VOTING INFORMATION 2026

To register to vote in New York, you must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen

• Be 18 years old (16 and 17 year olds can pre-register)

• Be living at your present address at least 30 days before an election

• Not be in prison for a felony conviction (citizens on parole, probation, or other supervised release may register to vote)

• Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court

• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere

Yes, but only on the first day of Early Voting. The voter registration deadline overlaps with the first day of Early Voting (Golden Day). This means that qualified New Yorkers who are not currently registered in the state may register to vote and cast a ballot using an affidavit ballot at their early voting polling location on October 24th, 2026, for the primary election.

Yes. The voter registration form includes a section to include:

- a DMV-issued driver’s license number or non-driver ID number OR

- the last four digits of your social security number.

If you do not have either, you can still register as follows:

- If registering by mail or in person at your county Board of Elections, you may include a copy of a document that shows your name and current address (e.g., a valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check).

- If registering online, your application will be processed, but flagged for additional identification. You will need to provide any of the documents listed above to the Board of Elections before you vote, or bring it to the polls when voting for the first time.

Yes. If registering by mail or in person at your county Board of Elections, you may include a copy of a document that shows your name and current address (e.g., a valid photo ID, current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government check).

- If registering online, your application will be processed, but flagged for additional identification.

You will need to provide any of the documents listed above to the Board of Elections before you vote, or bring it to the polls when voting for the first time.

You can update your voter registration using the online portal or voter registration form. It is the same process as registering to vote. The change of address must be received by your county board of elections by October 19th in order for the change to be reflected in the poll books for the general election.

Yes. If you moved within New York state but did not update your registration by the deadline, go to the early voting or election day poll site for your new address and vote by affidavit ballot. 

You do not need a fixed address to register to vote. For your address, you can enter your sheltered address or the location where you stay at night, which can be a street corner, a park, a shelter, a bus station, or any other location.

If requesting a mail ballot, you may include any address wiling to accept mail on your behalf.

Yes. In New York, only those currently incarcerated for a felony conviction lose their right to vote.

Once released - whether on parole, probation, or fully completed sentence - you are eligible to vote. You will need to re-register to vote after your release.

If you have a felony conviction but are not incarcerated, you retain your right to vote.

You may return your mail-in ballot for the 2026 general election in any of the following ways:

• By mail, to your County Board of Elections Office, 11 Warren Street, Suite 1, Hudson, NY 12534 (by November 3)

• Bring it to your County Board of Elections Office (11 Warren Street, Suite 1, Hudson, NY 12534) in person no later than Election Day.

• Bring it to an early voting poll site during the Early Voting Period for the respective Election.

• Bring it to a poll site in Columbia County on Election Day (from 6 AM - 9 PM).

You may have a third party (family member, friend, etc.) deliver your ballot for you. If you are dropping off your ballot (rather than mailing), follow the same instructions to (1) sign and seal the security envelope, (2) place it inside the return envelope, and (3) seal the return envelope.

You can request a mail-in ballot by visiting your local County Board of Elections office at 11 Warren Street, Suite 1, Hudson, NY 12534, or filling out the online application form. The application form will request:

1. A residential address. You should enter the location of where you stay at night, which can be a street corner, a park, a shelter, a bus station, or any other location. 

2. A mailing address. This can be a local advocacy organization, shelter, outreach center, or anywhere else willing to accept mail on your behalf.

Military or Overseas voters can use this website to Track, Download, and Apply for Ballots. Further details on military and overseas voting can be found on the New York BOE Military and Overseas (Federal) Voting website. 

Early Vote by Mail: Any voter can request one. No excuse needed. Voters can also request to automatically receive a mail ballot for every election in that calendar year.

Absentee Ballot: Voters who are temporarily or permanently ill or disabled can request one and opt to automatically receive ballots for all future elections in perpetuity and without reapplying.

Yes. A voter can designate someone to pick up their ballot on their behalf. Voters must include the name of the individual authorized to pick up their ballot on the application. Only the person designated on the application may pick up their ballot. Anyone can drop off a sealed ballot on your behalf.