VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES

Q1: How do I find my polling location?

A: The county where you are registered to vote assigns the polling places for each election. Polling locations may change from one election to another, so it is important to check the location before each election. For example, if you’re voting in person at your assigned early voting poll site during the early voting period, which is October 24 through November 1, you’ll want to check for the location of your early voting poll site here. If you’re voting in person on November 3, you can find your polling location here. If you’re still not sure, don’t be afraid to contact your local County Board of Elections for clarification.

Q2: I’ve moved and forgot to register at my new address. Can I vote at my new polling place?

A: No. You must register at your new address to be eligible to vote at the new polling place. Notices of change of address from registered voters received at least twenty days before a special, primary or general election by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for that election. The voter registration form should be used as a change of address form. If you’re not sure whether or not you changed your voter registration, you can check the status here.

Q3: What are the hours of the polling places?

A: All polls will be open from 6:00 AM until 9:00 PM on Election Day.

Q4: What identification do I need to bring to the polling location?

A: Voter identification is not required to vote.

Q5: How do I apply to vote by mail or by absentee ballot?

A: A New York voter is qualified to vote on an absentee basis if s/he:

• Is absent from his/her county (or, in New York City, absent from the five boroughs) on Election Day;
• Is unable to vote due to illness, disability, hospitalization, responsibility for caring for a sick or disabled person, or risk of contracting or spreading a COVID-19 or another communicable illness;
• Is a patient or resident of a Veterans Health Administration hospital; or
• Is detained while awaiting grand jury action or imprisoned for a misdemeanor.

To request an absentee ballot, please click here. Please be mindful of applicable deadlines. Also, please note that even if a voter requests an absentee ballot, it is still permissible for that voter to change his mind and vote in person instead. (Caution: It is illegal to vote more than once in the same election.)

Q1: Which races are covered?

A: The races included at NYVoterGuide.com are:

• President of the United States
• Vice President of the United States
• U.S. House of Representatives
• New York State Senate
• New York State Assembly

 Q2: Am I required to vote for every race?

A: No. Our guide and the official ballot allow you to skip the races that you choose not to participate in.

Q3: How many candidates can I vote for?

A: You may vote for one candidate per race.

Q4: Does NYVoterGuide.com lean Democratic or Republican?

A: Neither. It is factual, impartial, and nonpartisan. Every candidate in the covered races was treated equally and had the same opportunity to respond to the questions.

Q5: Who paid for NYVoterGuide.com?

A: This project was funded by concerned New Yorkers dedicated to responsible citizenship. Their donations make this guide possible. No candidate or political party paid for any part of the guide. In fact, you can also help further this effort, by making an online contribution here.

Q6: Are you endorsing specific candidates?

A: No. This guide is a nonpartisan educational resource provided as a public service. No candidates are endorsed. In fact, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation who spearheads this initiative, is not permitted to endorse candidates.

Q7: Who is New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation (NYFRF)?

A: New Yorker's Family Research Foundation (NYFRF) is a nonprofit organization that educates, encourages, and equips Christians for effective participation in New York State government. For more information, please visit NewYorkFamilies.org.

Q8: Why do some of the candidates not respond?

A: We don’t know. All candidates were provided the same opportunity to respond to the survey questions. Where a candidate chooses not to respond, we encourage you to contact their campaign directly and ask them to respond to the survey questions.

Q9: Can churches promote NYVoterGuide.com?

A: Yes. NYVoterGuide.com is specifically designed so that churches and other non-profit organizations may distribute information about NYVoterGuide.com as a permissible activity without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status with the IRS. Questions regarding specific activities in regard to churches can be directed to info@NewYorkFamilies.org.

Q1: How do I register to vote?

A: You can register in person at your county board of elections or at any New York State Agency-Based voter registration center. You may also submit your voter application form at the Department of Motor Vehicles, either in person or on their website if you already have DMV-issued identification. Alternatively, you can request a New York State Voter Registration form by mail by entering your name directly into the state’s mailing list database. Finally, you can call our 1-800-FOR-VOTE hotline to request a voter application.

Finally, you may register to vote using the New York State Voter Registration Form accessible at the links below. You can complete a PDF version of the New York State Voter Registration Form online by clicking on the link below, typing the necessary information and selecting the appropriate boxes. Alternatively, you can print the form to complete by hand.

• • Complete English Form On-line ( 304KB)
  • Complete Spanish Form On-LIne ( 310KB)
  • Once the form is completed, you need to print the form and sign it. Boards of Elections cannot accept any kind of digital or Adobe-generated signature. Once completed, mail the form to your county board of elections.

You can also complete an accessible version of the New York State Voter Registration Form online by clicking on the link below, typing the necessary information and selecting the appropriate boxes.

• • Accessible English Form Online
  • Accessible Spanish Form OnLine
  • Once the form is completed, you need to print the form and sign and date it. Then, mail the form to your county board of elections.

Adobe Acrobat (PDF)

Documents on this page with an Adobe PDF file icon after the name are in Adobe Portable Document Format. These documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Visit the Adobe Website to download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Q2: I’ve moved. Do I need to register again?

A: Yes, you must register at your new address. A voter registration form can also be used as a change of address form. Notices of change of address from registered voters received at least twenty days before a special, primary or general election by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for that election.

Q3. I recently moved, and I’m not sure where I’m registered to vote. How do I find out?

A: If you’re not sure whether or not you changed your registered address, you can check the status here.

Q4. Who can register to vote?

A: To be eligible to vote in New York, you must:

• Be a United States citizen;
• Be 18 years old (you may pre-register at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until you are 18);
• A resident of this state and the county, city or village you intend to vote in for at least 30 days before the election;
• Not currently be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardoned or restored rights of citizenship);
• Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

Q5. My name has changed. How do I update my voter registration?

A: A voter registration form can also be used as a change of name form. Notices of name change from registered voters received at least twenty days before a special, primary or general election by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for that election.

Q6. What if I live in New York State only part of the year?

A: You can register to vote in New York only if you are a resident of New York. The law prohibits being legally registered to vote in two places.

Q7. What telephone number should I list on my registration form? What if my telephone number is unlisted?

A: You are not required to list a phone number on the registration form. Should you choose to provide a number, please keep in mind that whichever number you submit may be used by campaigns to contact you. Campaigns do not have to abide by the “Do Not Call” registry. Most voters choose to list their home phone number rather than a cell phone number.

Q8. What are the requirements for the New York identification box on the voter registration form?

A: Federal law requires that registrants give a driver’s license number or the last four digits of their social security number. If you have a New York driver’s license or identification card, list the driver’s license number. If you do not have a license, list the last four digits of your social security number. Voter registration forms do leave a box to check if you have neither a New York State issued driver’s license or a social security number.

Q9. What if I do not want to register with a party?

A: Registering with a party is not required. However, you should be aware that New York State is a closed primary state, only those of a registered party are permitted to vote in that party’s primary elections.

Q10. What if I want to look up or change my political party?

A: You can look up your current party registration here. Should you desire to change your party affiliation, simply fill out a new registration form and check the box of the party you would like to register with.