Early voting underway in NYS: Here's how, when and where to vote on LI
ALBANY — Registered voters have several ways to cast ballots in the general election now through the traditional Election Day on Nov. 5.
The election includes races for president, vice president, Congress, the State Senate, State Assembly and judgeships.
Ways to vote
Voters may vote by:
- Absentee ballot.
- Early voting by mail
- Early voting at polling places
- Going to polling sites on Nov. 5, the traditional Election Day.
Where to vote
The state Board of Elections has an online portal through which a registered voter may look up early voting sites. By clicking on an early voting site, the portal provides the days and times in which early votes may be cast The portal also provides a voter’s assigned polling site for Nov. 5. The state portal is at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ and can be used to see if a voter is registered.
Early voting
Early voting days and hours in Nassau County:
- Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the county Board of Elections site open until 8 p.m.
- Wednesday 10 a.m. 7 p.m., with the county Board of Elections site again open until 8 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 3, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Early voting sites in Nassau County:
A Nassau County voter may vote at any early voting site, which may not include the voter’s traditional polling place. The early voting sites are available on the county Board of Elections website at nassaucountyny.gov/566/Board-of-Elections or through the state online portal.
Early voting days and hours in Suffolk County:
- Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 31, noon to 8 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 1, noon to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Early voting sites in Suffolk County:
A Suffolk County voter may vote at any early site. Early voting sites can be accessed through the state online portal.
Mail-in ballots
Any registered voter for any reason may request a mail-in ballot by:
- Downloading an Early Mail Ballot Application at ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/earlymail.
- Visiting their local board of elections.
- Designating another person to deliver the application in person to their local board of elections and receive a ballot.
An application by mail for a mail-in ballot must be received by the local board of elections no later than 10 days before Election Day. New Yorkers can drop off a mail-in ballot application in person at boards of elections no later than Nov. 4.
Absentee ballots
This is the application for an absentee ballot for Nassau County Credit: Newsday/William Perlman
An absentee ballot can be used when a voter is out of their county or borough on Election Day.
A New Yorker can apply for an absentee ballot through the state’s online portal at ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/absentee
An application for an absentee ballot must be received by the local board of elections no later than 10 days before the election. Applications can be dropped off in person at your local board of elections no later than Nov. 4, the day before the election.
An absentee ballot may be cast by:
- Mailing it with a postmark no later than Nov. 5. The ballot must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 12.
- Dropping the ballot off at the local board of elections no later than 9 p.m. on Nov. 5.
- Dropping it off at an early voting poll site between Oct. 26 and Nov. 3.
- Bringing it to any polling site within the voter’s county by 9 p.m. on Nov. 5.
Deadline to register to vote
Applications to register to vote by mail must be received by the local board of elections no later than Saturday, Oct. 26, for the applicant to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.
The deadline to apply for registration in person is also Saturday. Applications may be submitted in person at any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, including the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
How to register to vote
To register on the Online Voter Registration Portal (my.ny.gov/LoginV4/login.xhtml), prospective voters will need a state NY. Gov ID account. If the New Yorker had used a NY. Gov ID account for business with a state agency, the same login and access can be used to access the portal. Others will have to create an account.
Prospective voters may sign a New York State Voter Registration Form and either submit it online or by printing it and hand-delivering or mailing it to the local board of elections by Saturday. The voter registration form is available in English and Spanish at elections.ny.gov/voter-registration-process.
Prospective voters may also call the state Board of Elections hotline at 800-FOR-VOTE (800-367-8683).
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
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