The ultimate guide to help you come up with your voting plan
Your vote is special and so is this election! Here’s a guide to creating your voting plan.
New York City offers three different options for voting: you can vote by absentee ballot now, in-person during the early voting period, or in-person on Election Day (11/03).
OPTION 1 - ABSENTEE VOTING
This year, Governor Cuomo has opened up absentee ballots to everyone -- all you have to do is say COVID-19 as your reason for the request.
You can request your ballot here: https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/. This website will guide you to the necessary website for your county. You can also print out a form and drop off your local Board of Elections.
You should receive and send back your ballot by Election Day, and if not, you might have to alter your Election Day plan. We recommend sending your ballot back as soon as you can. You can track your absentee ballot here: https://nycabsentee.com/tracking
OPTION 2 - EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING (OCT. 24 - NOV. 1)
There is also the option of doing early in-person voting. The period runs from Sunday October 24th until Sunday November 1st. Dates and times may vary based on where you live, but your early voting polling place may be different than your normal polling place. You can find your early voting polling place: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/
Make sure to plan ahead by answering these questions:
My early voting polling place is: _________________________________
Two possible dates and times that I can early vote are:
1) __________________________________________________
2) ___________________________________________________
OPTION 3 - VOTING IN-PERSON ON ELECTION DAY (NOV. 3)
If you cannot early vote or your absentee ballot does not come, you can go to the polls on Election Day, November 3, 2020. You can find your local polling place at https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/.
What to remember when voting in person on Election Day:
Mask
Driver’s License/Non-Driver ID
If you’ve voted before in NY, you don’t need to provide ID, but better to be safe and have it on hand
Proof of address (paycheck, utility bill, government check - can be in an email/on smartphone or paper copy)
If you didn’t provide ID when you registered, you’ll need to show proof of address the first time you vote
Neutral clothing (no clothing that promotes a candidate or party)
Fast-Pass from the Board of Elections (if you got a card for the BOE)
Photos of your completed ballot are not allowed
Thank you for being a voter!
Overview of Voter Registration
As election season comes closer, you’ll likely be overwhelmed with information on candidates, policy, and who deserves your vote. For your voice to be heard, however, you first need to register to be eligible to vote. And remember your vote matters.
So, who can register (and thus vote) in the first place? Any US citzen who is 18 or older on election day — and is not currently incarcerated or on parole for a felony (unless cleared by a parole officer) nor declared “mentally incompetent” by a judge — should get registered.
So, how do you register as a first-time voter?
Fill out your state’s form! The United States elections are organized by state, meaning when you register, you are registering to vote in the state in which you live. Note that you need to have been living in the city and state in which you are registering for 30 or more days before the election for which you want to vote occurs. This article will focus on New York State, but this site gives a starting point for registering in other states.
In New York state, to vote, you must submit this form. If you prefer, you can fill the form out in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, or Bengali here. Or, you can access translations in French, Hebrew, Tagalog, Italian, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, Urdu, Polish, Greek, and Albanian here, although these forms still must be submitted in English. You can also request a blank form to be mailed to you here or by calling 1-800-FOR-VOTE.
When you are filling out this form, you will be asked if you want to register under a political party. This will allow you to vote in your party’s primary elections, which will be explained later.
What do you do with this registration form?
Send it in! This can be done in person, meaning you go to a certain location, fill out a registration/give in your finished registration, and government officials will submit the form for you. This can be done at one of the following locations :
DMV (you must bring DMV issued identification)
New York State Agency-based Voter Registration Center
County Board of Elections
Most government buildings including:
Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services
City Universities of New York
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Department of Health - WIC Program
Department of Labor, Department of Social Services
Department of State, Division of Veterans’ Services
Military Recruiting Offices
Or, you can mail your form to your County Board of Elections, which depends on your county. So, first, look up what county you live in and then see the address on this list which matches your county. For example, New York City is in Albany County, so someone from NYC would address their form to the Albany County Board of Elections, located at 260 South Pearl Street in Albany, NY. Then, add postage and mail in your form!
What if, once registered, you cannot make it to a polling station?
An absentee ballot is a way to vote if you cannot get to a polling place in person. Each state is very different in terms of deadlines for when your request for a ballot/ballot must arrive; look into the rules of your state here.
In New York State, once registered, you can request an absentee ballot with this form in English or Spanish. You then submit this form to your County Board of Elections either in person, no later than the day before the election, or through the mail no later than a full week before the election. However, due to current circumstances, we recommend getting these requests submitted as early as possible.
If this request is accepted, your ballot must be delivered in-person to a polling station no later than the closing of that station on election day, or mailed in no later than the day before the election and be received by the polling station no later than a week after the election. We recommend mailing in this ballot at least two weeks before election day.
Do you need to re-register?
If you move out of state, you need to re-register with your new state. If you haven’t voted in the past five years or moved within the state, changed your name, or want to change your party affiliation since the last election, you will need to re-register within your state and follow the directions on the form which deal with these changes.
What are you actually voting for?
There are three types of elections that you can vote in once you are registered. First, if you are registered with party affiliation, you can vote in primary elections on November 3rd, 2020. These occur before the presidential election and offer party members the chance to vote for the candidate by whom they want to be represented; please note you can only vote in the primary elections of the party that you registered for. Second, presidential elections, which will occur June 23rd, 2020, happen every four years. In these, you vote not only for a president and vice president but also for the policies and appointments that this candidate represents. For example, the President has the power to choose the supreme court justices and other positions that help shape American politics. Finally, midterm elections, which are on November 3rd, 2020 this year, occur every two years on the first Tuesday of November. In these, you vote for your state’s governor, mayor, state legislators, and other public officers, depending on the election. These give you the power to change American politics at levels besides presidential.
Overall, your vote lets you shape your country. Happy election season!
This article was written by Samantha Powell. Lucy Nuttall contributed to the research.
Health Insurance Explained
Health insurance in New York State, like in the rest of the country, is confusing! This article will first walk you through key terminology and definitions, and then give resources to help you find a plan that works for you and your family, depending on your immigration status.
First, a general outline of American health care: it is a privatized system, which means you buy a plan from a competitive market of plans, and this plan allows you to pay less for medical services and emergencies. You can get coverage from your employer or privately, and it is also crucial to note that you do not need to be a US citizen or national to apply for insurance - this will be covered later in the article. Further, although some federal laws exist, health care is mostly state governed, so your options depend on where you live. This article is focused on New York State’s laws and regulations.
Insurance plans include the following figures, which vary by plan:
Premium: This is the monthly amount you will pay. Your monthly payment is combined with that of others to form a pool of money, which is what will finance medical services.
Deductible - This is how much you are required to pay out of pocket before insurance begins to cover services, so the lower the better. This amount resets every year and does not include flat rate fees which you pay for office visits nor your premiums.
Copay/Coinsurance: These begin once you have reached your deductible. This is the reduced amount you will pay out of pocket — not covered by insurance companies and paid by you — for medical services, while insurance covers the rest. A copay refers to the specific dollar amount you will pay for a service, while a coinsurance refers to a percentage of the bill that you will be responsible for.
Out of Pocket Maximum: This is the maximum you will pay out of pocket before insurance covers all of your costs. Like your deductible, the lower the better, and this amount also resets every year and does not include your premium.
Provider Network: This is a list of hospitals, doctors, and other services that are included in your insurance plan. If you stay inside of this network, insurance applies. If you go outside of this network, you must pay full prices out of pocket. In some plans, you can use a referral to see someone out of your network, and the size of the network further depends on the plan as well.
Formulary: This is a list of drugs and medicines that your plan will help you pay for, ranging from name brand to generic (which are often the same but have vastly different prices).
Click here for a great video which can also help to explain all of those terms!
While those terms are great to know, actually signing up for health care is the next step. Another important thing to note is that enrollment to health care plans exists only in a specific time period, and you must reapply yearly. The 2020 enrollment period is over - however, if you recently experienced a “life event” such as a birth in the family or loss of employment, see if you can still enroll here. 2021 enrollment is open until December 7, 2020, and the rest of this article will cover how to go about selecting a plan.
First, your employer may offer you and your family health insurance. If they don’t or if you are unemployed, you can privately go through your state’s marketplace to find the best plan for you and your family, equipped with the knowledge you now have. Second, there are ways to lower prices if you satisfy certain conditions. First, see if you are eligible for government-funded programs that offer health insurance at minimal or no cost, such as Medicaid and CHIP by going to this site, which is a part of New York’s Marketplace, and clicking “Get Started”. You may also be eligible for tax credits through the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Check your eligibility and how much you can save under the ACA here.
If you are a US citizen or national, all of the previously mentioned resources are available to you. If you hold one of the immigration statuses found on this list, you are eligible to use Marketplace and Obamacare without affecting your citizenship eligibility. You can apply for and receive Medicaid, however, it can negatively affect your chances of citizenship unless you are pregnant or a child under the age of 21; more resources and information on this topic can be found here under “Medicaid, CHIP, and ‘public charge’ status”. Finally, if you do not qualify for any of these resources but someone in your family unit does, they can include you on their plan, regardless of your status. Further, your status does not need to be given and the choice to withhold your status cannot affect the eligibility for a plan.
More questions? Reach out to New York State’s Marketplace at 1-855-355-5777, or find a qualified expert here.
COVID-19 Resources to Help You Get Prepared for Get Tested Day of Action
Tomorrow, July 8, 2020, is Get Tested Day of Action in New York City, so help keep your loved ones safe by getting tested for COVID-19! Until we have a vaccine, making sure everyone gets tested and quarantines themselves if they test positive is the best way to protect our city as it continues to reopen.
Everyone should get tested, even if they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Scientists believe that asymptomatic individuals (i.e. people who have contracted the coronavirus but do not feel sick as a result) can still spread the disease. We would especially encourage individuals who have been in large gatherings or had exposure to another person who had the coronavirus to seek testing.
COVID-19 testing is being offered across the city for free, and it is safe and confidential. You will not be asked about your immigration status when getting tested. Most tests are returned within 48 hours - those who test positive will receive a phone call from Test & Trace Corps, who will ensure that they receive proper medical treatment.
For our families in East Harlem, we recommend Boriken Neighborhood Health Center, located at 2265 3rd Ave &, E 123rd St, New York, NY 10035.
Boriken is offering free COVID-19 testing in outside tents from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can call (212) 289-6650 to make appointments, including same-day ones. They will be distributing face masks and hand sanitizers as well, keeping you safe and healthy.
If you are looking for another testing site, please visit NYC’s website here or text "COVID TEST" to 855-48. Please call the center that you are planning on visiting directly to ask if they will be requiring identification or a health insurance card in advance. Boriken, for example, will ask for both.
Examining 'public charge' & how it relates to seeking COVID-19 treatment
What does “public charge” mean?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) defines “public charge” as an individual who is “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for long-term care at government expense.” An individual considered likely to become a public charge can be denied entry to the United States, is ineligible for U.S. permanent residency or citizenship, and, in rare cases, may be deported.
What is a public charge test, and what criteria does it look at?
A public charge test, a copy of which you can find here, seeks to determine the likelihood an individual will become a public charge through looking at factors including but not limited to:
Current income;
Assets and debt;
Educational level, including English proficiency;
Age and health; and
Utilization of certain public benefits after the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule went into effect on February 24, 2020.
Holding less than a high school degree, having limited English proficiency, making an income below 125% of the federal poverty level, or having a medical condition that could require extensive care can be counted against you on your path to permanent residency or citizenship.
What benefits count against me in the public charge test?
It can be hard to understand how using a certain public benefit will affect your immigration status because (1) not every public benefit counts towards the public charge test and (2) most immigrants do not have access to the benefits that do count towards the public charge test in the first place.
The benefits that matter for the purpose of a public charge test include supplemental security income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Housing Choice Voucher Program; Project-Based Rental Assistance (including Moderate Rehabilitation); Subsidized Housing; and (except in a couple of specific scenarios) Medicaid.
This list may seem strange because, as the Immigration Legal Resource Center (ILRC) points out in this article, “Most immigrants who are on the path to a green card don’t have access to these benefits, or if they do, then they are in an immigrant category that is exempt from public charge.” Undocumented immigrants, including DACA holders, are ineligible for most of the benefits listed above in the first place. A qualified alien who is not a permanent resident is eligible for state-funded benefits in only a few states. Consequently, the ILRC writes that the benefits portion of the public charge test has “limited legal impact.”
The USCIS will not look at whether you utilized the following benefits in making a determination for your eligibility for admission:
Emergency medical assistance;
Disaster relief;
National school lunch programs;
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children ;
The Children’s Health Insurance Program;
Subsidies for foster care and adoption;
Government-subsidized student and mortgage loans;
Energy assistance;
Food pantries and homeless shelters; and
Head Start.
To learn more about disaster relief you may be eligible for, read our recent blog post, “What kind of COVID-19 related benefits are there?”
Are some immigrants exempt from the public charge test?
Yes - certain groups of immigrants do not have to go through the public charge test to be determined admissible to the U.S. or eligible for permanent residency. These groups include:
Refugees;
Asylees;
Certain T and U nonimmigrant visa applicants (human trafficking and certain crime victims, respectively); and
Certain self-petitioners under the Violence Against Women Act.
Seeking COVID-19 testing or treatment will not jeopardize your chances of immigration.
USCIS will not consider testing, receiving treatment, or seeking preventative care related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge inadmissibility determination even if the treatment was paid by one or more public benefits.
Your health and safety come first. Please take care of yourself during these difficult times.
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This article was co-written by DeYan McCarthy and Lucy Nuttall.
How does your immigration status affect your eligibility for COVID-19 stimulus check and food programs?
By now, you have probably heard about the different emergency relief benefits the government is offering, including the COVID-19 stimulus check and food assistance programs. In this blog post, we will explain how immigration status affects your eligibility for these programs.
Your eligibility for federal benefits often depends on whether you have a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). SSN is given out to individuals with American citizenship, permanent residency, or work authorization that allows them to work in the United States. ITIN, on the other hand, is given to individuals who pay income taxes to the United States government but do not qualify for SSN, including undocumented workers.
Unfortunately, only residents living in the U.S. with a valid SSN can receive the stimulus check.
To be eligible for the stimulus check, you need to have a valid SSN. If you are married and file your taxes jointly, you must both have an SSN to qualify (i.e. if you have an SSN but your spouse has an ITIN, you will not receive the stimulus check). The only exception to this rule is if one or both spouses served in the military within the last year - if this is the case, you can receive the stimulus check even if you both have ITINs.
DACA and TPS applicants are eligible as long as they have work authorization and an SSN. If you are a dreamer, make sure to be on the lookout for the rebate.
If you have not filed your taxes yet for this year, the IRS will look at last year’s taxes. If you did not file last year either, but you receive social security and/or other benefits, you should still qualify for the rebate.
The amount you are eligible for depends on your income level, and will not affect your ability to receive other government benefits.
The maximum payment is $1,200 for an individual, $2,400 for a couple, and $500 for a child. Individuals with an income under $75,000 and married couples with an income under $150,000 qualify for the full amount. If your income exceeds this, the amount you receive is reduced.
The stimulus check is not taxable income, and it will not be counted as income when calculating your eligibility for benefits like TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid.
Need more help? The IRS operates centers that can help you navigate this process.
The VITA program offers free tax help to individuals with an income of less than $56,000, individuals with disabilities, or individuals with limited English proficiency. There are three places in New York City, which you can find here.
While SNAP is only available to documented residents, several food assistance programs do not look at immigration status.
For example, food pantries, child nutrition programs, school meals, and WIC do not have immigration requirements and will not ask to see your identification. You can check out our earlier article about food pantries here to find out where you can locate them.
There are two food assistance programs that people can use during the COVID-19 crisis: Pandemic EBT (P-BET) and Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). P-EBT, which provides an EBT card, offers nutritional resources to families losing access to free/reduced-price school meals. D-SNAP provides replacement benefits for households that qualify for SNAP and lost food due to a natural disaster like COVID-19. D-SNAP does not have immigration restrictions.
P-EBT is not considered in a public charge test. If you need an explanation of what a public charge test is, please refer to our blog post, “Examining 'Public Charge' & how it relates to seeking COVID-19 treatment."
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This article was co-written by DeYan McCarthy and Lucy Nuttall.
What kind of COVID-19 related benefits are there?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people are struggling with unemployment right now. Many recently unemployed people qualify for various governmental benefits. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits that are available and the qualifications necessary.
Unfortunately, undocumented workers are not eligible for unemployment insurance.
Workers must have work authorization at the time they are receiving benefits and throughout the time they worked. According to the Department of Labor (DOL), only ‘qualified aliens’ are eligible for federally funded benefits. This group includes:
Lawful permanent residents
Refugees
Asylees
People granted withholding of removal
Parolees for more than one year
Cuban/Haitian immigrants
Certain survivors of domestic violence
2. People who do not qualify for unemployment insurance may be able to receive Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) under the CARES Act.
PUA provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to some individuals who do not qualify for unemployment insurance, including those who have exhausted all their rights to unemployment insurance. The amount of PUA benefits you will receive is based on your previous income reported. PUA benefits may not be more than the state's maximum weekly benefit rate for regular unemployment compensation, which is $504.00 in the state of New York.
PUA’s 39-week period can be counted retroactively to start on January 27th. Workers who do not qualify for unemployment insurance, including self-employed individuals, part-time workers, and workers with insufficient wage history, may qualify. You can also qualify if you experienced difficulties resulting from COVID-19, including but not limited to:
You have been diagnosed with or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and are seeking a medical diagnosis;
You are providing care for a family member or a member of your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
Your child or another person for whom you are the primary caregiver is unable to attend school due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and you are unable to work due to your childcare responsibilities;
You are unable to reach your place of employment because you have been advised by a health care provider to self-isolate or quarantine because you are positive for or may have had exposure to someone who has or is suspected of having COVID-19;
You have become the breadwinner/major supporter for a household because the head of your household has died as a direct result of COVID-19;
Your place of employment is closed as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A $600.00/week boost of Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) will be automatically added to PUA benefits, if applicable, until July 31st.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) will be available all through 2020. The last 13 weeks are for workers who exhaust state UI benefits and will maintain the same benefit level as state UI.
Please check the New York Department of Labor website here for a full list of qualifications and guidance on how to apply.
3. There are paid leave options available for people who have to take a leave from work due to COVID-19.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides relief for workers who have to take a leave from work for reasons related to COVID-19. This benefit will be available for the remainder of 2020.
The Act requires qualifying employers to pay employees 100% of what they would have made for 80 hours of work if they are unable to work because (1) they are sick with the coronavirus or (2) they are quarantining themselves in accordance with government guidelines.
The Act also seeks to help workers who have to take a leave to take care of their family members. Workers are eligible for two thirds of what they would have made for 80 hours of work if they are unable to work because (1) they are caring for family members either sick with the coronavirus or quarantining in accordance with governmental guidelines; or (2) they are providing childcare to children whose childcare facility or school closed down due to COVID-19.
Large companies with over 500 employees are excluded. According to the DOL, “Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for exemption from the requirement to provide leave due to school closings or child care unavailability if the leave requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.”
Employees who have worked for more than 30 days qualify for an additional 10 weeks of paid leave at two thirds of their regular rate for childcare reasons. Please note that this option is unavailable only if the child’s childcare provider or school remains closed.
All employees are covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act regardless of immigration status.
This article was written by DeYan McCarthy and Lucy Nuttall.
Learn about workers’ rights that protect you from retaliation
Immigrant workers have the right to work in a safe environment under OSHA guidelines
The mission of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is to “assure safe and healthy working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.“ Under the OSH Act of 1970, OSHA enforces several health- and safety-related guidelines to ensure that employees can work in a safe and healthy environment.
While OSHA has not released specific guidelines for COVID-19, it has existing health guidelines that require access to running water and hand soap. Workers who are facing a high risk of imminent danger, including healthcare workers, are considered priorities for inspection.
The safety regulations apply to everyone regardless of immigration status.
A worker who is experiencing a safety violation can complain to OSHA by phone or on its website. All complaints can be filed anonymously and do not ask for immigration status. Workers are protected from being fired or mistreated because they complained to OSHA. For example, an employer threatening to call I.C.E. because a worker filed an OSHA complaint is in violation of the law.
You should make sure that you file your complaint within 30 days of the violation taking place.
Using Collective Action to Improve Workplace Safety and Health
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) Section 7 protects the right of employees to engage in “concerted activity […] for mutual aid and protection.” In other words, employees can talk to their coworkers about wages or working conditions, circulate a petition, or go on a strike.
The NLRA covers private-sector workers but does not cover agricultural laborers, domestic service workers, railway and airline workers, supervisors/managers, and independent contractors.
Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) Section 502 protects workers from being terminated if an employee stops working due to an immediate danger stemming from abnormally unsafe working conditions. This is not considered a strike.
This article was co-written by DeYan McCarthy and Lucy Nuttall.
What kind of government benefits might be available to me?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Need to apply to supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP)? Click here, then go to “I want help” and you will see options for food assistance or financial assistance.
If you are looking for SNAP benefits, click on “food assistance” and click on “ACCESS HRA” to begin the SNAP application.
2. Financial Assistance to help with rent/ utilities
Having trouble with home expenses due to COVID-19? You can apply for emergency cash assistance for rent here.
Check this website to apply for assistance in paying your utility bill. This is the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which helps low income households pay for utility and heat bills. If you have received any notices for these bills you have the option of applying for emergency financial help. If you currently receive SNAP benefits, cash assistance or SSI, you automatically qualify for this program.
3. Unemployment Benefits
If you are unemployed due to COVID-19 you can apply for unemployment benefits here. Once you file the unemployment insurance claim, you will find out if you are eligible for unemployment and how much you will receive. In order to collect your benefits, you must file a claim every week after you have been approved.
If you have been personally affected by COVID-19 and have not been able to work because of this, you are entitled to file for Paid Safe and Sick Leave. You can use this to care for yourself or anyone in your family as long as you work for any size business or a nonprofit. Click here for more information and to access the application.