New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today urged voters who had to submit change of party enrollment forms in order to vote in the 2016 Presidential Primary, who made every effort to meet the October 9, 2015 deadline, and yet were denied because their forms we received after October 9, 2015, to contact the Suffolk County Board of Elections to find out if they may be eligible to plead their case before a Judge on April 19, 2016 and be allowed to vote.

Under New York State Election Law, an existing voter would have had to change his or her party registration no later than October 9, 2015 in order to vote in the 2016 Presidential Primary. However, it was not clear that change of enrollment forms had to be received by the Board of Elections by October 9, 2015. Several voters understood it to mean a postmark date of October 9, 2015. It is estimated that approximately 200 voters, out of approximately 7,000 voters in Suffolk County who missed the change of party deadline, fall into this category.

Those individuals who postmarked their change of party enrollment applications on or before October 9th, 2015 are urged to call Suffolk BOE at 631.852.4500 to find out if they can appear before Judge on Primary Day, April 19th.

Thiele, the only Independent in the New York State Legislature sponsors legislation, A.9661, which would allow for open presidential primaries in New York State by permitting persons registered to vote, but not enrolled in a party, to vote in the presidential primary. New York State is one of the few states in the nation that doesn't have an open Presidential primary, meaning 3.2 million registered voters in New York won’t have an opportunity to vote in the 2016 Presidential Primary. Thiele’s legislation would give all registered voters in New York State the opportunity to actively participate in the democratic nomination process, and increasing voter turnout and participation.