Eligibility to Register to Vote
Unsure if you are already registered to vote, please check here.
You can register in person at your county board of elections, at any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center, or at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
N.Y. Election Law (5-508) allows victims of domestic violence to apply for a confidential registration by delivering a sworn statement to their local county Board of Elections stating they are a victim of domestic violence and they wish to have their voter registration record kept confidential because of the threat of physical or emotional harm to themselves or a family or household member. Their voter registration record will be kept separate and apart from other registration records for four years and not be made available for inspection or copying by the public or any other person, except election officials acting within the course and scope of their official duties. Under a separate section of the law (11-306), they can also be excused from going to their polling place to vote and get a special ballot. For further information, please contact your local board of elections for their confidential registration and special ballot procedures.
New York State Statement of Confidential Voter ( pdf 138KB)
A New York State driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card and social secrutiy number is required.
If you do not have a DMV 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.
If the County Board of Elections is unable to verify your identity when you register, you will be asked for ID when you vote for the first time. Otherwise, you will not need to bring any ID to the polls.
First time voters must provide identification either on or with their voter registration application. If you have not provided ID by Election Day, you are still allowed to vote by affidavit ballot, but not using the poll site scanner. Acceptable ID includes entering one of the following on your Voter Registration Application:
Driver's license number
Non-driver's ID number
Last four digits of your social security number
If you do not provide your driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number on your registration form, you can include a copy of any of the following documentation with your registration application:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Obtaining an ID
Date | Deadline Information |
---|---|
October 24 | Last day for board of elections to receive absentee ballot application by letter, telefax, or through the absentee request portal. |
November 7 | Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot. |
November 8 | Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 15th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than Nov. 21st. |
November 8 | Last day to deliver ballot IN-PERSON to the local board of elections or to any poll site in your county. |
Date | Deadline Information |
---|---|
October 24 | Last day for board of elections to receive absentee ballot application by letter, telefax, or through the absentee request portal. |
November 7 | Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot. |
November 8 | Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 15th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than Nov. 21st. |
November 8 | Last day to deliver ballot IN-PERSON to the local board of elections or to any poll site in your county. |
In order to apply for and receive an absentee ballot, you must meet one of the following requirements:
Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from said city, on Election Day.
Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at your county board of elections.
You may also download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form
More info regarding Absentee Voting.
In New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess and Erie, POLLS OPEN AT 6 AM - CLOSE AT 9 PM. In all other counties, POLLS OPEN AT 12 NOON and CLOSE AT 9 PM.
General Elections
Polls are open from 6 am - 9 pm.
Many organizations offer free rides to polling places. Some of these include:
The New York State Board of Elections is committed to providing exemplary assistance to all voters, including those with access needs. Any voter who requests assistance is entitled to receive it, regardless of the reason.
In addition to poll worker training, we also strive to serve all voters by creating accessible polling places.
The New York State Board of Elections has also made registering to vote accessible to all voters by offering multiple methods for completing a Voter Registration Form on their Voter Registration page.
More info regarding Voter Access Needs.
NYC Voters' Guide - nonpartisan guide to candidates and referenda on the ballot.
Jurisdiction |
Offices/Measures That May Appear on the Ballot |
Federal (even years) |
President/Vice-President (elected every four years; next election in 2020) Senator (elected every six years for staggered terms; next election in 2022) Representative (elected every two years) |
State (even years) |
Governor/Lieutenant Governor, State Comptroller, Attorney General (elected every four years; next election in 2022) State Senator (elected every two years) Assembly Member (elected every two years) Statewide ballot measures |
November 8 General Election Day
Oct 24 Last day for board of elections to receive absentee ballot application by letter, telefax, or through the absentee request portal.
Nov 7 Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot.
Nov 8 Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 15th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than Nov. 21st. Also last day to deliver ballot IN-PERSON to the local board of elections or to any poll site in your county
If you wish to file a complaint or inquire about enforcement action you may contact the Enforcement Counsel at:
Chief Enforcement CounselNew York State's Board of Elections maintains a Campaign Finance portal that provides info on campaign finance news & laws for candidates & committees for New York State.
1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) (en Español)
1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683) (Asian multilingual assistance)
1-844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287) (Arabic)
Find useful voter information including:
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