New York's voting laws have been rapidly changing in recent months. Now, absentee/vote-by-mail is available to any voter in November 2020 due to COVID-19. Additionally, New York has added a week of early voting immediately prior to Election Day. Consider an absentee/VBM ballot and then learn more about your early voting location as a backup plan.
To avoid possible postal delays impacting your vote, we recommend mailing your completed ballot back by Tuesday, October 13th. Plan to drop it off by hand after that.
If you are concerned about your absentee ballot returning on time through the mail, visit our other page to learn how to drop your ballot off in person.
Register In Person: October 9, 2020
Register By Mail: Postmarked October 9, 2020, Received October 14, 2020.
Register Online: Received by October 9, 2020 (Form must be printed and mailed to your county's Board of Elections
Request In Person: Received November 2, 2020
Request By Mail: Postmarked October 27, 2020
Request Online: N/A
(Please be warned that despite this deadline, the Post Office has advised they cannot guarantee timely delivery of ballots applied for less than 15 days before an election. We recommend an October 6th deadline to mail a ballot request)
Ballots that are mailed must be postmarked by November 2nd and received at your county Board of Elections within seven days of the election.
Ballots returned in person must be delivered by the close of polls (9pm local time) on Election Day.
We strongly recommend mailing your ballot much earlier (by October 13th) and, if that's not possible, dropping it off in person. Learn how below or on our other page.
Yes; however, fear of spreading or contracting COVID-19 is a valid excuse in November 2020.
The full list is of valid excuses include:
Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability (temporary illness includes being unable to appear due to risk of contracting or spreading a communicable disease like COVID-19).
Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.
No.
Ballots can returned to a County Board of Elections office (by Nov. 3rd), Early Voting site (between Oct. 24th and Nov. 1st), or polling place on Election Day.
Yes, but that person has to have been declared on your absentee ballot application.
October 24th to November 1st.
Open for at least eight hours between 7 AM and 8 PM each weekday during the early voting period.
At least one early voting site shall be open until 8 PM on at least two weekdays in each calendar week during the early voting period.
Open for at least five hours between 9 AM and 6 PM on each Saturday, Sunday and legal holiday during the early voting period.
Boards of elections may establish a greater number of hours for voting during the early voting period beyond what is required.
Go to your county Board of Elections' site to find early voting locations
No.
No.
6am - 9pm
If you are in line when polls close, you are legally entitled to vote. Don't leave!
No.