2024 is shaping up to be an eventful election cycle! The most important part is for every eligible voter to do their civic duty and vote! New Yorkers have several ways to ensure they are able to participate in democracy even if they aren’t able to get to the polls.
Any registered voter is eligible to request an Early Mail Ballot and must only apply for themselves. Eligibility for an Absentee Ballot requires one of the following:
- 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 care giver 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.
Early Mail Ballots and Absentee Ballots can be requested online here: https://requestballot.vote.nyc/ ; by visiting your local county board of elections; or by designating another person to deliver the application in-person to the county board of elections and receive the ballot.
Individuals with print disabilities (such as blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities) can apply using the Accessible Ballot Application; these individuals are responsible for printing their ballot. Those who are permanently ill or disabled are eligible to receive an Absentee Ballot for all subsequent elections without repeated application by indicating this on an application to the country board of elections.
Individuals who receive an Early Mail or Absentee Ballot for an election are not able to use a voting machine for that same election, but may vote in person using an affidavit ballot.
Application deadlines for the November General Election are as follows:
- Last day to apply online or by mail is October 26, 2024
- Last day to apply in person at your county board of elections is November 4, 2024
Ballot return deadlines for the November General Election are as follows:
- Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 5, 2024.
- Drop off your ballot to your county Board of Elections Office no later than November 5, 2024 by 9pm.
- Drop off your ballot to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26 and November3, 2024.
- Drop off your ballot to an election day poll site on November 5, 2024 no later than 9pm.
Instructions for how to cast an Early Mail or Absentee Ballot are below:
- Once you receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
- 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.)
- Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
- Seal the Security Envelope.
- 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.
- Seal the Return Envelope.
The above guidance is provided by the NYC Board of Elections. If you are not a NYC resident, be sure to check the guidance for your county.
We encourage all members to be active citizens and exercise their right to vote.
Check your voter registration here.
Not registered? Check this page for guidance on how to register as a New York State resident.
Your vote matters!
