September 13, 2012 -- State and Local Primary In New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie, POLLS OPEN AT 6 AM and CLOSE AT 9 PM. In all other counties POLLS OPEN AT 12 NOON and CLOSE AT 9 PM.

There is a phone app you can download to report problems at polling places from PollwatchUSA

Candidates on the ballot include those for state assembly and senate seats. As a result of many districts being redrawn you should check for new district maps—available here.

The League of Women Voters has a complete list of candidates by district.

Check with your local campaign offices to see if they need help phone banking.

It's not too late to remind folks to go vote, and in many areas volunteers are needed to help get some people to the polls.

This primary was originally scheduled for Sept. 11th, and then changed to today.

This election can reshape the NYS legislature



Thursday's primary elections begin a remake of New York's Legislature given an unusually high number of retirements and the challenges against three Republican senators who voted to legalize gay marriage in 2011. But Republicans and Democrats don't expect a heavy voter turnout, making predictions difficult. The primary usually held on Tuesdays was moved to Thursday in observance of the Sept. 11 anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Low turnout tends to favor incumbents and other candidates with established campaign teams and fundraisers. But the primary turnout could be so small, the result will come down to whichever candidate can motivate voters to go to the polls. Overall, more than 20 of 150 Assembly members and four of 62 senators retired or resigned this term, creating an unusually large number of races without incumbents.



Many of these elections will be won by only a few votes. Make sure yours is one of them.