Central Midtown and Hell's Kitchen below 42nd Street.

Further east, Assemblymember Dan Quart is seeking re-election for his 73rd District seat, covering parts of Midtown East. His challenger is Republican Judith Graham.

Absentee voting

Concerned about going to the polls with the coronavirus pandemic still going strong? New York has you covered.

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, 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 way to find your assigned early voting location, which is not always the same as each voter's assigned Election Day polling place.

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

Call it classic voting.

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

What Happens After Nov. 3?

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.

Matt Troutman contributed to this report.