Election 2024: Who’s on the Ballot?
By Katie McFadden
The time is here. Election season is upon us. Early voting in underway, with many already hitting the polls to cast their votes through November 3, and some waiting until Election Day, on Tuesday, November 5. For those who haven’t voted yet, here’s a preview of what you’ll see on the ballot.
With President on the ballot, turnout is expected to be big this year. The candidates include, on the Democrat and Working Families line, Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz, and on the Republican and Conservative line, former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance. Voters will fill in one bubble for their chosen candidate.
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand is running on the Democrat and Working Families lines. She is being challenged by Michael Sapraicone on the Republican and Conservative lines and Diane Sare of the LaRouch Party.
In Rockaway, Congressional District 5 is on the ballot. Incumbent Congressman Gregory Meeks is running on the Democrat line. His challenger, Paul King, president of the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association and a member of Community Board 14, is running on the Republican, Conservative and Common Sense lines.
In Rockaway’s State Assembly District 23 race, incumbent Stacey Pheffer Amato is running on the Democrat and We the People lines. Challenger Thomas Sullivan is running on the Republican, Conservative and Common Sense lines.
In Rockaway’s State Senate District 10 race, incumbent James Sanders Jr. is running on the Democrat and Working Families line. Challenger Michael O’Reilly is running on the Republican, Conservative and Common Sense line.
There are also several judicial positions up for vote. For Surrogate Queens, the choice is between Cassandra Johnson on the Democrat line, Stephen Weiner on the Republican and Conservative/Common Sense lines.
For Justice of the Supreme Court 11th Judicial District, there are nine choices and voters can select up to seven. They include Alan Schiff on the Democrat, Republican and Conservative lines; Delsia Marshall on the Democrat line; Gary Muraca on the Republican and Conservative lines; Sandra Munoz on the Democrat line, Kathy Wu Parrino on the Republican and Conservative lines; Lumarie Maldonado-Cruz on the Democrat line; Claudia Lanzetta on the Democrat, Republican and Conservative lines; Andrea Ogle on the Democrat line; and John Katsanos on the Democrat line.
For Judge of the Civil Court in Queens County, voters can choose five out of eight candidates. They include Glenda Hernandez on the Democrat line, William Shanahan on the Republican and Conservative/Common Sense lines, Sharifa Nasser-Cuellar on the Democrat line, Amish Doshi on the Democrat line, Mary-Ann Maloney on the Republican line, Peter Lane on the Democrat and Republican lines, Melissa Deberry on the Democrat line and Stephen Dachtera on the Republican line.
After you’ve selected your candidates, don’t forget to flip the ballot over to answer the six Proposal questions with a “Yes” or “No” answer. According to the NY State Board of Elections, Proposition 1, “amends Article 1, Section 11 of the New York Constitution. Section 11 now protects against unequal treatment based on race, color, creed, and religion. The proposal will amend the act to also protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, as well as reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The amendment allows laws to prevent or undo past discrimination.”
Under Proposal 2, “The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) would have increased authority to keep all city property clean, including parks and highway medians, and to hold street vendors accountable for following rules at those locations. It would also allow DSNY to regulate how New Yorkers put out their garbage for collection.”
Proposal 3, “would amend the City Charter to require fiscal analysis from the Council before hearings and votes on laws, authorize fiscal analysis from the Mayor, and update budget deadlines.”
Proposal 4 “would require additional public notice and time before the City Council votes on laws respecting the public safety operations of the Police, Correction, or Fire Departments.
Proposal 5 “would amend the City Charter to require more detail in the annual assessment of City facilities, mandate that facility needs inform capital planning, and update capital planning deadlines. “
Proposal 6 “would amend the City Charter to establish the Chief Business Diversity Officer (CBDO), authorize the Mayor to designate the office that issues film permits, and combine archive boards.”
Rockaway’s early voting locations are Sorrentino Recreation Center (18-48 Cornaga Ave.), the Rockaway YMCA (207 Beach 73rd Street) and Jade Event Space (431 Beach 129th Street.). They are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 31 and November 1 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 2 and 3. Where you vote depends on where you live. To determine your poll site, visit: https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc. Note that your Election Day location will be different and more local. Refer to the find my poll site to determine your poll site for November 5. You can also call 1-866-Vote-NYC for guidance.