Voting laws in New York
From Ballotpedia
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Each state has its own series of election laws. The separation of powers clause in the constitution has largely placed the responsibility for conducting on state governments. Each state has its own election law enforcement agencies, oftentimes part of the executive branch, sometimes a part of the state judiciary. The following are basic guidelines for voting in New York. Note: Before taking any action, or if you have any questions, contact your state election agency.
Polling Place Hours
Hours: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Voter Registration Information
Registration Deadlines
Registration forms must be post-marked no later than 25 days before an election, and received no later than 20 days before an election.
Identification Required for Registration
To register to vote you must have either a verifiable New York State driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have either of these, and you are registering for the first time by mail, you may provide a copy of one of the following:
- A valid photo ID, which include, but are not limited to:
- Passport
- Government ID card
- Military ID card
- Student ID card
- Public housing ID card
- Any ID specified by HAVA and New York State law as acceptable
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government check (Social Security, tax refund, military paycheck or paycheck stub)
- Other government documents with your name and address including but not limited to: voter registration card, hunting, fishing, or trapping license or firearm permit.
- A current utility bill
- A bank statement
- A government check
- Some other government documentation that shows your name and address
If you do not provide identification with your registration form, you will be asked for it the first time you vote.
How to Check Registration
Visit the New York State Voter Public Information website.
Contact your County Board of Elections.
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
When an elector appears at a polling place, an election officer will ask the voter for his or her full name and current address and then will loudly and distinctly announce the name and residence of the voter. Before voting, an officer will ask the voter to sign his or her name on the back of the registration poll record for that voter. Two poll officials will then compare the signature with the signature on the registration poll record to ensure that the person attempting to vote is the same as the person registered. If the signatures match, the person will be permitted to vote. A voter need not show photo identification to vote. If a voter's name appears in the computer-generated registration list with a notation indicating that the voter's identity was not yet verified as required by law, the voter will be able to vote if he or she shows one of the following:
- A driver's license or department of motor vehicles non-driver photo ID card or other current and valid photo identification;
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter.
If the voter is not able to show one of these items to the poll officials, then the voter can only vote by affidavit ballot unless a court order provides otherwise.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Visit the New York State Voter Public Information website.
Contact your County Board of Elections.
Absentee Voting
Voters can only vote absentee under the following circumstances:
- Unavoidable absence due to employment, business, or studies;
- Unavoidable absence due to employment, business, or studies of a spouse or child;
- Vacation;
- Illness or physical disability, whether permanent or temporary;
- Hospitalization at Veterans Administrative Hospital; or
- Qualified Inmate Voter or jailed voter awaiting a grand jury hearing or trial
In order to vote absentee, voters must submit an application. Applications can be downloaded here. The voter can request an application by phone at 1-866-VOTE-NYC (inside New York City, 212-VOTE-NYC), or 1-800-FOR-VOTE. A voter can also go to a County Board of Elections office and request an absentee ballot. Once the application is received and processed, the Board of Elections will mail the absentee ballot to the requested address on the application.
Applications must be mailed to the County Board of Elections no later than 7 days before Election Day (10/28/2008) or delivered to the Board no later than the day before Election Day (11/03/2008).
If voting absentee by mail, the voter must ensure that the ballot is postmarked the day before Election Day and is received within 7 days after Election Day in order to be counted.
If the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed and you cannot appear at the polls on Election Day because of an accident or sudden illness, then you may send a representative with an authorized letter to receive an absentee ballot application and absentee ballot and return both to the board of elections by 9:00 pm on Election Day at your borough office. Early Voting
In-person absentee voting begins as soon as the ballots are available, at least 32 days before the election. You can vote at the County Board of Elections office in your county, and can vote in-person until the day before Election Day. Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
Visit the New York State Board of Elections website. Information for People with Felony Convictions
If you have been convicted of a felony, or a crime that would constitute a felony under New York state law, you cannot vote unless you have been pardoned, your maximum sentence has expired, or you have been discharged from parole. Before you can vote, you must re-register.
See also
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002
- State by State Provisional Ballot Laws
- State by State Voter ID Laws
- Recount laws in Arkansas
- Felon vote fraud
- Arkansas election agencies
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