Voting in New York
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.
This article includes the following information about voting policies in New York:
- Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
- In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
- Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
- Details about voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information election agencies.
- Summaries of noteworthy policy-related events.
See Election administration in New York for more additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration
The table below displays voter registration information specific to New York's 2024 election cycle.
Eligibility and registration details
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in New York, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, city, or village for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the date of the election. People who are in prison for a felony conviction and those who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote. One cannot register to vote in New York while claiming the right to vote elsewhere. Pre-registration is available beginning at the age of 16.[1]
Registration applications are available at the county board of elections or any agency-based voter registration center. Forms are also available online, or prospective voters can request the form by mail.[1] Completed forms returned by mail must be postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election.
The form must then be received by election officials at least 10 days before the election. A registration done in person must be completed at least 10 days prior to the election.[2] Residents may also register to vote online through the DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. These applications are forwarded to the board of elections; applicants should allow up to six weeks for processing.[3]
In-person voting
The table below displays in-person voting information specific to New York's 2024 election cycle.
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for primary and general elections. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[4][5]
Voter identification
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
New York does not require voters to present identification while voting.[6] However, if a voter does not provide valid identification at the time of registration, he or she must show identification at the polling place when voting for the first time[7][8]
Voters can present the following forms of identification:
- A current, valid photo ID, including but not limited to a drivers' license or a DMV-issued non-driver photo ID
- A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with the voter's name and address
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
New York permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: Absentee/mail-in voting
The table below displays absentee voting information specific to New York's 2024 election cycle.
New York offers early mail voting and absentee voting.[9]
Any registered voter may vote an early mail ballot. To vote an absentee ballot, a voter must be: [9]
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Applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots must be received by the county board of elections at least ten days before an election, unless the application is submitted in person by the day before the election.[9]
Early mail ballots and absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day and received by the county board of elections by the seventh day after the election. Ballots may be returned in person to the county board of elections by the close of polls on Election Day or to a polling place during the early voting period or on Election Day.[9]
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In New York, people convicted of a felony automatically regain their voting rights after serving their prison time. People convicted of a felony need to re-register upon completion of their prison sentence.[11]
On May 4, 2021, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed S830 into law, providing for the automatic restoration of voting rights for people convicted of a felony upon completion of their prison sentences. Previously, state law provided for the restoration of voting rights after completion of both prison time and parole.[12][13]
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[14]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in New York can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
New York County Boards of Elections
New York State Board of Elections
- 40 North Pearl St., Suite 5
- Albany, New York 12207-2729
- Phone: 518-473-5086
- Toll free: 1-800-367-8683
- Fax: 518-486-4546
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://elections.ny.gov
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Recent issues
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- The Ballot Bulletin: November 22, 2024
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- The Ballot Bulletin: November 1, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: October 25, 2024
- The Ballot Bulletin: October 18, 2024
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Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
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See also
- 2024 election dates and deadlines
- Voter ID in New York
- Election administration in New York
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in New York
Elections in New York
- New York elections, 2024
- New York elections, 2023
- New York elections, 2022
- New York elections, 2021
- New York elections, 2020
- New York elections, 2019
- New York elections, 2018
- New York elections, 2017
- New York elections, 2016
- New York elections, 2015
- New York elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 New York State Board of Elections, “Voter Registration Process,” accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, “Registration and Voting Deadlines,” accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, “Register to Vote Online - Electronic Voter Registration Application,” accessed April 28, 2023
- ↑ New York State Senate, "Consolidated Laws of New York § 17-8-100," accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Know Your Rights," accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," accessed October 7, 2019
- ↑ New York State Senate, “Consolidated Laws, Chapter 17 Section 5-210,” accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ New York State Senate, “Consolidated Laws, Chapter 17 Section 8-302,” accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 New York State Board of Elections, "Request a Ballot," accessed August 16, 2024
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ New York State Board of Election, "Voting After Incarceration," accessed October 8, 2024
- ↑ New York State Senate, "Senate Bill S830," accessed May 3, 2023
- ↑ NYCourts.gov, "Voting," accessed April 28, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
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