Absentee Voting in New York State
New York voters may qualify to vote by absentee ballot if they:
- Will be absent from their county—or, for New York City residents, absent from New York City—on Election Day.
- Are unable to appear at the polls because of a temporary or permanent illness or disability.
- Are unable to appear because they are the primary caregiver for someone who is ill or physically disabled.
- Are a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
Don't qualify for an absentee ballot? Any registered New York State voter can request an early mail ballot without providing a reason. Learn more on the New York State Board of Elections: Request a Ballot page.
Request an Absentee Ballot
Eligible New York voters can request an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person through their county Board of Elections.
Request an absentee ballot online through the New York State Absentee Ballot Application page.
2026 General Election Deadlines
For the November 3, 2026 General Election:
- October 24: Mailed and online absentee ballot applications must be received by your county Board of Elections.
- November 2: Last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person.
- November 3: Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked or returned in person by Election Day.
- November 10: Deadline for a properly postmarked ballot to be received by the county Board of Elections.
View current election deadlines on the New York State Registration and Voting Deadlines page.
Return Your Absentee Ballot
For the 2026 General Election, New York State voters can return a completed absentee ballot by:
- Mailing it so that it is postmarked no later than November 3.
- Bringing it to their county Board of Elections by 9:00 p.m. on November 3.
- Bringing it to an early voting site in their county during early voting, October 24–November 1.
- Bringing it to a poll site in their county on Election Day by 9:00 p.m.
Planning to return your ballot by mail? The New York State Board of Elections recommends mailing completed ballots early. Due to changes in USPS postmark procedures, the postmark date may reflect when mail is processed rather than when it is placed in a mailbox.
Voting Outside New York?
Students registered outside New York should follow the absentee or vote-by-mail requirements for the state where they are registered. Find voting information for your state by visiting the Can I Vote — National Association of Secretaries of State page.
Learn More
For complete, up-to-date information about early mail and absentee ballots, visit the New York State Board of Elections Request a Ballot page.