How to vote in New York
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 10 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 10 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): 15 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 15 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
New York voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 10 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 15 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 10 days before Election Day
- 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 site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
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)
- not currently be judged incompetent by a court
- not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
You can register to vote online if you have a New York driver license, driver permit, or nondriver photo ID card.
- Visit the New York online voter registration site.
- 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 10 days before Election Day.
- 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 by 15 days before Election Day.
- 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 that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and New York address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are immediately restored when you are released from prison. You can register to vote on probation or parole.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
New York absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and early mail ballots work the same way, 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
Any registered New York voter may request an early mail ballot and vote by mail.
- 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.
Track your ballot here: New York absentee ballot tracker
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
New York early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 10 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 2 days before Election Day
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 or any other non-expired photo ID. 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.
New York voter ID guide
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 or any other non-expired photo ID. 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.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
You can register to vote online if you have a New York driver license, driver permit, or nondriver 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