Absentee Voting

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.

• Online at the Absentee Ballot Application portal
• If you are visually impaired or otherwise disabled and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply for an Accessible Absentee Ballot Application.  Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system are responsible for printing their ballot.
• Complete paper application and mail or drop off to your local borough office

Absentee Ballot Application

Accessible Ballot Application

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 local 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. 

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot.

You can download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form: 

Absentee Ballot Application (Spanish pdf)	Accessible Ballot Application (Spanish pdf)
Absentee Ballot Application (Chinese pdf)	Accessible Ballot Application (Chinese pdf)
Absentee Ballot Application (Korean pdf)	Accessible Ballot Application (Korean pdf)
Absentee Ballot Application (Bengali pdf)	Accessible Ballot Application (Bengali pdf)

Applications requesting to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than fifteen days before the election. You may apply in-person up to the day before an election. 

When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election.