Voter and Election Information Guide: Absentee Voting

"How to Cast an Absentee Ballot

"Who May Apply for an Absentee Ballot 

You may qualify to vote absentee for the following reasons:

1. Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
3. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
5. In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.

How to Apply for An Absentee Ballot

You may apply for an absentee ballot in any of the following ways:

• Apply online. Absentee ballot application portal
• If you have a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application portal. Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities. For more information, see the Accessible Ballot section below.
• By going in-person to your local county board of elections
• By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to your local county board of elections and receive your ballot
• You can download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form:

Download English Form - Absentee

Descargar formulario en español - Ausente (Spanish)

বাংলা ফর্ম ডাউনলোড করুন - অনুপস্থিত (Bengali)

下載中文表格 - 缺席者 (Chinese - Traditional)

한국어 양식 다운로드 - 결석자 (Korean)

If you cannot pick up your ballot, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.

If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee Ballot for each subsequent election without further application. Simply file an application with your county board of elections indicating permanent illness or physical disability.

You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled.

When is your absentee ballot application due?

Applications requesting to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election. For absentee ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.

When will ballots be sent?

Your absentee ballot materials will be sent to you beginning 46 days before federal, state, county, city or town elections in which you are eligible to vote. If you applied after this date, your ballot will be sent immediately after your completed and signed application is received and processed by your local board of elections." (New York State Board of Elections)

"Voters with a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application Portal. Accessible Ballot Application Portal
 

Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities.

Voters using the accessible ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote using the accessible ballot system.

Download English Form - Absentee

Solicitud de Boleta Accesible en Español (Spanish)

অ্যাক্সেসিবল ব্যালট অ্যাপ্লিকেশন বাংলা (Bengali)

無障礙投票申請表（中文） (Chinese - Traditional)

접근 가능한 투표 신청서 한국어 (Korean)

See documents below related to accessible ballots.

Electronic Accessible Ballot Delivery System Doc

Hernandez Settlement Agreement Summary

Hernandez Settlement Agreement and Order

For questions regarding accessible ballots, please contact Helen Hellmuth or Jennifer Mainello in the Accessibility Services & Training unit at (518) 207-4050 or accessibility@elections.ny.gov." (New York State Board of Elections)

Voters Abroad and Uniformed Services Members: Request Your Absentee Ballot with U.S. Vote Foundation

Poll Site Search, Voter Registration, and Absentee Ballot Tracker