New York absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 15 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
You can vote by mail in New York if:
- You will be absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City, absent from New York City, on Election Day
- You are unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability
- You are unable to appear at the polls because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled
- You are a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital
- You are in jail awaiting Grand Jury action but not yet convicted of any crime
- You are in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony
- Visit the New York absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 15 days before Election Day.
- Download the New York absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 15 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
New York does not have a statewide ballot tracker. Contact your local election office.
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if the signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- Your local election office will let you know if there are issues.
- You must make corrections within 7 business days after receiving your cure notice for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
There is no emergency ballot procedure for most voters. You can vote by emergency absentee ballot only if you are an emergency responder. If you are an emergency responder and will be away performing duties on Election Day, you may request a ballot after the standard absentee deadline (15 days before Election Day). This special ballot will be issued immediately using overnight express delivery unless there is a designated preference for facsimile or electronic transmission. Your voted ballot can be returned to any board of elections office or polling location within the state, but it must be received by the close of polls on Election Day.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is close of polls Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for New York elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
NYS Board of Elections 40 North Pearl Street, Suite 5 Albany, NY 12207‐2729