General Election and Voter Information Guide: Absentee Voting

"How to Cast an Absentee Ballot

1. Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot
2. Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
3. Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
4. Seal the Security Envelope.
5. All absentee ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.)The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage.
6. Seal the Return Envelope.

Absentee Ballot Tracking

Voters can track their absentee ballot via the Board of Elections' Poll Site Search, Voter Registration, and Absentee Ballot Tracker available at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/

You may return the ballot in any of the following ways:

For the June 25, 2024 State and Federal Primary Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than June 25th. Must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than July 2nd.
2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than June 25th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between June 15th and June 23rd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on June 25th by 9pm.

For the November General Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 5th. Must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than November 12th.
2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 5th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26th and November 3rd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 5th by 9pm." (New York State Board of Elections, 5/13/2024)

https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot#vote-by-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

Download Spanish Form

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." (New York State Board of Elections, 5/11/2024)

"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.

Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities." (New York State Board of Elections, 5/11/2024)

https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot#accessible-ballot

https://onondaga.gov/elections/request-a-ballot/

Absentee Ballot Request and Voter Registration Services for All U.S. Voters in All States at Home and Abroad 

www.usvotefoundation.org/vote/VoterInformation.htm

Poll Site Search, Voter Registration, and Absentee Ballot Tracker

https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/