Can I get a witness?

[rebeccmeister]

(my Psych Statistics prof, the one who heavily self-medicated with nicotine and caffeine, used to say that to get someone to volunteer and raise their hand to answer a question).

I'm filling out my absentee ballot for the NY State Primary. The cover of the envelope has a spot for someone to sign as a witness of me filling out my signature, or so it seems from one envelope.

...except then I received a second ballot and envelope, for some school district items, where the envelope seems to indicate that I only need a witness if I cannot actually sign and instead must mark an "x."

I suspect my cat can't qualify as a witness.

I got these absentee ballots due to COVID. I guess I could go on another trip to the post office, maybe? Can a postal worker be a witness? Other ideas?

Comments

[mallorys_camera]

Can you get a Zoom witness? 😀

[annikusrex]

I bet you don't have to get a witness. Here's some possibly relevant info, from a not necessarily authoritative source:

" Okay, But How do I Actually Cast My Ballot?

If you’ve never voted by absentee ballot before, here’s what to expect:

Always use blue or black ink, said Matthew Sollars, spokesperson for the CFB, and be aware there will be two envelopes: One that will mail everything back to the Board of Elections, and one “privacy envelope” that contains your actual ballot, he said.

You’ll need to sign that envelope, he said, “to make sure your ballot is counted.”

Wilson of the LMV said to watch out for a piece of paper called a “witness slip” that may appear in your ballot, as well. Some counties in New York send them, but keep in mind: It’s not likely you’ll need to sign it.

“You don’t need a witness signature in New York State unless you had assistance filling in your ballot,” she said. “If you can’t hand mark yourself, somebody has to sign and say they helped you. But there’s no direction saying that. It’s just a slip included for a witness signature.”"

https://www.thecity.nyc/politics/2020/5/14/21270842/what-you-need-to-know-to-vote-in-new-york-s-june-primary

[rebeccmeister]

Okay. I think I will risk it, then. Thank you!!

[scrottie]

Been lots of discussion about that and how absurd it is. People were volunteering to do this and organizing a response but that moves it from easy. Postal worker would very likely do that if I had to guess but would be interested to hear how that goes.

[rebeccmeister]

I just decided to risk it this time, since my votes for the primary are probably just largely symbolic anyway. I will be more motivated to be careful for other elections, though.

[rainswolf]

Weird. On the PA ballot it's obvious you only need to do the part with witness if you couldn't fill it out yourself.

[rebeccmeister]

Yeah, the explanation was only unclear on the primary ballot, and was clear on the municipal ballot. Since my decisions on the primary ballot were largely symbolic anyway, I just decided to risk it.