How to vote in New York
New York voter registration guide
New York voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): N/A
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 25 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 25 days before Election Day
Check your New York voter registration status
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your New York registration using the New York voter registration lookup tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
New York voter registration rules
To register in New York you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of New York and the county, city, or village for at least 30 days before Election Day
- be 18 years old by December 31 of the year you register and 18 years old by Election Day to vote (you may pre-register if you are 16)
- if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed prison and parole (if still on parole, your voting rights may have been restored by the governor- check your rights restoration status here: https://publicapps.doccs.ny.gov/ParoleeLookup/default)
- not currently be judged incompetent by a court
- not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
New York online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a New York driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued photo ID card.
- Visit the New York online voter registration tool.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is N/A.
New York by-mail voter registration
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your NY driver’s license number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you have neither, write “NONE” in this box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to vote in that party’s primary election or caucus.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked 25 days before Election Day
New York in-person voter registration
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your New York driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring one photo ID issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
New York same day registration
New York does not have same day registration.
Registering to vote in New York with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
New York absentee and mail ballot guide
New York absentee ballot overview
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
New York absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Postmarked 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by 1 day BEFORE Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
New York absentee ballot rules
Any registered New York voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
New York online ballot request (recommended)
- 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: 7 days before Election Day.
New York by-mail ballot request
- 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.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Postmarked 7 days before Election Day.
New York in-person ballot request
- 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.
After you receive your ballot
- 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. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by 1 day BEFORE 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.
New York absentee ballot ID requirements
- 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: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
New York early voting guide
New York early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
What to bring
Most New York voters do not need to show ID. First time NY voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by any state or the federal government. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Student ID is acceptable as long as it was issued by an accredited college or university.
New York voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
Most New York voters do not need to show ID. First time NY voters should plan on showing ID at the polls. You can show a photo ID issued by any state or the federal government. If you don't have a photo ID, you can show a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or official government document that shows your name and current address. Student ID is acceptable as long as it was issued by an accredited college or university.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail ballot
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a New York driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued photo ID card.
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
External resources
- New York online voter registration
- New York online absentee ballot request
- New York voter status lookup
- New York polling place locator