The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3,
but if you're trying to avoid lines and crowds at the polls for health reasons,
consider voting early or ordering an absentee ballot. The Democracy Works “How to Vote” website offers the following voting information, which is accurate as
of August 2020. However, changes may be made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Check the website closer to the General Election on November 3 for the most
up-to-date details.
Early voting is available from Saturday, October 24,
through Sunday, November 1, but dates and hours may vary based on where you
live. Consult your county's Board of Elections website for locations and hours,
which generally include a mix of day, evening, and weekend hours. You can vote
at any of the Early Voting locations around the county, but if you wait to vote
in person on Election Day, you must go to your designated polling site, which
you can find through your county's Board of Elections website.
What to bring
If you've voted in New York before, you don't need to
provide ID to vote.
If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail, and
didn't provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show
ID to vote. Acceptable forms include: a current and valid photo ID; or a copy
of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other
government document that shows your name and address.
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, you will
be able to vote an affidavit ballot.
Absentee ballot
Your county's Board of Elections website has absentee ballot
applications available for download. Read the application and confirm that you
meet the eligibility requirements for voting absentee. Fill out the application
completely and send it to your local election office. You should request your
ballot as far in advance of the election as possible. The Board of Elections
must receive your ballot application by Tuesday, October 27. When your ballot
arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and
return it.
Voter Registration
You
can't vote unless you've registered in advance of the November 3 election. The
deadline for registration is Friday, October 9. You may register online, by
mail, or in person. You can look up your voter registration record and verify
that your information is correct using New York's voter registration lookup
tool at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.
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