Early Mail and Absentee Ballot Information

 


Request a Ballot

 

Early Mail Ballot

Who May Apply for an Early Mail Ballot (Deadlines)

Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Each person must apply for themselves. It is a felony to make a false statement in an application for an early mail ballot, to attempt to cast an illegal ballot, or to help anyone to cast an illegal ballot.

How to Apply for an Early Mail Ballot (Deadlines)

You may apply for an early mail ballot in any of the following ways:

  • Using the online Ballot Request Application portal: https://ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/earlymail [Effective January 1, 2024]
  • If you are visually impaired and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Absentee Ballot Application portal. Please find the link to the portal in the section below.
  • By going in-person to your local county board of elections
  • By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to your local county board of elections and receive your ballot

You can download a PDF version of the New York State Early Mail Ballot Application Form using the links below:

Download English Form (pdf pdf 680KB) >  Download Spanish Form (pdf pdf 203KB) > 

When is it Due?

Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election. For early mail ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.

How to Cast an Early Mail Ballot

  1. Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
  2. Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
  3. Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
  4. Seal the Security Envelope.
  5. All early mail ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.)The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage.
  6. Seal the Return Envelope.

You may return the ballot in any of the following ways:

For the November General Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 5th.
  2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 5th by 9pm.
  3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26th and November 3rd.
  4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 5th by 9pm.

Absentee Ballot

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot 

1. Absent from your county 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. Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction of an offense other than a felony.

To Request an absentee ballot you may request one in one of the following ways:


How to cast your Absentee Ballot

  • Once you receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot
  • Once you have completed marking your ballot, fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope.
  • Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
  • Seal the Security Envelope.
  • All absentee ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope.  Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope.  The Return Envelope will have the return address of your County Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads "Official Election Mail".  
  • Seal the Return Envelope.

How to return your ballot:

  • Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than Election day.
  • Bring it to your County Board of Elections no later than Election day.  Someone else may drop it off for you if the Security Envelope is sealed and signed.
  • Bring it to an early voting poll site in your county.
  • Bring it to any poll site in your county on Election day.

Accessible Absentee Voting

Voters with a visual impairment that require a ballot with accessible features may apply using the online Accessible Absentee Ballot Application portal: https://ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/accessible

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.

New York State Request a Ballot information page