This article is a recap and update of an earlier NY23rd article, “Make sure you can vote in the June 2018 Primary Elections“, posted in June. The information should be past along to others.

We can assume that there will be a Democratic Primary in June 2018. Presently there are 6 officially announced Democratic candidates (and two who are exploring) running in a June 2018 Primary for the right to oppose Rep. Tom Reed in November. To vote in that Primary you have to be a registered Democrat no later than Friday, October 13, 2017—Yes, 9 months before the Primary! Remember the confusion people had in the 2016 Presidential Primaries last April? Many who were not registered Republicans nor Democrats wanted to vote, but could not. They either didn’t realize they were in a different party, or they thought they thought that they could register to vote on election day. That might be true in other states, but not New York.

Everyone can check to confirm which party they are a member of by following this link.

If they want to change parties, they need to fill out another voter registration form and get it to the County Board of Election by closing time of Friday, October 13. You can get a form  at your County’s Board Of Elections, fill it out there and hand it back to them on it the same day.   Or you can download a form, or,  request one to be mailed to you, You can mailed it or take it to your Board of Elections. When they receive your filed out form, it is placed into a locked box which will be opened a week after the November 7 General Election. The Board of Election staff will then process the form and change your party! It is easy, and it is quick.

Then the hard part comes: deciding which candidate to support. Follow them on Social Media, their Website, newspaper/video interviews and listen to them in person. Contact your County Democratic Committee to find out when they will be in your county.

Spread the word  that to vote in the June 2018 primary they will need to registered democrat by Friday, October 13. Then make sure you decide on which candidate you support.