The New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announces the release of the official multi-media New York City Voter Guide for the 2013 General elections on November 5. Available in print, online, mobile, video and audio editions, ssthe Guide provides voters with easy access to comprehensive, non-partisan information about the candidates for city office and the legislative proposals that will appear on the ballot on Election Day.
"All New Yorkers have an enormous stake in the November elections and the Voter Guide provides everything voters need to make an informed decision when they cast their ballot," said Amy Loprest, executive director of the CFB. "This year, we are making the Voter Guide more accessible than ever by reaching New Yorkers on the platforms they use every day -- online, television, mobile, and print -- when looking for information."
The printed Guide will arrive in the mail at every household in the city with a registered voter, and is available in English and Spanish. In some areas, the printed Guide is also distributed in Chinese, Korean and Bengali. The Guide has been a cornerstone of the CFB's voter education efforts in every citywide election since 1989. Every candidate on the ballot has the opportunity to submit a profile free of charge. The profiles are reprinted as provided by the candidates and may include biographical information, a photo, and answers to basic questions about the candidate's platform. In addition to the candidate profiles, the Guide contains the six legislative proposals, and a summary of the issues, on the ballot this year.
The online Voter Guide allows voters to input their addresses or select their own district map to view customized information. The online Guide contains candidate profiles, videos, and written statements, as well as information about the six ballot proposals, including "pro" and "con" statements on each submitted by the public. The online Guide is compatible with mobile web browsers. Voters with visual impairments may listen to audio files of the candidate statements and ballot proposals online or request copies of the audio files through the mail.
The Video Voter Guide will air on television starting Monday, October 28 through Friday, November 1 at 7pm on the NYC Gov channel on Cablevision and Time Warner Cable Channel 74, RCN Channel 81, or Verizon FiOs Channel 24. Every candidate was given the opportunity to record a 2-minute statement for the Video Voter Guide. Each evening's broadcast will lead off with candidates from a different borough in the city, organized by office. The video statements are also available on-demand through the CFB's YouTube channel and embedded in the online Guide.
Candidate information is also available in a mobile-friendly version at www.nycvotes.org. The NYC Votes mobile platform aims to transform the experience of voting and civic engagement for New Yorkers by providing access to voting and election information via mobile devices. It allows voters to see which candidates are on their ballot, find their poll site, and contribute to candidates by credit card.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Polls will be open from 6 AM to 9 PM.
NYC Votes is the non-partisan voter engagement campaign of the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) and its Voter Assistance Advisory Committee (VAAC). In addition to promoting voter registration, participation, and civic engagement in New York City through its many programs and partnerships, NYC Votes sponsors the city's official Debate Program and produces the citywide Voter Guide.