New York

Absentee and early mail ballot process

What’s the difference between an absentee ballot and an early mail ballot?

In New York, both absentee ballots and early mail ballots allow voters to vote without going to the polls on Election Day. However, any registered voter can apply for an early mail ballot, while absentee ballots are for voters who meet specific criteria like being absent from their county on Election Day.

Once your application for absentee voting has been accepted, you will continue to automatically receive absentee ballots at your address until you cancel your registration. 

Who is eligible for an absentee ballot?

In New York, you may qualify to vote absentee if you are:

• Not present in your county on Election Day, or for New York City residents, not within the five boroughs
• Unable to go to the polling station because of a temporary or lasting illness or disability
• Unable to attend as you are the main caregiver for someone who is sick or has a physical disability
• Living in or being treated at a Veterans Health Administration Hospital
• Confined in jail or prison for reasons other than a felony conviction, including those awaiting grand jury decisions, trial, or serving a misdemeanor sentence

Requesting an absentee ballot

How do I apply for an absentee ballot?

To apply for an absentee ballot, you can:

• Use the online Absentee Ballot Application portal
• Apply in-person at your local county board of elections
• Designate someone to deliver your application in-person on your behalf

What is the deadline for an early mail or absentee ballot request?

If you’re sending your early mail or absentee ballot application through the mail, requests must be received no later than Saturday, October 26, 2024. 

If you’re picking up your early mail ballot in-person, you can submit your application up to the day before the election (Monday, November 4, 2024). 

How can I return my early mail or absentee ballot request?

For the 2024 New York General Election, you can return your completed ballot by:

• Mailing it with a postmark no later than Election Day (Tuesday, November 5)
• Dropping it off at your county Board of Elections office by 9 pm on Election Day
• Dropping it off at an early voting poll site or an election day poll site by 9 pm on election day

If sending your ballot by mail, your county Board of Elections Office must receive it no later than November 12. For New York, the USPS recommends sending your ballot in approximately seven days ahead of the election.

Completing a mail ballot

How do I complete a mail ballot?

Once you receive the ballot, follow the instructions to mark your choices for each office or measure. Then, fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope, sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope, and seal it.

Returning a mail ballot

How can I return my mail ballot?

You can return the ballot by putting it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than Election Day, or by dropping it off at your county Board of Elections Office or an early voting poll site in your county.

What is the deadline for returning the ballot?

The ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day and must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than 7 days after Election Day.

How can I find a ballot drop box? 

You can find the closest ballot drop box to you by selecting your county on the New York Ballot Drop Off Locations website.

Do I have to pay for postage for my mail ballot?

All early mail ballots in New York include a pre-paid return envelope, so no additional postage is needed.

What should I do if my mail ballot is rejected?

If your mail ballot is rejected in New York, the most common reasons include signatures not matching and missed deadlines. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. It’s important to read the ballot instructions carefully and to send it in as early as possible.

Registering to Vote

How do I register to vote for the first time?

You can register to vote in New York by using one of the following methods:

• Online: Register to vote by completing the application on the New York State website.
• By mail: You may get a paper voter registration form by printing one out from the New York State website, picking up a paper form at your local elections office, or completing a request to receive a form through the mail via the Voting Registration Form Request page. Once you’ve filled out the form, you’ll need to print it, sign it, and mail it.
• In person: Visit an office where elections are administered in your area and register there in person. You must register 10 before the election.

The application is available in English and Spanish.

You can also register to vote on BallotReady.org.

How do I update or change my voter registration?

The process of changing your voter registration is similar to registering to vote for the first time. You can update your voter registration online, by mail, or in-person. You can also use BallotReady.org to check your voter registration status. 

Remember that the deadline to change your voter registration is 10 days before the election.

What ID do I need to register to vote?

The identification that you need to register to vote in New York varies based on the method of registration: 

Registering to vote in an election office 

Be prepared with your driver's license number or non-driver ID number or the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have a driver's license, non-driver ID or social security number you may use a valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or some other government document that shows your name and address.

Registering to vote by mail

Federal law requires that you provide your driver's license number to register to vote. If you do not have a driver's license then you will have to provide at least the last four digits of your social security number. If you have neither, please write 'NONE' on the form. A unique identifying number will be assigned to you by your State. If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, Federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes: a current and valid photo identification or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address. You may be exempt from this requirement if you submit a COPY of this identification with your mail in voter registration form.

Registering to vote online

You will need your New York State DMV issued driver license, permit or Non-Driver ID (the ID must be your most recently issued document), your ZIP Code currently on record with the DMV, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (SSN).

If you’re under the age of 18, you may still be eligible to register to vote! If you can pre-register, you’ll need the following documents:

Pre-registering to vote in an election office 

Be prepared with your driver's license number or non-driver ID number or the last four digits of your social security number. If you do not have a driver's license, non-driver ID or social security number you may use a valid photo ID, a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or some other government document that shows your name and address.

Pre-registering to vote by mail

Federal law requires that you provide your driver's license number to register to vote. If you do not have a driver's license then you will have to provide at least the last four digits of your social security number. If you have neither, please write 'NONE' on the form. A unique identifying number will be assigned to you by your State. If you are registering to vote for the first time in your jurisdiction and are mailing this registration application, Federal law requires you to show proof of identification the first time you vote. Proof of identification includes: a current and valid photo identification or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows your name and address. You may be exempt from this requirement if you submit a COPY of this identification with your mail in voter registration form.

Pre-registering to vote online

You will need your New York State DMV issued driver license, permit or Non-Driver ID (the ID must be your most recently issued document), your ZIP Code currently on record with the DMV, and the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number (SSN).

For more information on voting requirements for your state, make a plan to vote on BallotReady.org. 

How do I check my voter registration?

Residents of New York can check their voter registration status through the following methods:

• Online: Visit New York’s voter registration page on their state website. 
• Election authority: For specific questions, you may be able to contact your local elections office, courthouse, or county elections office for more information on your voter registration status.

You can also check your voter registration on BallotReady.org. 

What is the deadline for registering to vote?

In New York, you need to be registered to vote at least 10 days before an election to be eligible to cast a ballot. 

For the upcoming {{ next_election_name }}, your voter registration application must be:

• Mail: {{ deadline_voter_registration_mail }}
• Received in-person by: {{ deadline_voter_registration_in_person }}
• Submitted online by: {{ deadline_online_voter_registration }}

Can I register to vote on Election Day?

No, New York does not have same-day voter registration. This means you cannot register to vote on Election Day. You must register at least 10 days before an election in order to vote.

Can I register to vote during early voting?

No, in New York, you cannot register to vote during early voting. To cast your vote in an election, make sure you’re registered at least 10 days in advance. 

Who is eligible to register to vote?

New York residents that fit the following criteria are eligible to register to vote:

• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be 18 years old by the end of this year (you may pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until you are 18)
• Be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election
• Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parole pardoned or restored rights of citizenship)
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere
• Not found to be incompetent by a court

In New York, you can register to vote, even if you’re under the age of 18! Future voters who are 16 or 17 may pre-register to vote. They will be eligible to vote for the first election after they turn 18. 

Do I have to choose a political party when registering to vote?

New York gives voters the option to choose a political party when registering to vote. It is not required to register, but choosing “no party preference” could limit your ability to participate in presidential primary elections and caucuses. 

Early Voting

Note: In-person early voting is sometimes referred to as 'in-person absentee', 'over-the-counter voting', 'assisted voting', or other similar titles. These are all essentially the same kind of voting and will be discussed as one in this section.

Who is eligible to vote early?

For the upcoming {{ next_election_name }}, any registered voter may vote early in person.

Where do I go to vote early?

In-person early voting may happen in a variety of locations like county election offices, city halls or municipal buildings, public libraries, schools, and community centers. It’s important to note that the availability of early voting can vary significantly by state or even county. They may also change from election to election, so be sure to check your early voting location before you head to the polls. 

You can use BallotReady.org to make a plan to vote early and find a specific in-person early voting location, based on your address.

You may also be able to find information on in-person early voting on New York’s Board of Elections website. 

When does early voting begin? When does it end?

For the {{ next_election_name }}, the dates for in-person early voting are as follows:

• Start of early voting: {{ early_voting_starts_on }}
• End of early voting: {{ early_voting_ends_on }}

Generally, in-person early voting begins 10 days before Election Day and ends 2 days before Election Day. However, it’s worth checking the specific early voting dates for upcoming elections, as these dates can change or differ for local elections.

Resources

MIT Election Data + Science Lab. Accessed August 1, 2024.

Voter ID | NYC Board of Elections Accessed August 5, 2024.

Voter Lookup | New York State Board of Elections. Accessed August 5, 2024.

New York Laws Ch 17 Article 8, Title 6. Accessed July 24, 2024.

New York State Board of Elections. Accessed July 21st, 2024.