# How to vote. **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [January 8, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456 "2008-01-08T13:03:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/1 "2008-01-08T13:03:23Z")
Here’s an ugly little secret: I’ve never voted. Sure I have opinions on things and am unhappy with a lot of things, but I’ve never gotten off my ass to do something about it. I’m guessing I’m not alone on here, so now that I’m getting off my ass to do something about it I thought I’d put together a quick reference. Please help me correct any mistakes I might be making. Step 1: [Register.](http://www.elections.state.ny.us/portal/page?_pageid=35,1,35_8336:35_8345&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL#formdownload) If you click on “Complete English Form On-Line” under the last bullet on the right, it opens a PDF that you can complete online. CAUTION: You can only vote in the primary election of the party you register in. I.E. You can only vote to make Obama the democratic candidate over Hillary if you register as a democrat. Once you’ve completed the form, it must be printed and mailed to (if you want to vote in Erie County) > Erie County Board of Elections > 134 West Eagle St. > > Buffalo, NY 14202 [Click here for other County Board of Elections addresses.](http://www.elections.state.ny.us/portal/page?_pageid=35,1,35_8677:35_8685&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL) It says you must be registered 25 days in advance of the election you want to vote in. NY primaries are February 5th so your registration must be postmarked by this Friday January 11. Step 2: Vote. Polls in Erie County are open 6am till 9pm. I can’t seem to find a list of polling places. I’m guessing every Town Hall in the county, among other places? ---
**Author:** ![sureshot](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sureshot/32/7578_2.png) [@sureshot](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/sureshot)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/2 "2008-01-08T13:06:34Z")
lol. schools, fire halls, flea markets all are often polling centers. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/3 "2008-01-08T13:25:40Z")
Once you register they will send you a little card with your polling place when it gets close to election time. ---
**Author:** ![Muckman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@Muckman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Muckman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/4 "2008-01-08T13:49:47Z")
If you register as an Independant you are not allowed to vote in the primaries correct? And are you allowed to change your party registration in the future? ---
**Author:** ![StairSRT4](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/stairsrt4/32/7585_2.png) [@StairSRT4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/StairSRT4)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/5 "2008-01-08T13:50:43Z")
I’ve never voted either…and I have no good answer as to why lol ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/6 "2008-01-08T13:53:30Z")
> [@Muckman](#): > > If you register as an Independant you are not allowed to vote in the primaries correct? And are you allowed to change your party registration in the future? If you want to vote in the Democratic Primary you have to register as a Democrat. If you want to vote in the Republican Primary you have to register as a Republican. If you want to vote in the Independent Party Primary you can be registered as anything. I have yet to find anything that says you cannot re-register at any time. ---
**Author:** ![PsngrSeatsR4Boys](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/psngrseatsr4boys/32/3078_2.png) [@PsngrSeatsR4Boys](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PsngrSeatsR4Boys)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/7 "2008-01-08T13:54:40Z")
for months i’ve been telling myself to register. thanks for the links. my registration is in the mail now. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/8 "2008-01-08T13:54:59Z")
I never did understand why you have to register to vote for one side or the other. Anyone care to clarify? That said I’ll be doing it this year for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Muckman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@Muckman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Muckman)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/9 "2008-01-08T14:00:48Z")
Its because of the two party system. Right now your not voting for whos president your voting who will run for president from each party. Ie - you dont want a bunch of democrats voting for Ron Paul in the Republican Primary so he would get the nomination and be an easy victory for Democrats later (being that Ron Paul is a joke lol). ---
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/10 "2008-01-08T14:13:22Z")
I just registered too. Once you register you also get a nice card in the mail…a draft card. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/11 "2008-01-08T14:17:11Z")
And once you register the nice people from your party will come to your door and talk to you every year about the endorsed candidates, ballot initiatives etc. And if by chance your wife made the mistake of registering democrat in her young, green to the world college days they will kindly get you the paperwork to have that fixed. Speaking from experience there BTW 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/12 "2008-01-08T14:22:25Z")
^lol, I imagine that was a great conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/13 "2008-01-08T14:27:41Z")
> [@Nikuk](#): > > ^lol, I imagine that was a great conversation. See: “Internet forum board meeting” thread. Democrat at the door: “We tried to stop the Patriot Act.” JayS: “Poned!” Democrat at the door: “Huh?” ---
**Author:** ![Ovrwrkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ovrwrkd/32/7586_2.png) [@Ovrwrkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ovrwrkd)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/14 "2008-01-08T15:30:00Z")
> [@Fry](#): > > See: “Internet forum board meeting” thread. > > Democrat at the door: “We tried to stop the Patriot Act.” > JayS: “Poned!” > Democrat at the door: “Huh?” 🤣 I could see this happening too! ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/15 "2008-01-08T16:24:52Z")
> [@Fry](#): > > See: “Internet forum board meeting” thread. > > Democrat at the door: “We tried to stop the Patriot Act.” > JayS: “Poned!” > Democrat at the door: “Huh?” Actually, last year it went more like this: Doorbell, 90lb shepherd freaking out. Democrat at the door (nervously looking at the dog now sitting at the top of the stairs where I told him to stay): “Hi, I’m so and so from the Democratic party and I’d like to talk to you for a minute.” JayS: “You have 10 seconds to get off my property or I will release the hounds.” Democrat no longer at the door: “_poof”_ JayS (to himself): “Man that guy can run fast” The really funny part is the Republican rep stopped by a couple days later and the dog only barked a little to let me know someone was coming up the driveway. So it’s true, dogs can sense evil. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MiniSRT4](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/minisrt4/32/7225_2.png) [@MiniSRT4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MiniSRT4)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/16 "2008-01-08T16:28:50Z")
> [@Muckman](#): > > (being that Ron Paul is a joke lol). just wondering why? ---
**Author:** ![jay940](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/45deac/32.png) [@jay940](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jay940)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 5:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/17 "2008-01-08T17:36:20Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Actually, last year it went more like this: > > Doorbell, 90lb shepherd freaking out. > Democrat at the door (nervously looking at the dog now sitting at the top of the stairs where I told him to stay): “Hi, I’m so and so from the Democratic party and I’d like to talk to you for a minute.” > JayS: “You have 10 seconds to get off my property or I will release the hounds.” > Democrat no longer at the door: “_poof”_ > JayS (to himself): “Man that guy can run fast” > > The really funny part is the Republican rep stopped by a couple days later and the dog only barked a little to let me know someone was coming up the driveway. So it’s true, dogs can sense evil. > 🙂 :lol: ---
**Author:** ![Coveted\_Hilton](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/coveted_hilton/32/5191_2.png) [@Coveted\_Hilton](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Coveted_Hilton)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/18 "2008-01-08T17:56:55Z")
> [@sedlmeier101](#): > > I just registered too. > > Once you register you also get a nice card in the mail…a draft card. ahahaha welcome to jury duty. they claim the jury duty goes by the license but i dont think it does. ---
**Author:** ![FBodyMadnezz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fbodymadnezz/32/7433_2.png) [@FBodyMadnezz](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/FBodyMadnezz)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/19 "2008-01-08T21:01:00Z")
> [@Coveted Hilton](#): > > ahahaha welcome to jury duty. > > they claim the jury duty goes by the license but i dont think it does. i did jury duty a month ago, and ive never voted for anything. ---
**Author:** ![Fry](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/fry/32/7284_2.png) [@Fry](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fry)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 10:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/how-to-vote/41456/20 "2008-01-09T10:32:14Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Actually, last year it went more like this: > > Doorbell, 90lb shepherd freaking out. > Democrat at the door (nervously looking at the dog now sitting at the top of the stairs where I told him to stay): “Hi, I’m so and so from the Democratic party and I’d like to talk to you for a minute.” > JayS: “You have 10 seconds to get off my property or I will release the hounds.” > Democrat no longer at the door: “_poof”_ > JayS (to himself): “Man that guy can run fast” > > The really funny part is the Republican rep stopped by a couple days later and the dog only barked a little to let me know someone was coming up the driveway. So it’s true, dogs can sense evil. > 🙂 :lol: I bet he got a nice big treat after that.