VOTING INFORMATION 2026

Make a Plan to Vote!

Vote by Mail

Any registered voter may apply for a mail ballot.

Applications submitted online or by mail must be received by the board of elections on or before October 24.

Voters can apply in-person at their local county board of elections office on or before November 2.

Voting FAQs

Registering to Vote

  • 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.

Voting in Person

  • Registered voters outside of New York City can cast a ballot at ANY Early Voting Center in their county. New York City voters must vote at their assigned early voting poll site. Find your early voting location here.

  • New York DOES NOT require ID to vote in person. However, in extremely limited circumstances, a voter may be required to show an ID when voting for the first time if they did not provide it at the time of registration.

  • Yes. All New York voters have a right to physical or language assistance. The voter can designate any person to assist them except their union representative, employer, or a candidate for office. A bipartisan team of poll workers may also assist the voter in casting a ballot.

  • An affidavit ballot (or provisional ballot) is used when an individual believes they are registered to vote, but their eligibility can't be confirmed at the poll site. You may be asked to vote by affidavit ballot under the following circumstances:

    • Your name does not appear in the poll book

    • Records show you requested a mail-in ballot for that election

    • You moved within NY State but did not update your registration

    • Your signature is missing or mismatched

    • You're a first-time voter who didn’t provide ID when registering to vote

    • Records indicate you have already voted in that election

    • For primary elections: You're registered under a different party

    Your affidavit ballot will be counted only if you were already registered to vote, and are at the correct polling site for your address.

  • If your affidavit ballot was rejected, the BOE will send you a letter after the election notifying you, along with an explanation for its rejection. If you don’t hear from your Board of Elections, your ballot was counted.

  • If you haven’t voted in a minimum of 2 consecutive federal elections, or your Board of Elections has sent mail that was returned as undeliverable, the BOE may list you as inactive. 

  • Yes. The voter can notify their Board of Elections that they still reside at their address before the voter registration deadline (October 24th for the 2026 general election) to regain active status. If you’ve missed the deadline to notify the BOE, you’re still eligible to vote via affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will serve as a means to “reactivate” your voter registration.

  • First, confirm that you are at the correct early voting or election day polling place for your current address with this website. If the poll worker cannot find your name in the E-Poll book, they should: 

    1. Confirm the spelling of your name. 

    2. Check that your first and last names have not been reversed. 

    3. Search with your date of birth (mm/dd/yyyy). All voters with your date of birth will appear alphabetically.

    4. Offer you an affidavit ballot or a Court Order Certificate if they still cannot locate your registration. 

Voting by Mail

  • 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.

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