Request a Ballot - Early Mail or Absentee Ballot

On September 20, 2023, Governor Hochul signed Chapter 481 of the Laws of 2023, establishing the New York Early Mail Voter Act. This newly enacted legislation, which takes effect on January 1, 2024, and applies to all elections moving forward, establishes an additional method of voting early by mail.

Qualifications to Vote by Early Mail Ballot

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.

Voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have been issued an early mail or absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an early mail or absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot.

How to Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

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

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

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 your ballot.

Absentee Ballot

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot

  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

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:

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 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.

Voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have been issued an early mail or absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an early mail or absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot.

When is it due

Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot or absentee ballot by mail or online must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election. You may apply in-person up to the day before an election.

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.

Deadlines

Application Deadlines

For the April 2, 2024 Presidential Primary Election:

For the June 25, 2024 State and Federal Primary Election:

For the November General Election:

Ballot Return Deadlines

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

For the April 2, 2024 Presidential Primary Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than April 2, 2024.
  2. Drop off your ballot to your county Board of Elections office no later than April 2, 2024 by 9pm.
  3. Drop off your ballot to an early voting poll site in your county between March 23 and March 30, 2024.
  4. Drop off your ballot to an election day poll site on April 2, 2024 no later than 9pm.

For the June 25, 2024 State and Federal Primary Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than June 25, 2024.
  2. Drop off your ballot to your county Board of Elections Office no later than June 25, 2024 by 9pm.
  3. Drop off your ballot to an early voting poll site in your county between June 15 and June 23, 2024.
  4. Drop off your ballot to an election day poll site on June 25, 2024 no later than 9pm.

For the November 5, 2024 General Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 5, 2024.
  2. Drop off your ballot to your county Board of Elections Office no later than November 5, 2024 by 9pm.
  3. Drop off your ballot to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26 and November3, 2024.
  4. Drop off your ballot to an election day poll site on November 5, 2024 no later than 9pm.

Ballot envelopes provided by the Board of Elections include postage. No additional postage is needed.

How to Cast an Early Mail or Absentee Ballot

  1. Once you 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.

Ballot Cures

There are certain errors or problems that can occur when a voter completes an early mail or 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.

New 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 early mail or absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an early mail or 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 early mail or absentee ballot has been received. If the voter’s early mail or absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter’s early mail or absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.