Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, and the League of Women Voters of the Hamptons will use the opportunity to explain to people across the South Fork where, when, and how to register for the Nov. 5 election.
This year, New York State is allowing early voting on nine days, starting on Oct. 26 and running through Nov. 3. In East Hampton Town, the early voting site is the Windmill Village community room at 219 Accabonac Road; the Southampton site is Southampton Youth Services, 1370A Majors Path.
League members will set up tables at the Montauk, Amagansett, East Hampton, and Bridgehampton Post Offices; One Stop Market on Springs-Fireplace Road, Schiavoni’s Market on Sag Harbor Main Street, and on Job’s Lane in Southampton from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday. They will be at Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m., and also at the Hampton Bays Library from noon to 2, the Westhampton Library from 5 to 7, and the Riverhead Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In addition to other information, the league’s volunteers will have absentee ballot applications and will be able to answer questions about absentee voting. Absentee ballot applications must be postmarked by Oct. 29; ballots must be mailed in by Nov. 4.
For those not yet registered to vote, applications for registration must be postmarked by Oct. 11 and received by the Board of Elections no later than Oct. 16. Oct. 11 is also the deadline to change party enrollment if you plan to vote in the presidential primary in the spring but are not registered with a party. In New York State, only people registered with a political party can vote in that party’s primary.
The League will host three debates in advance of the Nov. 5 town and county elections. Candidates for Suffolk County legislator will face off on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Hampton Bays Senior Center. The Republican Linda Kabot, a former Southampton Town supervisor and councilwoman, is challenging the incumbent Democrat, Bridget Fleming, in that race.
On Oct. 16, the East Hampton Town candidates for supervisor and town board will debate at the East Hampton Library at 7 p.m. East Hampton Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc, the Democratic incumbent, is being challenged by David Gruber on the Independence line, while the Democratic incumbents David Lys and Sylvia Overby are facing a challenge from Mr. Gruber’s running mates Betsy Bambrick and Bonnie Brady.
The League’s final debate happens on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m., when candidates for Southampton Town supervisor meet at Rogers Memorial Library. The incumbent supervisor Jay Schneiderman faces a challenge from Greg Robins on the Republican ticket and Alex Gregor on the Independence line. The Democratic incumbent board members, Tommy John Schiavoni and Julie Lofstad, are being challenged by Charlie McArdle and Richard Martel.