New York

Land Acknowledgement

New York is home to the Cayuga Nation, Oneida Nation of New York, Onondaga Nation, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Seneca Nation of Indians, Shinnecock Indian Nation, Tonawanda Band of Seneca, and the Tuscarora Nation of New York. It is also the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

You can register to vote by mail, in person, or online. The deadline to register is October 14. Mail in applications must be postmarked by this date. You do not need an ID to vote unless you are a first time voter who registered by mail and did not provide a copy of your ID.

Key Dates

October 14 – Voter registration deadline

October 19 – Deadline to change your address of registration

October 24 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail

October 29 – Early voting begins

November 6 – Early voting ends

November 7 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot in person

November 8 – Election Day!

Contacts

New York Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The deadline to register to vote is October 14. Mail in applications must be postmarked by October 14 and received by the Board of Elections no later than October 19.

  • No.

  • You must provide either your New York driver's license or State ID number OR the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Alternatively, you may use a valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or some other government document that shows your name and address.

  • New York requires you to provide the address where you live, not a P.O. Box.

  • Contact your county Board of Elections office.

  • You can get a driver's license or State ID from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles.

  • Yes. If you have a New York driver's license or State ID, you can register here.

  • No.

  • Yes. You can register to vote in person at your county Board of Elections office, any Department of Motor Vehicle office, or any Agency-Based voter registration center, such as the Department of Social Services or military recruiting offices. Find a complete list of Agency-Based voter registration centers here. Find your county Board of Elections here.

  • Yes. You may print your voter registration form and mail it to your county Board of Elections. Find the voter registration form and mailing addresses here.

  • Yes. Anyone who is not currently incarcerated may register to vote.

  • Contact your county Board of Elections office.

  • The deadline to register to vote is October 14. Mail in applications must be postmarked by October 14 and received by the Board of Elections no later than October 19.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • Check your voter registration here.

  • Contact your county Board of Elections office. Find contact information here.

  • You can change your voter registration by mailing a new registration form to your county Board of Elections. The deadline to change your registration address is October 19. Find the voter registration form here.

  • Probably not. If you are concerned about the status of your registration, check it here.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • You must provide a reason to request an absentee ballot in New York. The deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail is October 24. The deadline to request an absentee ballot in person is November 7. All absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 8.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can apply for an absentee ballot online here. You can also apply in person at your county Board of Elections. Find contact information here.

  • Yes. You are eligible to vote by absentee ballot if you meet one of the following criteria: you will be absent from your county on Election Day; you are unable to appear at the polls due to illness; you are unable to appear due to caring for an ill or disabled individual; you are a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital; or you are in jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction.

  • Yes.

  • The deadline to request an absentee ballot online or by mail is October 24. The deadline to request an absentee ballot in person is November 7.

  • Ballots will be mailed beginning September 23.

  • Your absentee ballot can be mailed to either your address of registration or any alternative address you provide on your absentee ballot request.

  • Yes.

  • Ballots must be postmarked by November 8.

  • Yes. You can drop off your completed ballot to your county Board of Elections office. Find contact information here.

  • Yes. You may authorize someone else to pick up and deliver your absentee ballot. You must include their name on your absentee ballot application. Find the application here.

  • No.

  • No.

  • Maybe. If your ballot is determined to have curable defects, you will be notified within one day and given the opportunity to cure it. You must cure the defect with the Board of Elections on or before November 7 OR seven business days after the notification is mailed, whichever is later. If your ballot is determined to have an uncurable issue and it is before Election Day, you will be notified and advised of alternate ways to vote. If your ballot is determined uncurable after Election Day, your ballot will not be counted. Find detailed information on curable and uncurable issues here.

  • Track your absentee ballot here.

  • Contact your county Board of Elections office.

Voting In-Person

  • Find your polling location and hours here.

  • No.

  • Yes. Early voting is available from October 29 to November 6. Find locations here.

  • No. However, if you are a first-time voter who registered by mail and didn't provide a copy of your ID you will need to provide identification.

  • You can get a driver's license or State ID from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles. Find more information here.

  • Yes. If your eligibility to vote is questioned you may be asked to vote a provisional ballot. You will receive a notice if your ballot is not counted.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • Contact your county Board of Elections office. Find contact information here.