By Gus Saltonstall
The November General Election is almost upon us and Upper West Siders have multiple contests to vote on, including the City Council race between Gale Brewer and Diane de Stasio.
Election Day is on November 7, but early voting will kick off on October 28 and run through November 5.
Here’s helpful information on the election, including where the Upper West Side poll sites are, the deadline to request an absentee ballot, and what to expect on the ballot.
Find Out If You’re Registered To Vote
If you are unsure if you’re registered to vote, visit vote.nyc, scroll down slightly, and click the “Am I Registered To Vote” box. This will then give you an option to either check online or call a phone number.
For those who want to register vote, you can now do so online.
Those who are eligible to vote and have a New York-issued ID, can visit the DMV website — HERE. Those without a New York-issued ID, can visit the New York City Board of Elections website — HERE.
The voter registration deadline for this year’s November 7 election is October 28.
Requesting An Absentee Ballot
There is still time to request an absentee ballot. You can request an absentee ballot on the New York State Board of Election’s website.
The final day to request an absentee ballot is Monday, October 23. You then must submit the ballot no later than November 7. The Board of Election’s website also provides instructions on the correct way to fill out and submit an absentee ballot — HERE.
Find Your Polling Site
The city makes finding your polling site easy. Visit the following Board of Election’s link, and type in your address. The website will then take you to a page that shows both your Early Voting site and your Election Day site.
Along with the locations, you will see details on where to enter the location and the hours it is open.
Again, early voting starts on Saturday, October 28, and runs throughs Sunday, November 5.
This year, Upper West Side polling sites include the West Side High School at 140 West 102nd Street, P.S. 75 at 735 West End Avenue, William O’Shea Campus at 147 West 76th Street, and Find Aid For Aged at 111 West 71st Street.
What’s On The Ballot?
There’s more than just the City Council races to vote for on this year’s General Election ballot.
Starting with the Council races, though, Upper West Siders in District 6 will have a choice between Democrat Gale Brewer, Republican Diane di Stasio, Medical Freedom candidate Barbara Simpson, or a write-in option.
Upper West Siders in District 7 have less to think about, with the only two choices being either incumbent Democrat Shaun Abreu or a write-in option.
There will also be Justice of the Supreme Court 1st Judicial District and Judge of the Civil Court races to vote on, as well as two proposals:
Proposal Number 1, an Amendment: Removal of Small City School Districts From Special Constitutional Debt Limitation
The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 4 of the Constitution removes the special constitutional debt limitation now placed on small city school districts, so they will be treated the same as all other school districts. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
Proposal 2, an Amendment: Extending Sewage Project Debt Exclusion From Debit Limit
The proposed amendment to Article 8, section 5 of the Constitution extends for ten years the authority of counties, cities, towns, and villages to remove from their constitutional debt limits debt for the construction of sewage facilitates. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?
For those looking for more information on the two statewide ballot proposals, Gothamist put together a helpful guide to better understanding their importance — HERE.
To receive WSR’s free email newsletter, click here.
The opportunity to step up and start the process of changing our neighborhood for the better is almost upon us. I sincerely hope our collective frustration with the status quo will be reflected at the polls.
Yes, we need a change, Vote!
It’s too bad di Stasio showed such low knowledge of issues and only offered half baked solutions in the WSR interview. Would be great to have qualified candidates with a firm grip on the issues running against Gale.
Nope. She lost me when she said there was an “exponential” 15% increase in crime in NYC. I won’t vote for anyone who doesn’t understand basic math concepts. Also, that 15% uptick is citywide, not for the UWS precincts. Also, she doesn’t talk about what she would do to bring crime down. Brewer has helped me out every time I have needed her.
Diane di Stasio has been a managing director, has managed budgets and CARES for THIS neighborhood, not her political career. Gale Brewer was once a teacher, I believe. That prepared her to run budgets and help manage a city? Look where we are now when all the decisions are being made by one party.
At least for this neighborhood it would help to have someone committed to THIS neighborhood’s safety and care for ALL people. That’s what I know is missing and can finally be changed. Praying for change starting this November 7th.
WSR is inherently biased against anyone non-Democratic. So take that interview with a grain of proverbial salt, UWS Dad!
I very much disagree on WSR bias? Seemed like a fair interview to me and it’s not like her website has highly detailed solutions on the issues listed.
I agree with Sue. I also see the bias and have had relatively benign, but opposing comments, not posted.
Same here. The bias is apparent.
I suspect the “process of changing our neighborhood” is amazingly more complex than simply electing someone “new” to the City Council. I once spoke of term limits for the U.S. Senate, and a friend made me realize that Senators need time to forge relationships and trust among each other. So too, with the City Council, it’s not about having “fresh blood” but rather having people who can forge relationships with other City Council members to achieve desired goals. It’s a long and slow process that takes months if not years to effect.
That reason alone should make people not vote for any non-Democratic candidate (since a Republican or third-party candidate would function like a Jim Jordan, throwing a wrench in any effective coalition that favors Democrats). I tend to discount anything a candidate says in favor of their track record of getting things done. She may not be the most attention-getting candidate but I feel Gale Brewer is the best option at the present time.
So the answer is to vote Democratic until the day you die
Did you miss the phrase “start the process” in my post? I think we all realize it is a complex situation, but it has to start somewhere. Voting for change is a start. It begins there. We then must hold those whom we elected accountable for their action or lack thereof. I know, for me personally, I cannot stand by and accept more of the same. I don’t care which party you are associated with. I don’t care who you slept with or how much you have (or don’t have in the bank). If you have our city’s best interest in mind, if you care about the safety of those who live here, you have my vote. It is a start.
As long as they vote “no” to more homeless shelters in District 6, and can improve trash collection, I don’t care if the person has an R or a D by their name.
Yes keep voting for the same people.
It’s not the “process of changing our neighborhood,” as much as it is restoring the calm, friendly, and peaceful quality of our Upper West Side. That’s accomplished by enforcing the law, rooting out an invasive criminal element, and apprehending and prosecuting AND CONVICTING those who prey upon us as law abiding residents. Those candidates who espouse the restoration of law and order and who are willing to stand up for our protection and quality of life beyond mere platitudes, deserve our vote. It is time for change!
Thanks so much for letting us know about what’s on the ballot. I am always frustrating when I look at the ballot and discovered propositions and vacant positions and candidates I know nothing about.
Terrific article. I wish there were more explanation of how Proposals 1 and 2 would specifically affect District 6. Are there small school districts on the UWS? Both these proposals seem like a way to dodge budget caps. I wish I knew for sure.
Now that I’ve read my voter guide I know what’s what. Proposal 1 does not affect the UWS. Voting “yes” would simply extend the same debt limit all other state school districts operate under, to the small school districts mentioned in the proposal. Voting “yes” on Proposal 2 would simply extend the current debt exclusion for sewage projects another ten years.
if you vote for an incumbent you get a continuation of failed policies. Ask yourself if New York City is in responsible hands. Throw the bums out.
While I have always supported Brewer in the past, this year I am frustrated and disappointed that she has refused to support City Council member Bob Holden’s Bill Intro 0758-2022 to license and register e-vehicles state wide. Can Brewer be serious about protecting the public when she refuses to support such a common sense bill?? Few things have negatively impacted our neighborhoods more that completely lawless e-bikes that have injured so many pedestrians-many of them seniors. Yet both Brewer and Shaun Abreu refuse to support this bill. I just can’t continue to support leaders who do not prioritize the safety and security of their constituents over lobbies. I might add it’s a shame no one is running against Abreu.
All this said, the Upper West Side’s quality of life has diminished significantly. since Covid and the explosion of this e-vehicle explosion. If I can’t walk with relative safety in my neighborhood, then I have no quality of life. Even the Mayor has said something must be done about the e-bike situation-but with no proposed legislation. Time for a change?
My concern is how filthy the UWS is, so I was disappointed so see that neither Gale Brewer nor Diane di Stasio listed a clean neighborhood as one of their top 3 priorities in the Voter Guide. Diane’s top priority is “Restoring public safety” and Gale’s top priority is “Public safety equity for all”. Good to know, because they’re not the same thing.