NEW YORK — As New Yorkers begin heading to the polls Saturday for early voting in the state’s Democratic primary, Haitian-American voters will have a chance to elect or reelect nine Haitian-Americans who have pledged to address public safety, affordable housing and access to healthcare in their communities. Creole-speaking voters can also get language support to complete their ballots, whose key positions include governor, federal congress members, lieutenant governor and surrogate court.
Multiple resources are available for voters to learn where and how to vote through the city’s Board of Elections online tool, “Understanding the Ballot.” The tool allows residents to enter their home address to find their poll site, and provides information about the eligible candidates and entrance accessibility.
Through its Poll Site Language Assistance List, New York City shows the locations where people can have interpretation services for other languages in order to vote, including Creole.
In Brooklyn, Creole interpretation is available to early voters at Erasmus Hall High School, where State Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn is up for re-election in District 42, and at P.S. 68 JHS in Canarsie, where Roxanne Persaud and Naomi Hopkins are running for State Assembly District 59.
On Election Day June 28, Brooklyn residents can access Creole assistance at Brooklyn College Roosevelt Hall, P.S. 269 and the Flatbush YMCA, all in Bichotte-Hermelyn’s district. In Canarsie, P.S. 68, Canarsie High School and P.S. 203 in Flatlands will provide Creole translation.
For those in Queens, services in Creole will be provided at P.S. 34 John Harvard, where Clyde Vanel is on the ballot for State Assembly District 33.
According to New York State law, residents are not required to show an ID to vote in-person on the condition that they already provided identification when they registered to vote.
In addition to Vanel and Bichotte-Hermelyn, Kimberly Jean-Pierre is on the ballot for State Assembly District 11, Pierre Albert for State Assembly District 43, Mathylde Frontus for District 46 and Phara Souffrant Forrest for District 57. In the State Senate, David Alexis is running for the District 21 seat, while Carrié Solages is running for the 4th Congressional District. Vladimy Joseph is also running for two positions: governor and the 12th Congressional District.