Event Description

The Early Voting period for the November General Election will be October 24, 2020- November 1, 2020.

When are the polls open?

6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (general elections); primary times vary by county
See State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2020) for more information

How do primaries work in New York?

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New York utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.‍

How do I register to vote?

To vote in New York, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county, city, or village for at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 18 years old by the date of the election. Individuals who are in prison or on parole for a felony conviction and those who have been declared mentally incompetent by a court are ineligible to register to vote. One cannot register to vote in New York while claiming the right to vote elsewhere.Registration applications are available at the county board of elections or any agency-based voter registration center. Forms are also available online, or prospective voters can request the form by mail.Completed forms returned by mail must be postmarked at least 25 days prior to the election. The form must then be received by election officials at least 20 days before the election. A registration done in person must be completed at least 25 days prior to the election.Residents may also register to vote online through the DMV Electronic Voter Registration Application. These applications are forwarded to the board of elections; applicants should allow up to six weeks for processing.

Is there an early voting period?

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) signed a bill into law on January 24, 2019, establishing a 10-day early voting period. The bill was scheduled to take full effect on January 1, 2020.

As of December 2019, 39 states and the District of Columbia permitted early voting. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on election day. States that do not permit early voting still permit some or all citizens to vote early by mail—often known as absentee voting. Some states allow no-excuse absentee voting, while others require an excuse. States that allow in-person absentee voting without an excuse are counted among early voting states.

Who is eligible for absentee voting?

A voter in New York is eligible to vote absentee in an election for any of the following reasons:

1. Absence from the county (or, if a resident of New York City, the city) on Election Day
2. Illness or disability, or acting as the primary caregiver for an ill or disabled person
3. Patient care at a Veteran's Administration hospital
4. Incarceration for offenses other than felonies or awaiting grand jury action

Absentee ballot applications must be mailed to the county board of elections no later than the seventh day before the election. Alternatively, applications delivered in person must be received no later than the day before the election. A voter may also request an absentee ballot by sending a letter to the county board of elections. The letter must be received by the county board no earlier than 30 days and no later than seven days before the election. An application form will be mailed with the absentee ballot. The application form must be completed and returned with the ballot.

If sent by mail, a returned ballot must be postmarked by the day before the election and received no later than the seventh day after the election. If submitted in person, the ballot must be received by close of polls on Election Day.

What are the voter ID laws in New York?

See Voter identification laws by state.