ABOUT Voting By Mail in NY
- REQUESTING a Ballot
- To Vote by Mail in Election 2021: By October 18, 2021 you must request a ballot online, or request one by mail, e-mail, or fax.
- DEADLINE ALERT: Your Local Board of Elections must RECEIVE your ballot request by this date.
- After this deadline voters may request a ballot in-person at their Local Board of Elections (or give a person they trust written permission to do so on their behalf in Section 6 of this printable ballot request form (eng, esp), through close of business on the day prior to Election Day, Monday, November 1, 2021.
- When applying due to COVID-19, select "Temporary illness or physical disability" as the reason. This includes the potential for spreading or contracting COVID-19 illness.
- On the go? Traveling? When requesting a ballot, voters can have it mailed to an alternative (mailing) address.
- Voters with disabilities may apply for an accessible electronic ballot Click Here (can be used with a screen reader). Learn more Click Here.
- COMPLETING a Ballot
- After requesting a ballot, a voter will receive:
- Absentee/Military Ballot: follow the instructions and mark your votes for each contest with a blue or black pen. Fill in the oval completely. Avoid making stray marks on the ballot.
- Ballot (oath) Envelope: Must be sealed (do not use tape or glue), signed, and dated accurately.
- Return Envelope: Postage IS NOT prepaid. See below for “dropbox” alternatives to mailing.
- Voters with disabilities may:
- Sign the Ballot (oath) Envelope themselves, or may make a mark and have that mark witnessed in the space provided on the Ballot (oath) Envelope fro name and address of a witness.
- A power of attorney or name stamp is not allowed.
- Sign the Ballot (oath) Envelope themselves, or may make a mark and have that mark witnessed in the space provided on the Ballot (oath) Envelope fro name and address of a witness.
- RETURNING a Ballot
Voters must return ballots prior to 9 PM on Election Day using ANY of these methods:
- By Mail: Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. Return postage IS NOT prepaid.
- Return postage costs one (1) "forever stamp".
- The USPS is required by law to properly deliver election mail, regardless of insufficient postage. If a mailed ballot is returned undelivered, please file a report with the NYS Attorney General’s Office and drop off your ballot using the options below if there is still time.
- By drop off at your Local Board of Elections Office during operating hours. Locate your Local Board of Elections. NYC voters may return ballots to any NYC Board of Elections Office in the Five Boroughs.
- By drop off at ANY Early Voting Site in your county during Early Voting operating hours (Find Local Early Voting Locations and Hours). NYC voters may drop it off at ANY Early Voting site in the Five Boroughs.
- By Drop off at ANY Election Day Poll Site in your county during Election Day operating hours (6 AM - 9 PM). NYC voters may drop off ballots at ANY Election Day poll site in the Five Boroughs.
- Know your Absentee Voting RIGHTS!
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- Even if you have requested, received, or returned a mail ballot, you can still vote in-person during Early Voting or Election Day. New York Election Law ensures only the in-person ballot will be counted.
- To see all voting options for your county or borough Click Here.
- Opportunity to Cure Technical Errors. Due process safeguards now require local boards of elections to notify and allow voters to correct several technical defects on their absentee ballot envelope. Many are curable by filing a cure statement but voter must do so within 7 days of notification.
- Impacted voters will receive a notice by email, phone, or snail mail from their local board of elections and will have a time-limited opportunity to cure the defect. The "Cure Process" is Described Here.
- Even if you have requested, received, or returned a mail ballot, you can still vote in-person during Early Voting or Election Day. New York Election Law ensures only the in-person ballot will be counted.