Deadline nears to vote in NY's primaries

ALBANY -- New Yorkers must register to vote by Friday, March 25, to be able participate in the state’s presidential primaries this year.

In order to vote in the primaries on April 19, a person who is unregistered in the state can register in person at a Board of Elections office or online through the website of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Since the online system launched in 2012, more than 256,6000 New Yorkers have registered through it, including 80,5000 first time voters.

"Thanks to New York state's online portal, it has never been easier for residents to register to vote and participate in the democratic process," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Tuesday. “The ability to vote and choose our representation is one of the most important rights that we are afforded as Americans and I encourage all eligible New Yorkers make sure they are registered ahead of April's presidential primaries.”

To register to vote online, a person must create an account through the DMV site and enter their state driver’s license, or non-driver identification, information, the last four digits of their Social Security Number and the ZIP code listed on their ID, according to the governor’s office.

Upon completion, the state Department of Motor Vehicles sends the entered information to the county Board of Elections.

If someone is not sure about their voting registration status, a website has also been set up to assist with that, here: https://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/votersearch.aspx

Here are the requirements listed by the governor’s office that a New Yorker must meet to be able to register to vote:

·Be a United States citizen.
·Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you submit the form (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote).
·Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election.
·Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction.
·Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.
·Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.