A divisive national political climate and a polarizing commander-in-chief are expected to drive up voter turnout in the region on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Democrats are aiming to take back the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, breaking up the Republican Party monopoly in federal government.

The midterm vote is the first since Donald Trump was elected president, and depending on which party emerges with control, Trump can find his policies either impeded or boosted for the remainder of his first term.

Note to readers: The Journal News/lohud will lift the paywall from lohud.com on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and Wednesday, Nov. 7 so that all readers may access election coverage and sample content on a variety of topics. We invite everyone to enjoy this free access for two days and then consider subscribing so that you can stay informed on local news from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties.

On the state level, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing a re-election challenge from Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

In Rockland, several races are being watched with special interest. Here are few of them:

DA's future: Rockland District Attorney Thomas Zugibe is among the candidates seeking a state Supreme Court judgeship. If he wins, an interim DA will run the office for the last year of Zugibe’s term.

State Senate control: A pair of state Senate races could help decide the balance of power in that body. Democrat David Carlucci’s re-election in District 38 is being challenged by GOP ex-County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef. The 39th District seat held by Republican William Larkin is up for grabs following Larkin’s retirement. Democratic Assemblyman James Skoufis and GOP Stony Point Town member Tom Basile are in a pitched battle to represent the district.

Assembly: Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee is being challenged by Chestnut Ridge Mayor Rosario Presti in a district that covers parts of Ramapo and all of Orangetown.

Term extension: In Clarkstown, voters will decide whether elected officials should serve four-year terms instead of two years.

NEW VOTERS:13K more registered Democrats in Hudson Valley, state says

Here are the basics and a list of candidates on Rockland ballots:

When is Election Day 2018?

The election is Tuesday, Nov. 6.

What are the voting hours?

The polls will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where can I g

Lohud.com will be posting results after polls close at 9 p.m. Election Night.

Where do I vote?

Check Rockland County's Board of Elections lookup.

What's on the ballot?

Statewide races include governor, attorney general, comptroller and U.S. senator. Voters will also choose Supreme Court justices, a congressional representative, state senator and Assembly member and decide on candidates for various local offices. Clarkstown and Suffern have propositions on the ballot.

RACES AT A GLANCE: Here's what's on the ballot in New York

The ballot: Contests and candidates

Here are the statewide, regional and local contests and propositions on ballots in Rockland County.

Parties: D=Democratic, R=Republican, C=Conservative, I=Independence, G=Green, LBT=Libertarian, WEP=Women's Equality Party, WF=Working Families, REF=Reform

* = incumbent; # = appointed; ## = acting

ROCKLAND

Rockland County Legislator

4th District (unexpired term)

Itamar Yeger#, D

Local offices, propositions

Clarkstown Proposition 1

Change councilmember term from 2 years to 4 years

Clarkstown Proposition 2

Change supervisor, clerk, highways superintendent term from 2 years to 4

CLARKSTOWN PROPOSITIONS:Term lengths on the ballot

Nyack village trustee (vote for 2)

Donna Lightfoot Cooper*, D

Louise Parker*, D

Orangetown town clerk (unexpired term)

Rosanna Sfraga#, R-C-I-REF

Robert Tompkins, D-WEP

Piermont village trustee (vote for 2)

Richard Owen Burns*, D

Nathan Mitchell*, I

Ramapo Town Council (unexpired term)

Yehuda Weissmandl#, D-G-REF

Ramapo town justice

David Fried, D-G-REF

Sloatsburg village trustee (vote for 2)

Peter Akey*, R-C

John Bonkoski*, R-C

Spring Valley trustee (unexpired term)

Zach Clerina, D

Suffern village trustee (vote for 2)

Gina Bertolino*, R-C-WF-I-REF

Joseph Russo*, R-C-WF-I-REF

Steven Alpert, D-WEP

Paul Girard, D-WEP

Suffern village justice

Ernest Buonocore*, D-R-C-WF-I-REF

Vincent Altieri##, WEP

Suffern referendum

Increase volunteer firefighter service award payment maximum

SUFFERN REFERENDUM:Firefighter benefits on the ballot

State Senate

38th District

David Carlucci*, D-WEP

C. Scott Vanderhoef, R-C-I-REF

CARLUCCI VS. VANDERHOEF: Past politics continue to cast a shadow in SD 38 contest

THE RACE:Vanderhoef to run for state Senate seat held by Carlucci

CARLUCCI'S #MeToo:Senator supports Albany harassment hearings, regrets defending Klein

JULIE GOLDBERG: Why I ran a primary against Carlucci, and why I support him now

39th District

James Skoufis, D-WF-WEP-REF

Tom Basile, R-C-I

BASILE VS. SKOUFIS:Either way, it's new blood for Senate District 39

(List continues below map)

Assembly

District 96

Kenneth Zebrowski*, D-WF-WEP-REF

District 97

Ellen Jaffee*, D-WF-WEP-REF

Rosario Presti Jr., R-C

ROCKLAND:5 questions for Jaffee, Presti in Assembly race

District 98

Karl Brabenec*, R-C-I-REF

Scott Martens, D-WF-WEP

District 99

Colin Schmitt, R-C-I-REF

Matthew Rettig, D-WF-WEP

(List continues below map)

Region

Supreme Court Justice (vote for 7)

Joan B. Lefkowitz*, D-I

William J. Giacomo*, D-I

Kathie E. Davidson, D-R-C-I

David F. Everett, D

Hal B. Greenwald, D

Barry E. Warhit, D

Thomas P. Zugibe, D-C-I

Robert H. Freehill, R-C-I-REF

Phillip A. Grimaldi Jr, R-C

James F. Reitz, R-C

DA RUNS FOR JUDGE:Rockland: Ex-prosecutor is first to jump into race to replace DA Thomas Zugibe

Statewide

Governor/Lieutenant Governor

Andrew M. Cuomo*/Kathy C. Hochul*, D-I-WEP-WF

Marc Molinaro/Julie Killian, R-C-REF

Howie Hawkins/Jia Lee, G

Larry Sharpe/Andrew C. Hollister, LBT

Stephanie A. Miner/Michael J. Volpe, SAM

GOVERNOR'S RACE: 4 key issues where Cuomo, Molinaro differ

ANDREW CUOMO: What his third term might look like

MARC MOLINARO: From teenage mayor to taking on Gov. Andrew Cuomo

OTHER CANDIDATES: Miner, Hawkins and Sharpe look to sway NY's governor race

DEBATE: Andrew Cuomo, Marc Molinaro trade barbs

OPINION:Amid 'pay to play' accusations, Gov. Cuomo needs call for an ethics probe of his own house

JULIE KILLIAN:Lieutenant governor candidate has a distaste for labels and a love of chutzpah

KATHY HOCHUL:Resiliency is in her DNA

Attorney General

Letitia A. James, D-I-WF

Keith Wofford, R-C

Christopher B. Garvey, LBT

Michael Sussman, G

Nancy B. Sliwa, REF

Comptroller

Thomas P. DiNapoli*, D-I-REF-WEP-WF

Jonathan Trichter, R-C

Cruger E. Gallaudet, LBT

Mark Dunlea, G

OVERVIEW:NY comptroller's race becomes spirited battle

Congress

U.S. Senator

Kirsten E. Gillibrand*, D-I-WEP-WF

Chele Chiavacci Farley, R-C-REF

THE RACE:Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, possible presidential contender, faces re-election battle first

Representative in Congress

17th District

Nita M. Lowey*, D-WEP-WF

Joseph J. Ciardullo, REF

THE RACE:Long shot candidate seeks to unseat U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey

How can I see a sample ballot?

Rockland: See one through the polling place lookup.

I can't make it to the polls Election Day. Can I still vote?

Yes. You can vote by absentee ballot.

How can I get an absentee ballot?

It's too late to request an absentee ballot by mail - the deadline was Oct. 30. But Rockland voters can apply for an absentee ballot in person at the Rockland County Board of Elections, 11 New Hempstead Road, New City, up to Nov. 5, the day before the election.

The absentee ballot itself must be postmarked by Nov. 5 and received by Nov. 13, or dropped off at the Board of Elections by the close of polls on Nov. 6.

Application and details on absentee ballots: https://rocklandgov.com/departments/board-of-elections/absentee-ballots/

DETAILS:Absentee ballot voting in New York: How to get one, how to vote

Can I write in a candidate?

Yes. There's a space on the paper ballot designated for write-ins. Write the name of the person you'd like. See a video.

I'm not registered to vote. Can I still register?

No. The deadline to register in time for this year's election was Oct. 12.

Where can I report voting problems or suspected voter fraud?

If workers at your polling place can't resolve the problem try:

1. Your board of elections:

Rockland County Board of Elections

Address: 11 New Hempstead Road, New City, NY 10956.

Phone: 845-638-5172

Email: voterinfo@co.rockland.ny.us

Website: http://rocklandgov.com/departments/board-of-elections

2. The state Attorney General's Office hotline

Voters experiencing barriers to voting or other problems at their polling place can call the the New York Attorney General's Office's Election Day Hotline at 800-771-7755 or email civil.rights@ag.ny.gov at any time between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

3. The U.S. Attorney's Office

The United States Attorney's Office will receive complaints about possible violations of federal election laws at the following number on Election Day: 646-369-4739.

Or call the FBI directly at 212-384-1000.

Rockland Board of Elections address, etc.

Address: 11 New Hempstead Road, New City, NY 10956.

Phone: 845-638-5172

Email: voterinfo@co.rockland.ny.us

Absentee ballot details: https://rocklandgov.com/departments/board-of-elections/absentee-ballots/

Website: http://rocklandgov.com/departments/board-of-elections

Staff writer Michael G. Meaney contributed to this report.