The New York State Presidential Primary is only days away and some voters are confused about eligibility requirements and how the ballots will look.
Some important things to know about eligibility:
- Only Democratic and Republican parties are holding primaries, and only voters with those affiliations will be allowed to vote.
- Newly-registered voters will be eligible if the voter submitted a registration application to either the Democratic or Republican Party on or before March 25, 2016 and is currently affiliated with either of those parties.
- Previously registered voters are eligible to vote if they were affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican Party as of October 9, 2015 (Yes, that is 2015).
- Any change in party affiliation after October 9, 2015 will not take place until after the November 2016 General Election.
The information was provided by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman who announced that a special Election Day hotline has been set up. Anyone with issues or problems at the polls is asked to call 800-771-7755. The hotline is being staffed by members of Civil Rights Bureau.
7 Eyewitness News reporter Ed Reilly also talked with Democratic Erie County Elections Commissioner Len Lenihan about what both the Republican and Democratic ballots will look like. Watch Ed's report to learn more about Dr. Ben Carson's name on the Republican ballot and how Democrats need to do more than pick Clinton or Sanders.
