How to Vote in New York's 2024 Elections

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• Special election, 26th Congressional District: Tuesday, April 30, to fill the U.S. House seat previously held by Rep. Brian Higgins
• State primary: Tuesday, June 25
• General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5

• Special election: The Board of Elections must receive your voter registration form no later than Saturday, April 20. Early voting and absentee voting are available. Check your voter registration status online on the registration record.

• Absentee voting: Available to those who can’t vote in person on Election Day because of a disability or illness, work, absence from the state or other acceptable reasons.

• Early voting: Available for all elections to all voters who apply. Early votes can be cast by mail or in person. Contact your county board of elections for locations.

• Voting at the polls on Election Day: Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. First-time voters who didn’t provide ID when registering to vote will need to bring an approved ID to the polls, such as a New York driver’s license or a utility bill.

Laws that took effect in 2023 may change how you vote this year:

• New York voters can use the state’s online voter registration portal to register, update their registration status or change their party affiliation.

• A 2024 redistricting plan redrew the boundaries of New York’s U.S. congressional and state legislative districts, and the new map was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Feb. 28.

• Voters who have already received an absentee ballot can only vote in person using an affidavit ballot. Polling machines cannot be used.

To vote in the special election, you must register no later than Saturday, April 20. To vote in the state primary, you must register before Saturday, June 15. Note that applications to register or change party affiliation were due before Wednesday, Feb. 14, to vote in either primary. To register:

• By mail: Download a voter registration form from the state elections website. Print, complete and mail the form to your county board of elections. You can also request that a registration form be mailed to you through the state elections website or by calling 800-367-8683.

• In person: Register at your county board of elections or at any New York state agency–based voter registration center, which includes city and state universities of New York, the Office for the Aging and the Department of Social Services.

• Online: You must have an NY.gov account to register online. Using your account, go to the state’s voter registration portal to fill out the registration form. If you are a resident of New York City, it’s recommended you use the city’s voter registration portal. Or register using the New York state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website. You must have a New York state DMV–issued driver's license, permit or ID, and the last four digits of your Social Security number and your zip code must be on record with the DMV to do so.

New York state does not offer voter registration on Election Day.

You can only vote in the primary of the party with which you are registered.

Early mail ballots are available to any registered voter. Registered voters who can’t vote in person on Election Day because of a disability, illness, work or absence from the state or who meet other eligibility requirements may receive an absentee ballot.

To get an early mail ballot or absentee ballot by mail, your application must be received by your local county board of elections no later Saturday, April 20 for the special election; and Saturday, June 15, for the state primary. To get an early mail ballot or absentee ballot in person, your application must be hand-delivered to your county board of elections no later than Monday, April 29, for the special election; and Monday, June 24, for the state primary.

• By mail: Download an absentee ballot application or early mail ballot application from the state elections website, complete it and mail it to your county board of elections office. 

• In person: Fill out your early mail ballot application or your absentee ballot application and deliver it in person to your local county board of elections. You can also designate someone to deliver either application on your behalf and receive your ballot.

• Online: Request an early mail ballot by using the application portal. Apply for an absentee ballot on the state elections website. 

Once you’ve filled out your ballot, fold it up, place it in the security envelope and add your signature and the date on the outside of the security envelope. Next, seal the security envelope and place it in the prepaid return envelope. Lastly, seal the return envelope.

• By mail: Either type of ballot must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, April 30, for the special election; and Tuesday, June 25, for the state primary. 

• In person: Hand-deliver your ballot to your county board of elections office or to your county’s poll site no later than Tuesday, April 30, for the special election and Tuesday, June 25, for the state primary. You can also bring your ballot to an early voting polling site from Saturday, April 20 to Sunday, April 28 for the special election; and from Saturday, June 15, to Sunday, June 23, for the state primary. 

New York City voters can track their absentee ballots with the city board of elections online tracker. Voters living outside the city should contact their county board of elections to track their ballots.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day, including for the special election on Tuesday, April 30.

Find your polling place on the New York Board of Elections website. Check with your local election office to confirm voting hours. If you live in New York City, you can find your polling place with the city’s online locator.

Bring an acceptable form of ID if you’re a first-time voter and didn’t provide one when you registered to vote. You can use your New York driver’s license or state-issued non-driver ID card, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government paycheck or another government document that shows your name and address.

If you cannot pick up your own absentee ballot, you can designate someone to pick it up on your behalf.

If you are permanently ill or have a disability, you can register to automatically receive an absentee ballot for all subsequent elections. File an application with your county board of elections and indicate that you have a permanent illness or physical disability.

Voters with a visual impairment who require an accessible ballot can apply for one using the Accessible Absentee Ballot Application portal.

Voters with a disability can vote in person using an accessible ballot marking device during early voting or on Election Day. This device allows voters to mark their ballot independently, using one of four accessible methods. Every poll site in New York City has at least one of these devices.

• U.S. President
• U.S. House: 26 seats
• U.S. Senate: one seat
• State Assembly: 150 seats 
• State Senate: 63 seats

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on April 15, 2024, with new information about voting in the April special election and the 2024 state primary.

Julie Goldenberg is an associate editor of AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. She is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School and is based in New York City.

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