Overview
Exercise your right as an American citizen — register to vote. You can also use this online service to join a political party, change your party designation, or update your name and address on file with the Board of Elections.
To qualify for voter registration in New York State, you must:
- be a United States Citizen;
- be 18 years old (you may pre-register at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until you are 18);
- be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election;
- not be in prison for a felony conviction;
- not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
- not claim the right to vote elsewhere
To register online, you will need:
- NYS driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card
- ZIP Code currently on record with the DMV
- Social security number
Completed applications are sent to local County or City Board of Elections for approval and processing. Contact your County Board of Elections if you haven't gotten a response within six weeks.
Register
To register online you will need to use a NY.Gov ID. If you have previously used a NY.Gov ID with another agency, you may use the same login to access the Online Voter Registration portal. If you have not used a NY.Gov ID you will need to create an account.
REGISTER ONLINE Download Forms
Completed applications are sent to the appropriate County Board of Elections for approval and processing.
Make Changes to Your Registration
You can also use the Board of Elections’ Online Voter Registration portal or the voter registration form to update your voter registration information. Updated information could include a new name, new address, or changing your party enrollment.
Change of Name and/or Address
Notices of change of address from registered voters received at least 15 days before a special, primary or general election by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for that election.
Change of Party Enrollment
An application to change one's party enrollment for the primary election in any year must be received by the board of elections no later than February 14th of that year.
Confidentiality for Victims of Domestic Violence
N.Y. Election Law (5-508) allows victims of domestic violence to apply for a confidential registration by delivering a sworn statement to their local county Board of Elections stating they are a victim of domestic violence and they wish to have their voter registration record kept confidential because of the threat of physical or emotional harm to themselves or a family or household member. Their voter registration record will be kept separate and apart from other registration records for four years and not be made available for inspection or copying by the public or any other person, except election officials acting within the course and scope of their official duties.
Under a separate section of the law (11-306), they can also be excused from going to their polling place to vote and get a special ballot.
For further information, please contact your county board of elections for their confidential registration and special ballot procedures.
Contact
For more information, please contact your local Board of Elections Office.
Contact us by phone:
Contact us by email:
[email protected]Contact us by mail:
40 North Pearl Street, Suite 5
Albany, NY 12207-2729