Absentee Ballot


 Absentee Application
                 (Fill out print and mail in)
 

Absentee Voting

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot (Deadlines)

  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.

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot (Deadlines)

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

You can download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form:

Download English Form (pdf pdf 574KB) Download Spanish Form (pdf pdf 737KB)

If you cannot pick up your ballot, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.

If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee Ballot for each subsequent election without further application. Simply file an application with your county board of elections indicating permanent illness or physical disability.

You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled.

When is it due?

Applications requesting to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than fifteen days before the election. For absentee 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 Absentee 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 absentee 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 June 27 Primary Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than June 27th.
  2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than June 27th by 9pm.
  3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between June 17th and June 25th.
  4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on June 27th by 9pm.

For the November General Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 7th.
  2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 7th by 9pm.
  3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 28th and November 5th.
  4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 7th by 9pm.

Mail Time Considerations When Returning an Absentee Ballot

When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election. Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day.

Absentee Cures

There are certain errors or problems that can occur when a voter completes an absentee ballot envelope. Many of these errors or problems are curable by means of filing a cure statement with your board of elections. If your ballot envelope has a curable defect, you will receive a notice from the board of elections. The cure process is described here ( pdf 105KB).

New Absentee Ballot Procedure

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voter’s absentee ballot has been received. If the voter’s absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter’s absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.

If a voter requests a second absentee ballot, any previously issued absentee ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside unopened to provide the voter a chance to return the second ballot, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely absentee ballot and cast an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee return deadline, will be canvassed.

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://absenteeballot.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.

For questions regarding accessible absentee ballots please contact Jennifer Wilson in the Board of Elections Public Information Office at (518) 474-1953 or pio@elections.ny.gov

Military and Overseas (Federal) Voting

Military Voting

Qualifications

  • Persons serving in the military, along with their spouses and/or dependents, may register as a military voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal, state and local races that they would be otherwise entitled to vote in if they were to go to their assigned polling place based on their New York residence.

Registering/Applying for a Ballot

  • To register as a new military voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application External Link and return it to your county board of elections in New York.
  • This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles.
  • Always be sure to share any change of address information with your county board of elections.
  • Applications are available from your Voting Assistance Officer on base, or you can visit either the Federal Voting Assistance Program Website External Link for forms and information.
  • On this application, you may state a preference as to how you would like to receive your ballot. You can choose mail, fax or email as a preferred method of transmission.
  • If you have stated a preference to receive your voting materials by email/online, you will receive an email notification directing you to the State’s online ballot delivery site, https://nysballot.elections.ny.gov External Link to access your ballot.
  • Questions? Call the State Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your Voting Assistance Officer or US Embassy office or Consulate.

Returning Your Ballot

Tracking Your Ballot

Military Deadlines

DateDeadline Information

FOR 2023 PRIMARY ELECTION (June 27)

June 17Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for military voter to be eligible to vote in primary. Sec. 5-210(3).
June 17Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
June 20Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
June 26Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person if previously registered. Sec 10-106(5).
June 27Last day to postmark return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than July 4th. Sec 10-114(1).
DateDeadline Information

FOR 2023 GENERAL ELECTION (November 7)

October 28Last day for a board of elections to receive registration for military voter to be eligible to vote in general. Sec. 5-210(3).
October 28Last day for a board of elections to receive application by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
October 31Last day for a board of elections to receive application by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
November 6Last day to apply in-person if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
November 7Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 20th. Sec. 10-114(1)

Overseas Civilian Voting (Special Federal Voters/Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act Voters)

Qualifications

  • United States citizens living outside of the United States whose intent to return is uncertain and whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a special federal voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal races (President/Vice President, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives) that they would otherwise be entitled to vote in based on your New York address.
  • United States citizens living outside of the United States who intend to return and whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a UOCAVA voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all races on the ballot that they would otherwise be entitled to vote in based on your New York address.

Registering/Applying for a Ballot

  • To register as a new overseas voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application External Link and return it to the county board of elections of their previous New York residence.
  • This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles.
  • Always be sure to share any change of address information with your county board of elections.
  • You can visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program Website External Link for forms and information.
  • On this application, you may state a preference as to how you would like to receive your ballot. You can choose mail, fax or email as a preferred method of transmission.
  • If you have stated a preference to receive your voting materials by email/online, you will receive an email notification directing you to the State’s online ballot delivery site, https://nysballot.elections.ny.gov (External Link) to access your ballot.
  • If you move back to the US, contact your county board of elections, to have your registration reflect that change.
  • Questions? Call the State Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your US Embassy office or Consulate.

Returning Your Ballot

Tracking Your Ballot

Overseas Civilian Voting Deadlines

DEADLINES FOR OVERSEAS (UOCAVA) VOTERS

DateDeadline Information

FOR 2023 PRIMARY ELECTION (June 27)

June 17Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for UOCAVA voter to be eligible to vote in primary. Sec. 11-202(1)(a).
June 17Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1).
June 20Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4).
June 27Last day to postmark UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than July 4th. Sec. 11-212.
DateDeadline Information

FOR 2023 GENERAL ELECTION (November 7)

October 28Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for UOCAVA voter to be eligible to vote in general election. Sec. 11-202(1).
October 28Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1).
Octomber 31Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4).
November 7Last day to postmark ballot UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 20th. Sec. 11-212.