I was told that it is a kind of curtsey/tradition for the party to go with the incumbent by default. Sorry, not totally sure but no one else replied yet so thought I would try to give something that helps.

If you are a new voter who has registered by mail, you will be required to show identification when you go to vote for the first time. It is advisable for all new voters to bring identification when voting for the first time.

Acceptable IDs to to vote are:

Passport

Government ID card

Military ID card

Student ID card

Public housing ID card

Any ID specified by HAVAand New York State law as acceptable: Utility bill

Bank statement

Paycheck

Government check (Social Security, tax refund, military paycheck or paycheck stub)

For more information, visit the the New York Board of Elections site

You can check here to see if you are registered at your current address. https://voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us/votersearch.aspx

There are a lot of great tools and guides that can help you figure out who and what is on your ballot this year. Check out http://www.vote411.org/ or http://votesmart.org/voteeasy/# or http://thisismyballot.org/ to see the candidates and issues on the ballot in your area.

Your local elections board may have sample ballots as well. Check that out here: http://www.elections.state.ny.us/

Good voting!

Here is one resource from the League of Women Voters in New York that can help you sort through it: http://www.lwvny.org/.

You can see a sample ballot here: http://www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/departments/boe/Pages/default.aspx

No need to re-register if you don't move.

After the 2010 elections, new district lines will be drawn for seats in the U.S. Congress and the state legislature, based on the 2010 census figures.

It is against the law to use the voter roles to determine jury duty.