Elections and Voting

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To help prevent the community spread of COVID-19, you must wear a mask or face covering and keep a 6-foot distance from others in Board of Elections facilities.

In New York State, registered voters can vote in three ways:

  1. Voting on Election Day
  2. Early Voting
  3. Mailing or dropping off an absentee ballot

You can find your poll site and learn about voting and upcoming elections.

To check your voter registration status or learn how to register to vote, visit the Voter Registration page.

Poll sites provide voters with ballots and scanners to record their votes.

Using the Poll Site Locator, you can confirm your:  

  • Election Day poll site
  • Early Voting poll site
  • Election Districts, including City Council, Congressional, and Assembly

You can also view a sample ballot if there is an election event in your Election District. The sample ballot lists the names and party affiliations of all candidates and any proposals being voted on in your district.

The sample ballot is for reference and isn't valid for casting a vote. A paper ballot will be provided at Early Voting and Election Day sites, which may be different than the sample ballot because of court orders.

On Election Day, participating poll sites are open from 6 AM to 9 PM. If you are in line by 9 PM, you may stay in line to cast a ballot. Hours on Early Voting Days may vary.

Step 1: Go to the poll site for your registered home address.

Step 2: A poll worker will check you in by looking up your name on the list of registered voters or scanning your fast pass. If you’re a first-time registered voter who didn’t provide your identification when you registered, you need to show an acceptable form of ID.

Step 3: After you sign your name in the poll book, you'll be given a paper ballot and directed to a privacy booth.

Step 4: Mark the ballot with your choices using the pen provided.

Step 5: Take your ballot to the scanner area and insert your marked ballot in the scanner to cast your vote. The scanner will record your vote. When the polls close, the scanners will be used to count all votes cast.

Learn more about voting at poll sites.

Identification Requirements

Only first-time registrants who did not provide identification when they registered to vote need to show identification at the poll site.

Acceptable forms of ID include the following:

  • Valid photo ID
  • A recent copy of a utility bill
  • A recent copy of a bank statement
  • A recent copy of a paycheck
  • A recent copy of a government check or document

Fast Pass Card and Contactless Check-in

If you are registered to vote you should receive an “NYC Information Mailer” in the mail that will contain a fast tag for contactless check-in and a fast pass card with all your voting information. 

If you bring these to your polling site a poll worker will scan them to check you in.

Learn more about the NYC Information Mailer.

Voting by Affidavit

If you believe you are registered to vote and your name does not appear in the poll book on Election Day, you are entitled to receive an affidavit ballot.

You can complete and submit the ballot at your poll site. The NYC Board of Election will notify you by mail whether or not your ballot was counted.

Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV) is used in Primary and Special Elections for:

  • Mayor
  • Public Advocate
  • Comptroller
  • Borough President
  • City Council Members

RCV allows voters to choose up to five candidates and rank them in order of preference on their ballot, instead of casting a vote for just one.

Ranking other candidates doesn't hurt your first-choice candidate; your second, third, and other choices will be considered only if your first choice doesn't win.

You don't have to rank candidates on your ballot if you don't want to; you can still vote for just one candidate. But if you prefer some candidates over others, it can help the other choices on your list win if your first choice doesn't.

You can practice by ranking your favorite pizza toppings using the City's interactive online app.

Learn more about Ranked-Choice Voting.

Test out Ranked-Choice Voting.

Declaring the Winner

If a candidate gets a majority of first-choice votes (at least 50%), they are declared the winner.

If no candidate gets a majority, the counting continues in rounds. In each round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. If your top-choice is eliminated, the next choice on your ballot is counted.

The process is repeated until a candidate has at least 50% of the vote and is declared the winner.

In New York State, you can vote before Election Day at an Early Voting poll site. The ballot is the same, no matter when you choose to vote.

You can only vote at your assigned Early Voting poll site. Your Early Voting site may be different than your Election Day poll site, so you should check the Poll Site Locator before you go.

Learn more about early voting.

You can vote by absentee ballot if you can’t vote on Election Day or at an early voting poll site because of one of the following reasons:

  • Business
  • Studies
  • Travel
  • Imprisonment (not including convicted felons)
  • Illness
  • Disability
  • Hospitalization
  • Residency in a long-term care facility

Learn more about absentee voting.

Apply for an Absentee Ballot

You must complete and submit an Absentee Ballot Application by the deadline to get an absentee ballot.

The application must include:

  • Your name 
  • The home address listed on your voter registration 
  • Your mailing address (if different) 
  • Your reason for voting absentee 
  • Your signature

You can return your application in person at a Board of Elections (BOE) office, by mail, or by emailing it to Apply4Absentee@boe.nyc.

Online

Request an absentee ballot.

Download an absentee ballot application in multiple languages.

In Person

Pick up an application at a Board of Elections office.

By Phone

You can request that BOE mail you a postage-paid application.

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Submit an Absentee Ballot

After you have received and completed an absentee ballot, you can mail it to the Board of Elections (BOE) or drop it off in person.

Note that New York State Election Law allows voters who have requested or returned their absentee ballot to still vote in person. An in-person vote will override and invalidate any absentee ballot received by the Board.

By Mail

You can mail your absentee ballot to your BOE Borough Office.

To be counted, your absentee ballot must be postmarked no later than Election Day and must also be received by the borough office no later than 7 days after Election Day. The Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day to ensure it is received on time.

In Person

Absentee voting in person begins as soon as the ballots are available (at least 32 days before an election) and ends on Election Day.

You can drop off your completed absentee ballot and envelope in absentee ballot boxes ​at any BOE Office, Early Voting site, or Election Day site. You will not have to wait in line.

You can find the closest Early Voting and Election Day poll sites near you using the Poll Site Locator. Note that not all Early Voting sites will be available for ballot drop off on Election Day.

You must deliver your ballot no later than 9 PM on Election Day.

Track Ballot Status

You can check the status of your absentee ballot application and track your ballot after you have submitted your application.

Check the status of an absentee ballot.

If you need help with your ballot status, you can contact the Board of Elections.

By Email

Send a message to AbsenteeHelp@boe.nyc.

By Phone

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Emergency Absentee Ballots

If the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed and you can’t appear at the polls on Election Day because of an accident or sudden illness, you can send a representative.

The representative must have an authorized letter to receive an Absentee Ballot Application and an absentee ballot by the close of business, the day before the election.

To be valid, both the completed application and ballot envelope, which contains only the completed ballot, must be delivered to your BOE Borough Office by 9 PM on Election Day.

Every poll site has an entrance that is accessible to voters with disabilities. This entrance may have temporary equipment, such as mats and ramps, to ensure voters can safely access the site.

To ensure that all voters can mark and cast their ballot privately and independently, every poll site has at least one Ballot Marking Device (BMD) and one ADA Privacy Booth, as well as other aids such as magnifying sheets.

The BMD is an electronic device that provides voters, including voters with disabilities, the ability to access and mark a ballot using a:

  • Audio headset
  • Touch screen
  • Keypad
  • Sip and puff device
  • Rocker paddle

Each BMD has a bipartisan team that is available to assist voters with the machine as needed. Every poll site also has ADA-focused poll workers called Accessibility Clerks who help voters with disabilities upon request. Any voter may be assisted by any person of their choice, except their employer or union representative.

As required by the Voting Rights Act, the Board of Elections (BOE) provides interpretation services at certain poll sites in:

  • Bengali
  • Cantonese
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
  • Spanish

You can contact the BOE to find out if your poll site offers language assistance.

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Voting Rights

Voters in New York City have certain rights.

Learn about your rights as a voter.

Events

You can attend voter awareness events in your community.

Learn about upcoming events.

Alerts

You can sign up to receive email updates with information about upcoming elections from the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

After you provide your email address, you will receive a confirmation email with a link you will need to click to confirm and complete the subscription process.

Alerts are only sent by email. You will not get alerts on your phone, even if you provide your cell phone number.

All voters must meet age, citizenship, and residency requirements. You must also be registered to vote.

If you have a criminal record, there may be more requirements for you to be able to vote.

There are no additional requirements if you:

  • Are in jail for a misdemeanor charge
  • Have been convicted of a misdemeanor
  • Are on probation
  • Have completed your maximum prison sentence
  • Have been discharged from parole on any charge

If you are on parole, you must get a Certificate of Relief or a Certificate of Conduct to restore your voting rights. You must also register again. To learn about getting Certificate of Relief or a Certificate of Conduct, visit the Certificate of Conduct page.

If you are in prison or jail for a felony, you cannot vote.

If you are awaiting arraignment, trial, or sentencing at the New York City Department of Correction, you are eligible to vote.

Online

Learn about voting rights for people with a criminal record or inmates of Department of Correction.

By Phone

Call 311 for assistance.

Re-Registering to Vote after Prison

If you were in prison for a felony, the Board of Elections was notified and your name was removed from the voting rolls.

When you have completed your maximum sentence or been discharged from parole, you need to register again to vote.

Voter Registration and Absentee Ballot for a DOC Inmate

You can get voter registration forms and absentee ballot applications from the law libraries, counseling units, chaplains’ offices and program wagons in the New York City Department of Correction.

When you register to vote, you should use your permanent home address as your residence. Do not provide the address of the jail, except as your mailing address.

Bronx

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Bronx Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 1780 Grand Concourse 5th Floor, Bronx, NY, 10457
  • Phone Number: (718) 299-9017
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Brooklyn

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Brooklyn Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 345 Adams Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
  • Phone Number: (718) 797-8800
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Manhattan

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Manhattan Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 200 Varick Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY, 10014
  • Phone Number: (212) 886-2100
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Queens

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Queens Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 118-35 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY, 11375
  • Phone Number: (718) 730-6730
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

Staten Island

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Staten Island Board of Elections Borough Office
  • Address: 1 Edgewater Plaza, 4th Floor, Staten Island, NY, 10305
  • Phone Number: (718) 876-0079
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM

You can get more help with voting, upcoming elections, absentee ballots, and the voting process by phone.

You can also make a complaint or report a concern about the voting process.

  • Agency: Board of Elections
  • Division: Vote Phone Bank
  • Phone Number: (866) 868-3692
  • Business Hours: Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
  • Staff is available through the automated phone system during business hours. Automated assistance is also available in Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Political Campaign Complaints

NYC311 is part of New York City government and does not provide information or take complaints about political candidates or their election campaigns.

Election campaigns and other non-profit organizations are not covered by the National Do Not Call Registry. The NYC Board of Elections and other City agencies don’t take complaints about election campaigns or candidates.

You may contact the candidate's campaign office to make a complaint about the candidate, campaign workers, or the use of campaign tactics, such as robo-calls, direct mail, or television ads.

To report political signs on public property, visit the Poster or Sticker Complaint page.

Poll Site Complaints

You report a problem with a poll site, including:

  • Poll sites that opened late or closed early
  • Poll sites that aren’t accessible to voters with disabilities
  • Long lines
  • Lack of privacy
  • Voting machine or ballot issues

You can also report a problem with a poll worker. To make a complaint, visit the Poll Site or Voting Equipment Complaint page.

Voter Name Not in Poll Book

If you believe you are registered to vote and your name doesn't appear in the poll book on Election Day, you are entitled to receive an affidavit ballot.

You can complete and submit the ballot at your poll site. The NYC Board of Elections will notify you by mail whether or not your ballot was counted.

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