With the primary election happening tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 10 — polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. — here are answers to some of the questions you might have, courtesy of the New York City Campaign Finance Board.  

Can I vote in the Sept. 10 primary election?

You can only vote in a primary election held by the party YOU belong to. For example, if you are a registered member of the Working Families Party, you can only vote in the Working Families Party primary, not the Democratic or Republican primary.

Where do I vote?

If you’re registered to vote, you should have received a letter telling you where your polling site is located. But you can also find out where you should vote by clicking here.

How do I vote?

The old-school lever machines are back! Click here for a tutorial on how to make sure your vote counts.

What is a runoff primary election and can I vote in that?

If no candidate for a citywide office (mayor, public advocate, or comptroller) receives at least 40 percent of the vote in the primary election, a runoff primary election is held between the two candidates who received the most votes. The date for a runoff primary election (if necessary) is Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. If you were eligible to vote in the Sept. 10 primary, you are also eligible to vote in any runoff primary held by the party you are enrolled in.

How do I register to vote?

Fill out a voter registration form and submit it in person or by mail with the NYC Board of Elections (BOE). You can download a registration form from the BOE’s website, pick one up at your local BOE office, or call (866) VOTE-NYC to request one by mail. It is too late to register to vote for the primary election, but you have until Oct. 11, 2013 to register for the Nov. 5 general election.

What if they can’t find my name on the list when I sign in to vote?

First, make sure you are signing in at the correct table for your assembly and election district. These district numbers are printed on the mailing label of your Voter Guide and on the mailer the BOE sends to all registered voters each August. You can also ask a poll worker for help, or check the poll site locator on the BOE’s website.

If you are at the right table but you are not on the poll list, it may be because the BOE did not receive your registration form. If you believe that you are eligible, you can still vote. Ask for an affidavit ballot, and follow the instructions. After the election, the BOE will check its records and your vote will be counted if you were eligible to vote. If not, you will receive a notice that you were not eligible to vote with a registration form for future elections.

What if I can’t get to my polling place on Election Day?

You can vote by absentee ballot if you are unable to get to your polling place because of occupation, business, studies, travel, imprisonment (other than for a felony conviction), illness, disability, hospitalization, or if you are a resident in a long-term care facility.

Absentee voting in person: Absentee voting in person begins as soon as the ballots are available (at least 32 days before an election) and ends on Election Day. It is conducted at your BOE borough office Monday to Friday and on the weekend prior to Election Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 9 p.m. on Election Day.

Editor’s note: This Q & A was originally published by the New York City Campaign Finance Board. For the complete and unedited version of the  Q & A, click here.