You are qualified to vote by absentee ballot if you will be:

● Absent from your county or- if a resident of New York City, absent from the five
boroughs- on Election Day.
● Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
● Unable to appear because you are the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who
are ill or physically disabled.
● A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
● 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.

 

You may apply for an absentee ballot by:

● Sending your absentee ballot application in the mail to your local NYC Board of
Elections by October 26
● Telefaxing your absentee ballot application mail to your local NYC Board of Elections by
October 26
● Using the online Absentee Ballot Application portal (or the online Accessible Absentee
Ballot Application portal for those who are visually impaired) by October 26
● Going in person to your local county board of elections by November 4
● Having another person deliver your application in person to your local county board of
elections and pick up your ballot by November 4. Only the person designated on your
application may pick up your ballot.

Absentee ballot applications can be found here in English and Spanish.

 

How to cast an 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 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 can submit your absentee ballot by:
● Mailing your ballot by November 5.
● Bringing your ballot to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26th and
November 3rd.
● Bringing your ballot to your County Board of Elections Office or a poll site in your county
no later than November 5th by 9 pm.

 

New Absentee Ballot Procedures

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.