Elections and Voting

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To help prevent the community spread of COVID-19, all registered, eligible voters in New York may vote by absentee ballot for the 2020 General Election.

You must request an absentee ballot to be able to vote by mail. Learn more in the Absentee Voting section below.

In New York State, registered voters can vote in three ways:

  1. Voting on Election Day
  2. Early Voting
  3. Mailing or dropping off an absentee ballot

You can find your poll site and learn about voting and upcoming elections.

To check your voter registration status or learn how to register to vote, visit the Voter Registration page.

Elections

Election
Contest Details
Election Day
Early Voting Days
General Election
Voters choose who will be elected for:
  • U.S President
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • State and local offices
November 3
October 24-November 1

Deadlines

Voter Registration

Date
Deadline Information
October 9          
Last day to postmark an application to register to vote. It must be received no later than October 14.
October 9
Last day to register to vote in person.
October 14
Last day to request a change of an address on your voter registration. The Board of Elections must receive your application by this date.
October 24
Last day to register as a military voter in person if you serve in the U.S. Military or are a spouse or dependent of someone serving in the U.S. military.
October 24
Last day to register in person if you were honorably discharged from the U.S. Military or have become a naturalized U.S. Citizen after October 9.

Absentee Voting

Date
Deadline Information
October 27           
Last day to postmark, apply online, or fax an application for an absentee ballot.
November 2           
Last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot.
November 3           
Last day to postmark an absentee ballot. It must be received no later than November 10th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than November 16th.
November 3           
Last day to deliver the absentee ballot in person to the Board of Elections.

The Board of Elections will mail absentee ballots to voters who request them beginning on or after September 18.

Candidates

When the complete Contest List for an election has been approved, you can view a sample ballot for your Election District using the Poll Site Locator. The sample ballot lists the names and party affiliations of all candidates and any proposals being voted on in the district.

Poll sites provide voters with ballots and scanners to record their votes.

Using the Poll Site Locator, you can confirm your:  

  • Election Day poll site
  • Early Voting poll site
  • Election Districts, including City Council, Congressional, and Assembly

You can also view a sample ballot if there is an election event in your Election District. The sample ballot lists the names and party affiliations of all candidates and any proposals being voted on in your district.

The sample ballot is for reference and isn't valid for casting a vote. A paper ballot will be provided at Early Voting and Election Day sites, which may be different than the sample ballot because of court orders.

Use the Poll Site Locator.

On Election Day, participating poll sites are open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Voters who are in line by 9 PM can cast a ballot.

Voting Process

Step 1: Go to the poll site for your registered home address. If you’re a first-time registered voter who didn’t provide your identification when you registered, you need to show an acceptable form of ID.

Step 2: A poll worker will look up your name on the list of registered voters.

Step 3: After you sign your name in the poll book, you'll be given a paper ballot and directed to a privacy booth.

Step 4: Mark the ballot with your choices using the pen provided.

Step 5: Take your ballot to the scanner area and insert your marked ballot in the scanner to cast your vote.

Step 6: The scanner will record your vote. When the polls close, the scanners will be used to count all votes cast on Election Day.

Learn more about voting on Election Day.

Identification Requirements

Only first-time registrants who did not provide identification when they registered to vote need to show identification at the poll site.

Acceptable forms of ID include the following:

  • Valid Photo ID
  • Recent copy of utility bill
  • Recent copy of bank statement
  • Recent copy of paycheck
  • Recent copy of government check or document

Voters with Disabilities

If you have a disability or difficulty seeing or marking the paper ballot, poll workers can help you.

Each poll site provides magnifiers at voting booths if you have difficulty seeing.

A ballot marking device (BMD) is also available if you have a disability. This device enables voters with disabilities to vote without assistance and in privacy.

You will be able to access and mark a ballot using a:

  • Audio headset
  • Touch screen
  • Keypad
  • Sip and puff device
  • Rocker paddle

At least one BMD will be available in every poll site during the regular voting hours of 6 AM to 9 PM. At each poll site, every voter who is in line by 9 PM can cast his or her ballot.

Interpretation Services

As required by the Voting Rights Act, the Board of Elections provides interpretation services at certain poll sites in:

  • Bengali
  • Cantonese
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
  • Spanish

Transportation

The City doesn’t provide transportation to poll sites.

Voting by Affidavit

If you believe you are registered to vote and your name does not appear in the poll book on Election Day, you are entitled to receive an affidavit ballot.

You can complete and submit the ballot at your poll site. The NYC Board of Election will notify you by mail whether or not your ballot was counted.

In New York State, you can vote before Election Day at an early voting poll site. The ballot is the same, no matter when you choose to vote.

All voters are assigned an early voting poll site. The location and voting hours may be different than your Election Day poll site.

You can find your early voting site using the Poll Site Locator.

Learn more about early voting.

Use the Poll Site Locator.

You can vote by absentee ballot if you can’t vote on Election Day or at an early voting poll site because of one of the following reasons:

  • Business
  • Studies
  • Travel
  • Imprisonment (not including convicted felons)
  • Illness
  • Disability
  • Hospitalization
  • Residency in a long-term care facility

For the 2020 General Election, all registered voters in New York can vote by absentee ballot due to the risk of contracting an illness. Any voter who is concerned about COVID-19 may vote by absentee ballot.

Learn more about absentee voting.

Apply for an Absentee Ballot

You must complete and submit an Absentee Ballot Application to receive an absentee ballot.

The application must include:

  • Your name 
  • The home address listed on your voter registration 
  • Your mailing address (if different) 
  • Your reason for voting absentee 
  • Your signature

The Board of Elections will mail absentee ballots to voters who request them beginning on or after September 18.

Online

Request an absentee ballot.

Download an absentee ballot application.

By Email

Send your completed application to Apply4Absentee@boe.nyc

*Avoid delays by saving your completed application as a PDF*

In Person

Pick up an application at a Board of Elections office.

By Phone

You can have a postage-paid application mailed to you.

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. Call volume is often high. If you receive a busy signal or can't get through, call back later.

Submit an Absentee Ballot

After you have received and completed an absentee ballot, you can send it to the Board of Elections (BOE) by mail or in person.

By Mail

You can mail your absentee ballot to your BOE Borough Office.

To be counted, your absentee ballot must be postmarked by the day before Election Day and reach the borough office no later than 7 days after the election has ended.

In Person

Absentee voting in person begins as soon as the ballots are available (at least 32 days before an election) and ends on Election Day.

You can deliver a completed Absentee Ballot and envelope to the BOE Borough Office up until 9 PM on Election Day.

Track Ballot Status

You can check the status of your absentee ballot application and track your ballot after you have submitted your application.

Check the status of an absentee ballot.

If you need help with your ballot status, you can contact the Board of Elections.

By Email

Send a message to AbsenteeHelp@boe.nyc.

By Phone

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. Call volume is often high. If you receive a busy signal or can't get through, call back later.

Emergency Absentee Ballots

If the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed and you can’t appear at the polls on Election Day because of an accident or sudden illness, you can send a representative.

The representative must have an authorized letter to receive an Absentee Ballot Application and an absentee ballot by the close of business, the day before the election.

To be valid, both the completed application and ballot envelope, which contains only the completed ballot, must be delivered to your BOE Borough Office by 9 PM on Election Day.

Voting Rights

Voters in New York City have certain rights.

Learn about your rights as a voter.

Events

You can attend voter awareness events in your community.

Learn about upcoming events.

Alerts

You can sign up to receive email updates with information about upcoming elections from the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

After you provide your email address, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a link you will need to click in order to confirm and complete the subscription process.

Alerts are only sent by email. You will not get alerts on your phone, even if you provide your cell phone number.

All voters must meet age, citizenship, and residency requirements. You must also be registered to vote.

If you have a criminal record, there may be more requirements for you to be able to vote.

There are no additional requirements if you:

  • Are in jail for a misdemeanor charge
  • Have been convicted of a misdemeanor
  • Are on probation
  • Have completed your maximum prison sentence
  • Have been discharged from parole on any charge

If you are on parole, you must get a Certificate of Relief or a Certificate of Conduct to restore your voting rights. You must also register again. To learn about getting Certificate of Relief or a Certificate of Conduct, visit the Certificate of Conduct page.

If you are in prison or jail for a felony, you cannot vote.

If you are awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing at the New York City Department of Correction, you are eligible to vote.

Online

Learn about voting rights for people with a criminal record or inmates of Department of Correction.

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

Re-Registering to Vote after Prison

If you were in prison for a felony, the Board of Elections was notified and your name was removed from the voting rolls.

When you have completed your maximum sentence or been discharged from parole, you need to register again to vote.

Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot for a DOC Inmate

You can get voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications from the law libraries, counseling units, chaplains’ offices and program wagons in the New York City Department of Correction.

When you register to vote, you should use your permanent home address as your residence. Do not provide the address of the jail, except as your mailing address.

Bronx

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Bronx Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 1780 Grand Concourse 5th Floor, Bronx, NY, 10457
  • Phone Number: (718) 299-9017
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Brooklyn

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Brooklyn Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 345 Adams Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
  • Phone Number: (718) 797-8800
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Manhattan

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Manhattan Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 200 Varick Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10014
  • Phone Number: (212) 886-2100
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Queens

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Queens Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 118-35 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY, 11375
  • Phone Number: (718) 730-6730
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Staten Island

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Staten Island Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 1 Edgewater Plaza, 4th Floor, Staten Island, NY, 10305
  • Phone Number: (718) 876-0079
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

You can get more help with voting, upcoming elections, absentee ballots, and the voting process by phone.

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. Call volume is often high. If you receive a busy signal or can't get through, call back later.

Political Campaign Complaints

NYC311 is part of New York City government and does not provide information or take complaints about political candidates or their election campaigns.

Election campaigns and other non-profit organizations are not covered by the National Do Not Call Registry. The NYC Board of Elections and other City agencies don’t take complaints about election campaigns or candidates.

You may contact the candidate's campaign office to make a complaint about the candidate, campaign workers, or the use of campaign tactics, such as robo-calls, direct mail, or television ads.

To report political signs on public property, visit the Poster or Sticker Complaint page.

Poll Site Complaints

You report a problem with a poll site, including:

  • Poll sites that opened late or closed early
  • Poll sites that aren’t accessible to voters with disabilities
  • Long lines
  • Lack of privacy
  • Voting machine or ballot issues

You can also report a problem with a poll worker. To make a complaint, visit the Poll Site or Voting Equipment Complaint page.

Voter Name Not in Poll Book

If you believe you are registered to vote and your name doesn't appear in the poll book on Election Day, you are entitled to receive an affidavit ballot.

You can complete and submit the ballot at your poll site. The NYC Board of Elections will notify you by mail whether or not your ballot was counted.

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