Well, tomorrow’s the big day: Election Day! In which we learn just how big “Red Communist Menace” Bill de Blasio‘s victory is. 30 points? 40 points? Despite polling data suggesting this will end up a blowout, you should still vote, because this is your home and it’s your best chance to have a say. Plus, do you want to see Charles Hynes end up winning the district attorney’s race? No, you do not. So here’s some basic information about where to vote and what you’ll be voting on tomorrow.
WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?
Dunno, we don’t live where you live. But if you need to look it up, the Board of Election has a useful poll site locator. Just put in your address and voila.
ARE THERE ELECTIONS OTHER THAN THE MAYOR?
Yep. While there isn’t a Republican running against Tish James for public advocate, the Green Party is running a candidate, as is the Socialist Workers Party. The public advocate has the job of making sure people’s complaints about city agencies and the city don’t get swept under the rug, and basically gets to harass the mayor for four years.
The comptroller is the city’s treasurer and makes sure our money is being spent wisely and that we actually have some. Scott Stringer is the odds-on favorite to win here, and has previously been endorsed by Lena Dunham, so let that guide you where it will.
Brooklyn is also selecting a new borough president, as Marty is term-limited out. Here in Brooklyn, we’ve got State Senator Eric Adams running against Elias J. Weir, who didn’t even bother to provide a photo to the New York City Campaign Finance Board, which tells you how close that race will be.
Every single City Council seat is also up for election this time. Brooklyn is home to Districts 33 to 48, and the Campaign Finance Board gives every candidate a profile to tell us what they believe in and what promises they’ll break while horse trading.
WHAT ARE THOSE BALLOT QUESTIONS?
Ah yes, we have referendums to vote on as well as candidates. WNYC has a good guide to them, and while ours are not as exciting as state secession or California’s long and strange history, there are two that could have a big impact on New York City. One is to legalize casino gambling in the state. While it would at first impact only upstate New York, the state would be able to vote on giving New York City a casino in seven years. You’ve got to balance your libertarian impulses with the horrifying potential for a Times Square casino or the Rockaways being turned into Atlantic City.
The second is one that would allow a fracking company to expand their drilling into state forest land in exchange for giving us back a greater amount of forest. Fracking is goddamn ridiculous and just further proof of the bankruptcy of fossil fuels and the ridiculous lengths we need to go to get them, so we say fuck fracking mining company to expand their operations into state forest land in exchange for donating some elsewhere. Letting mining companies trade one patch of ruined land for other land doesn’t sound too fair. The New York Times disagrees.
OH CRAP I FORGOT TO REGISTER
Well, we don’t have same day registration, so you’re just gonna have to deal with your friends making fun of you. The rest of you, get out there and pull some levers tomorrow!
View Comments (1)
"it’s your best chance to have a say. "
No. It's not.
It's one of many chances to have a say in government, but voting is nowhere near the best chance. Voting in NYC is like throwing a rock into a lake and expecting to see the water level rise. While voting in some low-turnout districts can help draw attention to them, most places, it's one vote lost amongst hundreds of thousands. And with a blowout like de Blasio, it's hard to garner even fake enthusiasm for voting.
That being said, I'm glad you guys drew attention to the ballot questions and the public advocate race.