Voting Rights

Everyone has the right to vote! The General Election is coming up on Tuesday November 5th, 2024. Polling booths will be open from 6 AM – 9 PM, across the city and state. Your voice matters.

Dates & Deadlines

Registration by mail deadline: October 26, 2024
Early mail ballot request deadline: October 26, 2024
Accessible ballot request: October 26, 2024

Election Day: November 5, 2025, 6am-9pm
Early voting: October 26 – November 3, 2024, 8am-5pm

In 1984, Coalition for the Homeless filed the lawsuit Pitts v. Black, which guaranteed the right to vote for all homeless New Yorkers regardless of where they live. 

Your Voice Matters!

If you are living in shelter

• Register to vote or update your registration with your shelter address.
• Request to have a ballot mailed to you at any address.

If you are living unsheltered

• You do not need a fixed address to register to vote. Register with any address where you are sleeping.
• You can register online, by mail, or in person at any Board of Elections location: vote.nyc/page/contact-us.
  

If you have recently been released from prison

• If you were incarcerated for a felony conviction and have finished your sentence: you are eligible to vote even if you’re on parole.
• You must register to vote after you are released from prison, even if you were registered before you were incarcerated.

What are the different ways I can vote?

On the Day of the Election: Arrive at your poll site between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on the election day. To find your poll site, contact the NYC Board of Elections at 1-866-VOTE-NYC or visit findmypollsite.vote.nyc. 

Early Voting: You can vote early — up to 9 days before the election day. Your early voting poll site might be different from your election day poll site. For more information about your early voting poll site and its open hours, contact the NYC Board of Elections at 1-866-VOTE-NYC or visit findmypollsite.vote.nyc. 

Vote By Early Mail Ballot: Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Each person must apply for themselves. You can request a ballot online at RequestBallot.vote.nyc, or by going in-person to your county board of elections office. Your request for an early mail ballot must be received by the county board of elections no later than: 

• 10 days before the election if you mail the request, or  

• the day before the election if you deliver the request in-person to your local county board of election office. 

When you request an early mail ballot by mail, the ballot will be mailed to the address you provide, along with a postage paid return envelope.  

After you fill out the ballot, you can either:  

• deliver it in-person to the county board of elections office where you are registered no later than the day before the election, or 

• mail the ballot using the postage paid envelope provided ensuring that it is postmarked no later than the day of the election. 

How do I register to vote, change the address of my registration, or find out if I am registered? 

You can register to vote or change the address of your registration online at e-register.vote.nyc or by going in-person to your county board of election office. Your voter registration or change of address must be received 10 days before the election. You can check online if you are registered and what address is on file at nycvotersearch.com or by calling 1-866-868-3692. 

What do I need when I go to vote? 

Nothing. As long as you registered to vote before the deadline, you do not need to show identification in order to vote. To ensure your vote is counted, you should vote in the election district where you are registered and confirm your poll site before you vote.  

What should I do when I enter the poll site? 

At the poll site, you will see tables and voting machines set up for your election district and others. At the table for your district, you will be asked to sign next to a facsimile of your signature on an alphabetized, computerized polling list. If your name does not appear on the roster, ask for an affidavit or paper ballot. 

Can I vote if I was incarcerated for a felony conviction or am currently on parole? 

If you were incarcerated for a felony conviction and have finished your sentence: Your rights have been reinstated and you are eligible to vote.  

You can vote while on parole. But you must register to vote after you are released from prison, even if you were registered before you were incarcerated. 

 What is Ranked Choice Voting? 

Ranked Choice Voting allows voters to rank up to five candidates by preference instead of choosing just one. New York City voters have the option to rank their top five candidates in our local primary and special elections for Mayor, Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough President, and City Council. Learn more at RankTheVoteNYC.org. 

 What if I have trouble trying to vote? 

If your name does not appear on the computerized polling list or you are told that you are not eligible to vote, ask for an affidavit or paper ballot. After the election day, the Board of Elections will check its records, and your vote will be counted if you are indeed eligible to vote. If not, you will receive a notice that you are not eligible, along with a registration application for future elections. You may also call one of the numbers listed below for assistance on the day of the election. 

What if I am permanently ill or physically disabled?

You have the right to receive an absentee ballot. You must file an application with your county board of elections office indicating permanent illness or physical disability. You can file the application online at requestballot.vote.nyc or by going in-person to your county board of election office. Your request for an absentee ballot must be received by the county board of elections no later than: 

• 10 days before the election if you mail the request, or  

• the day before the election if you deliver the request in-person to your local county board of election office. 

After you submit the application, you will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled. 

What if I have difficulty reading?

Voters with any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, may apply online for a ballot with accessible features at https://requestballot.vote.nyc/accessibility.  

Voters with disabilities are also able to vote in-person using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”), either during early voting or on Election Day. 

For more information or assistance, contact:

NYC Board of Elections: 1-866-VOTE-NYC (toll-free)
NY Attorney General Election Hotline: 1-800-771-7755
Coalition for the Homeless: 212-776-2003