As New Yorkers prepare for early voting in the midterm elections from October 24, misinformation and rumors have left some voters, including newly naturalized citizens, unsure of what to expect.
Here are some common myths, including those surrounding voting requirements and ICE presence at the polls.
Rumor #1: You need to bring a birth certificate to vote
This is false.
In 2025, the Trump administration started to push for the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship while voting. However, the bill failed to pass the Senate.
Only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections. Immigrants who can vote have met these requirements:
- Are 18 years old
- Are a naturalized U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of New York
- Are registered to vote
Also Read: First-Time Voting for Naturalized Citizens, Explained
Immigrants who are not citizens should not register to vote, as this is considered fraud.
Do I need to bring a photo ID to vote?
You do not need to bring an ID to vote unless you did not provide identification with your registration. The Mayor Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) told Documented that poll watchers and observers cannot demand a photo ID or proof of citizenship from voters.
Acceptable identification includes:
- Your driver’s license number
- Your non-driver ID number
- The last four digits of your Social Security number
What if I didn’t provide identification when I registered to vote?
According to the NYC Board of Elections, if you have not provided previous identification by Election Day, you can still vote using an affidavit ballot rather than the regular ballot scanner.
Rumor #2: ICE agents can intimidate voters at polling sites
This is false. Intimidation, threats, or coercion — or attempts to intimidate — at any stage of the voting process are against the law.
During outreach efforts across NYC, the Caribbean Equality Project encountered voters with questions about identification requirements and immigration enforcement at polling sites. “A community member last week [said to] us, ‘We read that ICE is going to be present at all sites,’” Mohamed Q. Amin, the executive director and founder, remarked. Amin recommends that people should verify information through the NYC Board of Elections and NYC Votes, not WhatsApp forwards or social media rumors.
New York Attorney General Letitia James further reminded voters that state and federal law protects them from all forms of voter intimidation, including from government officials and armed federal agents.
“Every eligible New Yorker should be able to cast a ballot without fear or confusion. No one should be intimidated or discouraged from exercising their right to vote. If something doesn’t feel right at your polling place, tell a poll worker and call the state Attorney General’s Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-390-2992. Don’t leave without first asking how you can still cast your ballot,” Ivonne Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office, told Documented.
The Department of Homeland Security said it is “not planning operations targeting polling locations.”
Rumor #3: There’s voter fraud
Voter fraud is extremely rare — out of 685 million votes cast since 2016, there have been just 513 proven cases of voter fraud.
“Ballot scanners and other voting systems undergo rigorous pre-election logic and accuracy testing, as well as routine audit testing,” Yasmin Abusaif, a counsel in the Brennan Center’s Elections and Government Program, previously wrote. “After the election, a thorough canvassing process provides an additional check on vote tabulation accuracy.”
Rumor #4: Voting will put my undocumented relatives at risk
This is false. Your vote is not only safe, but confidential. It will not impact your relatives’ immigration status.
Rumor #5: I can’t vote because of a previous criminal record
In 2021, New York changed its law to give voting rights to everyone who is not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. Many New Yorkers with criminal records are still guaranteed the right to vote. To check your eligibility to register to vote, visit restoreyourvote.org
Rumor #6: I will be turned away because of my identity
“Every LGBTQ+ and immigrant voter deserves to vote safely with confidence,” Amin, whose organization developed the “Queer Out the Vote” guide to inform LGBTQ+ voters, said.
If you are misgendered or confronted because of your gender identity, appearance, accent, or immigration background, you can ask to speak with the poll site coordinator and document what happened when it is safe to do so.
If you have legally changed your name, submit an update through the online registration portal or the voter registration form. If your registration still lists your former name, tell a poll worker. Under New York Election Law (8-302) voters who have changed their names are still allowed to vote unless challenged on other grounds. If further issues arise, you have the right to request an affidavit ballot, which election officials then review.
Rumor #7: The lines will take too long
If you are anxious about a potentially overwhelming number of people at the polls on election day, you can vote early from October 24 until the day of the election. Consider checking your registration and polling location before Election Day. You can also bring a trusted person for support if you wish (that person doesn’t have to be a U.S. citizen).
Under New York Election Law, employers must give their employees enough time to vote. If an employee doesn’t have enough time to vote during their regular workday, employers must provide up to two hours of paid leave to vote at the beginning or end of their shift.
Rumor #8: I need to speak English to vote
All U.S. citizens, including naturalized citizens, have the right to vote regardless of language barriers, and they can receive language assistance when casting their ballot.
There are translated ballots, signage, forms, and interpreters available at NYC polling sites.
“The languages offered have been determined by the demographics and requirements of the borough, however all sites receive tablets with Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) software and can translate between voter and poll worker,” the Deputy Executive Director of the NYC Board of Elections, Vincent Ignizio, said. “The Board also operates a phone bank during Early Voting and Election Day with bilingual operators in all of our covered languages.”
Below is a list of language designations provided by the NYC Board of Elections:
- Spanish – Citywide
- Chinese – Targeted sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island
- Korean – Targeted sites in Queens
- Bengali – Targeted sites in Brooklyn & Queens
- Urdu signage & interpreters – Targeted sites in Brooklyn
- Tagalog signage & interpreters – Targeted sites in Queens
- Hindi and Punjabi interpreters – Targeted sites in Queens
Russian and Yiddish are also available at some sites across the city.
For more information, visit the NYC Voter Language Access website
How to spot election misinformation on social media
Election rumors have been spreading through social media, short videos and messaging apps, including from people that claim to have insider information. Diana Liu, who works on a media literacy project called Civic News Compass, recommends the following practices:
- Check your emotions when you’re reading news. Pause when a post provokes a strong emotional reaction. Content designed to make readers feel angry, scared or urgently compelled to share may be manipulating their emotions.
- Check the original source. Short videos and forwarded messages may not include links, evidence or context. Look for the original report, the person or organization making the claim, and supporting documentation.
- Cross-check with other credible outlets. Before accepting an election-related claim, see whether news organizations or relevant election officials have reported the same information.
- Be skeptical of alleged insider information. A post claiming that a friend or contact inside an election office has revealed fraud is not proof. Look for verifiable evidence rather than relying on personal connections.
- Be careful with AI-generated answers. Chatbots and search engines with embedded AI features can produce incorrect election information. Check the underlying sources and consult official election resources instead of relying on a generated summary.
- Verify before sharing with others. A claim does not become reliable simply because it comes from a friend, relative or trusted community group. Check it before sharing it with others.
