New York Voting Requirements & Information
U.S. Vote Foundation’s New York Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of New York voting rules and options. It focuses on New York-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about New York voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-New York voting tools. It's an all-in-one New York voting resource.
General Information
Registration
You can register to vote or update your registration information:
- online
- by mail
- in person at your elections office
- at state agencies when you apply for services (automatically unless you opt out)
You must have resided in your precinct at least 30 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.
Election Day Voting
Polling places are open from 6am to 9pm in General Elections.
Polling places are open from 6am to 9pm in Primary Elections in New York City and the counties of Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Erie. Polling places are open from 12pm to 9pm in Primary Elections in all other counties.
Voters who have requested absentee ballots are no longer permitted to vote using a voting machine for that election. If they opt to vote in person, they will be given an affidavit ballot which would be counted after verification that the absentee ballot had not been cast in that election.
Find my polling place in New York City or New York State.
Early Voting
Early voting begins in person ten days before Election Day and ends two days before Election Day. On weekdays, voting locations must be open for a minimum of eight hours per day, between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm. On weekends, voting locations must be open a minimum of eight hours per day, between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm. Counties may provide additional early voting hours.
Absentee Voting
Any registered voter may request a ballot and vote early by mail in New York.
Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to vote in New York if you:
- Are a U.S. citizen
- Are a resident of New York
- Are at least 18 years old by Election Day
- Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 30 days prior to the election
You are NOT eligible to vote in New York if:
- You are registered to vote in another state
- You are in prison or jail for a felony conviction.
- A judge has specifically ruled that you are not able to vote.
Restorative Requirements
- If you have completed a felony prison sentence, even if you are still on parole or probation, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote.
People convicted of felonies outside of New York lose the right to vote only while incarcerated..
You are able to pre-register:
- at the age 16
If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in New York if:
- You reside in New York but are attending college in another state
- You reside in another state but attend college in New York
Identification Requirements
Voter Registration
To register to vote in New York you should provide one of the following:
- Last Four Digits of your Social Security Number
- Your New York Driver's License Number
- Your New York non-driver ID number
If you do not have any of these IDs, you can provide a copy of one of the following with your registration application:
- Valid Photo ID
- Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
- Utility Bill
- Government Check
- Bank Statement
- Paycheck that Shows your Current Name and Address
Voting In-Person
If you registered to vote in New York, you may be required to present valid ID if you are voting for the first time or your registration is incomplete. You can use any ID from this list:
- Current and Valid Photo ID
- Valid New York non-driver's ID
- Paycheck that shows your Current Name and Address
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
- Valid New York Driver's License
- Government Check
- Government Issued Document that shows your Current Name and Address
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Domestic Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?
State Elections Website
Where is my Polling Place?
Can I Register to Vote Online?
Am I Registered?
Overseas / Military Voter Information
State Voter Registration FAQ
Where is my Overseas or Military Ballot?
Where are my Early Voting Locations?
Can I View my Sample Ballot?
Where is my Ballot Drop Box?
Has my Ballot Been Counted?
Eligibility Requirements
Overseas Voters
U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:
- Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.
Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.
Military Voters
Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.
- If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.
To vote as a service member or eligible family member:
- Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.
Identification Requirements
Voting Overseas
U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- ID Issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voting Military
Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:
- ID Issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
- Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Voter Materials Transmission Options
Overseas Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |
Military Voter |
In-Person |
|
Fax |
|
Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Registration | |||||
| Absentee Ballot Request | |||||
| Blank Ballot To Voter | |||||
| Voted-Absentee Ballot Return |