How to vote in New York: register by Oct 24, polls 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Who can register, and the deadline

You can register if you are a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old. You must live in New York State and in your county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election. You cannot be in prison for a felony conviction, be adjudged mentally incompetent, or claim the right to vote somewhere else. The full list is on the State Board of Elections 2026 deadlines poster.

You can pre-register at 16 or 17, and your registration starts when you turn 18, per the State Board of Elections FAQ.

The deadline is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Your county Board of Elections must receive your application by that day, per the State Board of Elections.

October 24 is also Golden Day. You can register and vote on the same day at an early voting site, per the Attorney General's election key dates page.

Check your registration now at the state voter lookup. Register or update your details through vote.gov.

Vote early: October 24 to November 1

Early voting runs from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1, 2026, per the State Board of Elections.

New York City assigns you an early voting site. It can be different from your Election Day site. Find yours with the NYC Board of Elections poll site locator. The Board's voting FAQ explains how the assignment works.

Citywide early voting hours, from the NYC Board of Elections:

• October 24, 25 and 26: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• October 27 and 28: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• October 29: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• October 30, 31 and November 1: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can also drop off a completed mail ballot at any early voting site in your borough.

Vote by mail

Any registered voter can request an early mail ballot. You do not need a reason. The NYC Votes guide from the Campaign Finance Board walks through the request.

Absentee ballots are the older option. They are for voters with a reason, such as being away from the county on Election Day, illness or disability, caregiving, or being in a hospital.

Request deadlines, per the Attorney General and the State Board of Elections: the Board must receive your request by mail or online by Saturday, October 24. You can request in person at your borough Board of Elections office through Monday, November 2.

City voters can request a ballot at requestballot.vote.nyc. The state portal is at ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov.

Return deadlines, per the State Board of Elections: your ballot must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 3, and received by Tuesday, November 10. Or hand it in at any poll site in your county, or your Board of Elections office, by 9 p.m. on November 3.

One caution from the Attorney General: a ballot dropped in a mailbox may not be postmarked the same day. If you mail late, ask a post office counter for a free manual postmark. Track your ballot at requestballot.vote.nyc/tracking.

What ID to bring

New York does not require photo ID to vote. Most voters give their name and address and sign the poll book.

If you vote in a district for the first time and did not show ID when you registered, poll workers may ask you to confirm your name and address. You can show a photo ID. Or show a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document with your name and address. The NYC Board of Elections voter ID page lists what counts as ID.

If you have none of these, you can still vote on an affidavit ballot. The Attorney General's election page carries the state's voting rights guidance.

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you vote only at your designated polling place, per the NYC Board of Elections voting FAQ.

Find your site with the poll site locator. Check your registration at the state voter lookup or at vote.gov.

If something goes wrong

Start with the poll workers at your site. If the problem stays, call the NYC Board of Elections Voter Phone Bank at 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692). The number is listed on the Board's voting FAQ.

You can also call the Attorney General's Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-390-2992. It runs during early voting and on Election Day, per the Attorney General's election page.

If your name is not on the list at your site, ask for an affidavit ballot. Do not leave without a way to vote.

What happens next

Counting does not end on November 3. Mail ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive by November 10.

What you can do

Check your registration this week. Find your early voting site and your Election Day site, because they can differ. If you want a mail ballot, request it before October 24. Save the two hotline numbers in your phone.