NYC Vote / New York voter resources
Everything you need to take the next step, from registering for the first time to finding your polling place and returning your ballot.
Official election links. No personal information collected here.
All times are local New York time
| Date | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| October 24 | Voter registration deadline | Make sure your application is received, online, in person or by mail. |
| October 24 | Mail / online ballot request deadline | Your early mail or absentee ballot application must be received. |
| October 24–November 1 | Early voting | Check your assigned location and its daily hours. |
| November 2 | Last day to apply in person for a mail ballot | Contact your county Board of Elections for office hours. |
| November 3 | Election Day, 6 AM–9 PM | Vote at your assigned site. Stay in line if you are there by 9 PM. |
| November 3 | Mail ballot return deadline | Postmark by this date, or deliver in person by 9 PM to an authorized location. |
| November 10 | Receipt deadline for mailed ballots | Ballots postmarked by November 3 must arrive at the county board by this date. |
Sources: NYS 2026 election deadlines (PDF) · NYC ballot deadlines. Checked October 21, 2026. Confirm changes with your Board of Elections.
You must be a U.S. citizen, be 18 by the election, and meet New York’s 30-day state and local residency requirement. You cannot claim the right to vote elsewhere, be in prison for a felony conviction, or have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.
At 16 or 17, you may pre-register, but you cannot vote until you turn 18. Naturalized U.S. citizens have the same voting rights as other citizens. A green card alone does not establish voting eligibility.
Online: Use the NYS portal with a NY.gov ID. Applications go to your county board for processing.
By mail: Download, print, sign and date the official form. Mail it early enough to be received by the deadline.
In person: Visit your county Board of Elections, a participating state agency or DMV.
Online registration ↗
Download forms, including Urdu and Bengali ↗
Vote in person October 24 through November 1. Hours vary by day and county. Your early voting site may differ from your Election Day site.
NYC: Use your assigned early voting site. Elsewhere: Check your county board’s rules, locations and hours.
Tuesday, November 3, from 6 AM to 9 PM. Go to your assigned Election Day polling place.
Give the poll worker your name and address, follow the ballot instructions and check both sides. If you are in line by 9 PM, stay in line to vote.
Any registered voter can request an early mail ballot without giving a reason. Absentee ballots are also available for voters who meet the qualifying conditions.
Apply by the applicable deadline, complete the ballot carefully, sign the security envelope and return it on time.
Check your mail ballot status ↗ · NYC ballot instructions ↗
Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island are served by the NYC Board of Elections. Confirm the correct location for the method of voting you choose.
Poll sites and sample ballot ↗
NYC Votes voter information ↗
NYC Board of Elections ↗
Questions? 1-866-868-3692
Contact the Board of Elections for your county, including Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester, for early voting hours, office locations and sample ballots.
Find my county Board of Elections ↗
Statewide registration and poll lookup ↗
NYS Board of Elections ↗
State voter information: 1-800-367-8683
Your ballot depends on your address and election district. Use NYC’s poll-site finder or your county board’s sample ballot to review the exact contests and any proposals before voting. Read both sides of the ballot and follow the instructions for each contest.
Most New York voters do not need to show ID at the polls. Some first-time voters whose identity was not verified during registration may be asked for identification. Check your registration and ask your Board of Elections what documentation you need. If an ID issue prevents a regular ballot, ask about an affidavit ballot.
First ask a poll worker to confirm that you are at the right location. If your record is missing or you have a registration issue, ask about an affidavit ballot and follow the instructions carefully. The board determines eligibility before counting it. Contact your county board for help with address changes.
You may ask a poll worker for help and use an interpreter. Voters who need assistance because of disability, blindness or inability to read or write may generally choose a helper, except an employer, an employer’s agent, or an officer or agent of their union. Check with election officials about the assistance available at your site.
Accessible polling places and ballot marking devices help voters cast a ballot privately and independently. Eligible voters with disabilities can also ask about accessible mail ballot options. Contact your county board in advance if you need accommodations.
NYS accessibility support: 518-207-4050 · Learn more ↗
In New York, people released from incarceration for a felony conviction can register and vote, including while on parole or probation. You must register again after release. People currently incarcerated for a felony conviction are not eligible. Check the official guidance for your circumstances.
No party enrollment is required for the general election. New York party primaries generally require enrollment in that party, and party-change deadlines are separate from voter-registration deadlines. Check the state election calendar before a future primary.
Students should register at an eligible residence and must not claim the right to vote elsewhere. Military and overseas voters have a separate official process and should check the applicable instructions and deadlines.
Visit NYS Board of Elections and select Military & Overseas Voting ↗
New York provides up to two paid hours when a voter does not have sufficient time outside working hours to vote. Eligibility and employer notice rules apply. Review the official guidance and notify your employer within the required period.
A few minutes of preparation can make voting easier. Check these items as you go, or print this page to keep the key links and dates.
Checklist selections reset when this page reloads.
NYC Board of Elections
1-866-868-3692
Other NY counties
Contact your county board ↗
New York Attorney General election hotline
1-866-390-2992