As the November election approaches, my office has received a number of questions related to voting, ballots, and the election. My office has compiled the most frequently asked questions with answers, which I thought might be useful to you.
What You Need to Know to Vote
This year, you can vote by absentee ballot and in-person, both early and on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3.
I wanted to provide guidance around frequently asked questions:
- How do I apply for an absentee ballot?
You can either apply online or by mail. Visit the Board of Elections (BOE) website and apply online here: vote.nyc/page/absentee-voting by October 27. If you prefer to print and mail in your application, you can print this form and mail it in.
- Am I still registered to vote?
You can check your voter registration status at NYC Voter Search. And remember: if you have recently moved, you should re-register to vote at your new address.
- I’m not registered to vote in New York. Can I still register?
The deadline to register to vote is Friday, October 9. If you have a license, you can do so online at: MyDMV Motor Voter. Otherwise, you will need to print and mail in a voter registration form.
- I already applied for an absentee ballot. When am I going to get it?
The BOE began sending absentee ballots out in late September. This year, the BOE has instituted a process to track your ballot, including when you send it back to be processed: nycabsentee.com/tracking
- My absentee ballots says “Absentee Military” on it but I’m not in the military. Is that OK?
Yes, all of the absentee ballots will have “Absentee Military” in the header. Traditionally, there would be a slash to delineate. This is your official ballot to complete and return.
- I applied for an absentee ballot, but decided to vote in-person. Is that OK?
Yes. If you decide not to send in your absentee ballot, you can vote in-person. Absentee ballots are counted after the election, so the vote will not register until November 3.
- Do I have to mail my absentee ballot? Are there places to drop it off?
You can drop off your ballot at any early voting or poll site, regardless of the one you are assigned to: Find a Poll Site
- What if the Board of Elections sends me the wrong absentee ballot?
You may have heard about some errors in absentee ballot delivery in Brooklyn, but none have been reported in Manhattan thus far. Please don’t hesitate to email me at kpowers@council.nyc.gov if there are any issues.
- Where and when can I early vote?
Early voting begins on Saturday, October 24, and goes through Sunday, November 1. Find your early voting site and associated hours here: Find My Poll Site
- Has my poll site for election day changed?
Your assigned poll site may have moved, especially if you have not voted since 2016. Be sure to check your poll site by plugging in your address here: Find My Poll Site
Find further FAQs from the Board of Elections on their website.