How to Vote

Exercise your right as an American citizen — register to vote. You can also use this online service to join a political party, change your party designation, or update your name and address on file with the Board of Elections.

To register to vote you must:

  • Be a United States citizen;
  • Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file this form (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote);
  • Be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election;
  • Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardoned or restored rights of citizenship);
  • Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
  • Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
  • To register online, you will need:
    • NYS driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card
    • ZIP Code currently on record with the DMV
    • Social security number

If you do not put a DMV number or the last 4 digits of your social security number on the form, please fill out this form and attach a copy of an alternative form of ID before mailing in or dropping off to your County Board of Elections.

Completed applications are sent to the local County or City Board of Elections for approval and processing which can take up to six weeks. The DMV does not approve or deny voter registration applications. Contact your County Board of Elections if you haven’t gotten a response within six weeks.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION

  • MAIL REGISTRATION (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-210(3)
    • Applications must be postmarked no later than October 8, 2021 and received by a board of elections no later than October 13, 2021 to be eligible to vote in the General Election.
  • IN PERSON REGISTRATION (N.Y. Election Law Sections 5-210, 5-211, 5-212)
    • You may register at your local board of elections or any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, on any business day throughout the year but, to be eligible to vote in the General Election, your application must be received no later than October 8, 2021. If honorably discharged from the US Military or have become a naturalized US Citizen after October 8, 2021, you may register in person at the Board of Elections up until October 23, 2021.
  • CHANGE OF ADDRESS (N.Y. Election Law Section 5-208(3))
    • Notices of change of address from registered voters received by October 13, 2021 by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for the General Election.

MAIL IN BALLOT DEADLINES

  • October 18- Last day for the board of elections to receive an application or letter of application by mail, online portal, email or fax for an absentee ballot.
  • November 1- Last day to apply IN-PERSON for absentee ballot.
  • November 2- Last day to postmark the ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 9th. Military Voter Ballots must be received no later than Nov. 16th.
  • November 2- Last day to deliver ballot IN-PERSON to the local board of elections or to any poll site in your county