Census and Voter Deadlines: What You Need to Know

Volunteers of Legal Service is reaching out to members of our community with important information about the 2020 United States Census and November elections.

Hardly a day goes by without a reminder of how our participation can make a difference. The COVID-19 health crisis, the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, economic recession, racial injustice in our policing system, efforts to safely re-open public schools, and threats facing our immigrant communities all call out to us for action.

Everyone is impacted by these two foundational exercises: to be counted and to have a voice in our representative democracy. We owe it to ourselves and our community to partake in both the 2020 Census and elections. Doing so can ensure that our neighborhoods get the representation and resources that we need.

Below please find important information and resources for you and your constituents.

2020 Census: What to Know & How to Help

The United States Census Bureau will cease collection efforts for the 2020 Decennial Census on Wednesday, September 30. This is the deadline for fielding efforts by census staff and for individuals to submit a response.

New York City, like many urban areas, remains severely under-counted. According to Hard to Count 2020, an effort led by the Center for Urban Research at the City University of New York, parts of neighborhoods like Corona, East New York or Jamaica have a response rate of less than 50% as of this week.

An under-count can impact future federal funding and potentially lead to a loss in Congressional representation for New York due to re-districting. In 2017 alone, $1.7 trillion of the federal budget was allocated based solely on data from the 2010 Census. An inaccurate census count will inevitably lead to the misallocation of federal funding.

How Can Individuals Help?

  • Filling out the US Census only takes a few minutes and can easily be completed online. You can also complete the census over the phone by calling (844) 330-2020. The census is available in multiple languages both online and over the phone.
  • If you are concerned about privacy and confidentiality, a number of laws prevent the US Census Bureau from disclosing individual personal information, and it is illegal for the Census Bureau to use your information for non-statistical purposes.
  • In New York City, individuals can volunteer with their Neighborhood Organizing Census Committee. There are more than 245 of these committees located throughout the city. Sign up to volunteer by filling out this form.
  • NYC Census 2020 also runs a number of phone banking efforts to call individuals in hard-to-count neighborhoods. Sign up to call by filling out these forms.

How Can Non-Profit & Community Groups Help?

  • A number of obstacles can lead to a possible under-count including language barriers, access to technology, and distrust of government programs. Fortunately, many non-profits and community groups can leverage their existing connections to reach out to these hard-to-count communities.
  • Non-profits can consider utilizing their social media accounts and newsletters to encourage their followers to get-out-the count. Both the US Census Bureau and NYC Census 2020 have prepared toolkits with graphics and images.
  • Non-profits can also remind community members during events and gatherings with a list of talking points prepared by NYC Census 2020.

Voter Registration 101:

New York State’s voter registration deadline is Friday, October 9.Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3. It is more important than ever to have a plan set for how you will vote!

A video guide created by the VOLS Immigration Project on how to register to vote

How to Register:

Registering to vote only takes a few minutes and New Yorkers have two options:

To register and vote in New York City, you must:

  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be a resident of the City of New York at least 30 days before the election
  • Be at least 18 years of age by the end of the year
  • Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parole pardoned or restored rights of citizenship)
  •  Not currently be judged incompetent by order of a court

How to Vote:

Voters in New York have three options to cast their vote:

  • Absentee Voting (Vote By Mail): Voters unable to appear at the polls due to temporary illness, permanent illness, or disability can request a mail-in ballot. Concerns over COVID-19 can be marked on the application as a temporary illness. The last day to request via fax, online, or mail is October 27. The last day to request in-person at your local Board of Election’s office is November 2.
  • Early Voting: Voters can vote before November 3 in certain locations throughout the city. Early voting will be available from October 24 – November 1. Note hours and polling sites for early voting can differ, find out information on your specific early voting polling site here.
  • In-Person on Election Day: In-person voting begins at 6 AM on November 3. Polls will close at 9 PM. If you wish to vote in-person, it is recommended that you arrive at your polling site as early as possible. Find the location of your registered polling site here.

Although federal elections often garner media attention, state and local elections are just as important. In fact, most legislation and policies that impact our everyday lives are decided on a local level. The most important thing we can do is vote—not just for president, but for every race on the ballot. You can check with your state or local election office for elections coming up in your area.  

NYS Governor Cuomo signed Executive Order No. 202.64 allowing New Yorkers collecting unemployment to maintain their eligibility while working as a per diem, part time poll worker for local and New York State Board of Elections.

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