Early voting kicks off this Saturday, October 26, and New York’s Attorney General Letitia James is urging voters to exercise their right to vote while remaining vigilant against misleading campaign information. On October 24, she released a comprehensive voting guide that encourages civic participation and reminds voters to be cautious of deceptive messaging. Voters who encounter any actions that may disrupt fair and safe elections are encouraged to report them immediately to the Attorney General’s office.

The Attorney General’s office also emphasized that voters still have the opportunity to register, with the deadline set for October 26. Early voting will start that same day, and individuals can visit the city’s Board of Elections website at https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc to find early voting locations and polling places for Election Day based on their address.

Additionally, all voters can apply for absentee ballots without needing to provide a reason. The application can be found at https://reurl.cc/yvVv72, with the online application deadline also on October 26. Voters can also apply for absentee ballots in person at their local election office up until November 4, ensuring that any mailed ballots are postmarked by November 5 and received by the election office by November 12.

Polling places will be open on Election Day, November 5, from 6 AM to 9 PM. First-time voters must bring identification or proof of residence, such as a bank statement. If voters do not find their names on the polling list, they have the right to request, fill out, and submit an affidavit ballot. While these ballots won’t be counted on Election Day, they will be verified and included in the overall tally.

Attorney General James has also issued guidance to local election boards and law enforcement to protect voters from intimidation and to uphold their rights. Any incidents of voter intimidation should be reported to local authorities and the Attorney General’s office promptly.

Moreover, she cautioned voters to be wary of AI-generated false or misleading election content that could cause confusion and spread quickly on social media, significantly impacting voter behavior. Voters are advised not to rely on chatbots for election or voting inquiries and to approach images, audio, and video related to elections and candidates with skepticism unless their authenticity can be verified.

From October 26 to November 6, the Attorney General’s election protection hotline will be operational. This allows the public to call (866) 390-2992 or submit complaints online, reporting incidents of voter intimidation or other attempts to interfere with voting rights.