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New York voter guide

From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 13 min



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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

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:

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

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[edit]

Eligibility and registration details[edit]

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 before the election, and at least 18 years old by the date of the election. Pre-registration is available beginning at the age of 16.[1] 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.[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.

The form must be received by election officials at least 10 days before the election. Registration done in person must be completed at least 10 days before the election.[2] Residents may also register to vote online through the DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application or the Board of Elections' voter registration portal. These applications are forwarded to the county board of elections; applicants should allow up to six weeks for processing.[3]

In-person voting[edit]

Poll times[edit]

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.[4] Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[5]

Voter identification[edit]

See also: Voter identification laws by state

New York does not require voters to present identification while voting.[6]

The federal Help America Vote Act requires that individuals in all 50 states who register to vote by mail and who have not voted previously in a federal election in their state must provide either their driver's license or a paycheck, bank statement, current utility bill, or government document showing their name and address. Individuals voting by mail must include a copy of one of those documents with their absentee/mail-in ballot.[7]

These requirements do not apply if an individual submitted a copy of their identification, their driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering to vote. The following documents were acceptable forms of identification as of December 2025.[6] Click here for the New York City Board of Elections page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

“
  • Current and Valid Photo ID
  • Current Utility Bill
  • Bank Statement
  • Government Check or Paycheck
  • Government Document that shows Name and Address[8]
 ”

Early voting[edit]

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.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.


Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting


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]

“
  1. Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
  2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
  3. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
  4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
  5. In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.[8]
 ”

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, to a polling place during the early voting period or on Election Day, or via a ballot drop box.[9]


Local election officials[edit]

U.S. Vote Foundation Logo.jpeg

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[edit]

See also: Voting rights 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.[10]

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.[11][12]

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.[13]


Contact information[edit]

Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in New York can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

New York County Boards of Elections

Click here for a list

New York State Board of Elections

40 North Pearl St., Suite 5
Albany, New York 12207-2729
Phone: 518-473-6220
Toll free: 1-800-367-8683
Fax: 518-473-8315
Email: info@elections.ny.gov
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: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov


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Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

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See also[edit]

Elections in New York[edit]


External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 New York State Board of Elections, “Voter Registration Process,” accessed December 12, 2025
  2. ↑ New York State Board of Elections, “Registration and Voting Deadlines,” accessed December 12, 2025
  3. ↑ New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, “Register to Vote Online - Electronic Voter Registration Application,” accessed December 12, 2025
  4. ↑ The New York State Senate, "N.Y. Election Law § 8-100," accessed December 12, 2025
  5. ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "Know Your Rights," accessed December 12, 2025
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Board of Elections in the City of New York, "Voter ID," accessed December 12, 2025
  7. ↑ Congress, "H.R.3295 - Help America Vote Act of 2002," accessed September 30, 2025
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 New York State Board of Elections, "Request a Ballot," accessed December 12, 2025
  10. ↑ New York State Board of Election, "Voting After Incarceration," accessed December 12, 2025
  11. ↑ New York State Senate, "Senate Bill S830," accessed December 12, 2025
  12. ↑ New York State Board of Elections, "A Notice About Your Right to Register to Vote," accessed December 12, 2025
  13. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," August 19, 2025
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Status: cached on December 22 2025 19:19:50
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