Every office that shapes daily life in Harlem is on the ballot this year: Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General and Comptroller; every seat in Congress, the State Senate and the State Assembly; and judges of the State Supreme Court.

Why this election matters so much. The leaders we choose on November 3 will decide how our schools are funded, what housing and rent will cost, how our neighborhoods are kept safe, who can get health care, and how our right to vote is protected. They will also decide the balance of power in Congress and how New York responds to the decisions made in Washington on health care, housing, immigration and civil rights. Those choices will shape Harlem, and the Harlems of the world, for years to come.

Generations before us marched, organized and sacrificed for the right to cast this ballot. Honoring them means showing up, bringing a neighbor, and making our voices count.

Early voting: October 24 – November 1. Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.