Frequently Asked Questions
"Who Can Vote?"
You must be a registered voter in order to vote in the general or primary elections.
To register, you must be a United States citizen, be 18 years old by the date of the
election you want to vote, live at your present address for at least 30 days before
an election, not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction, and not claim the
right to vote elsewhere.
NOTE: The registration form on this website is ONLY for residents of New York City
(including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island). Be sure to
complete and return your registration application before the deadline.
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"Where Can I Get A Mail Registration Application?"
E-mail your mailing address to
vote@boe.nyc.ny.us (please put in the subject line the borough in which you reside)
or call toll-free 1-866-VOTE-NYC
(If out of New York City, call (212)-VOTE-NYC (868-3692) ) and ask to have a
postage-paid application sent to you. You may also pick one up at your local post
office, library or motor vehicle office. Visit our
registration page for more information.
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"Can I Register In Person?"
Yes. Many public agencies are now providing voter registration forms
and assistance. You can also register at any one of the borough
Board of Elections offices Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
If you don't get a registration card within 4 to 6 weeks of completing your application,
you might want to call the Board of Elections Phone Bank
toll-free at 1-866-VOTE-NYC or (212)-VOTE-NYC if out of New York City,
to see if your application was processed.
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"Do I Have To Register Every Year?"
No. Once you register, you are permanently registered. Name, address or
party enrollment changes can be made by submitting a new registration
application. If you move, you should notify the Board of Elections
as soon as possible, by re-registering.
The Board of Elections will transfer the registration and enrollment of
any voter for whom it receives a notice of change of address to another
address in New York City, or for any voter who casts a ballot in an
affidavit ballot envelope which sets forth the new address.
If the Board of Elections receives notice at least twenty days before a primary,
special or general election, it must complete the change of address
before the election.
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"How Will I Know Where To Vote?"
You should receive a postcard from the Board of Elections some time in
August, telling you where to vote. Watch for it! It will also indicate
your election district number which you need to know on election day.
Or, you can e-mail your complete home address to
vote@boe.nyc.ny.us (please put in the subject line the borough in which you reside).
Click here to use The Online Poll Site Address Locator
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"How Do Candidates Get On The Ballot?"
In New York State, most candidates get on the ballot by filing a petition
containing a specified number of signatures. The required amount varies,
depending on the office sought and whether the candidate is seeking a
party nomination or a spot on the ballot as an independent.
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"Who Can Sign A Petition?"
Only enrolled party members may sign petitions for candidates who
seek their party's nomination. However, any registered voter living
within the appropriate district may sign a petition for a candidate
seeking to run as an independent in the general election as long as
s/he has not already signed on behalf of another candidate.
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"Should I Be Concerned About Signing A Petition?"
Absolutely not! The reluctance of some to sign petitions makes it difficult for
those without strong political party backing to get the requisite number of
signatures and run for elected office. Signing a petition is an important way
to participate in the electoral process.
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"What Is A Primary Election?"
A primary is an election that may take place within each of New York State's
official political parties. It precedes the general election and provides
enrolled political party members the opportunity to nominate their party's
candidates for elected office as well as to elect various party officials.
However, if there is no contest, there is no primary.
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"Why Should I Enroll In A Political Party?"
Enrolled party members who help nominate candidates by signing petitions
and voting in the primary have greater political clout than non-enrolled
voters who can vote only in the general election.
Moreover, you are not obligated to vote for your party's candidate in the
general election. In November, you may vote for any candidate from any party.
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"How Do I Enroll In A Political Party?"
You voluntarily enroll in any party by indicating your preference on the
voter registration form either at the same time that you register to vote
or by re-registering.
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"What Happens If I Can't Vote On Election Day?"
If you will be out of town on election day or are physically unable to
go to the polls, you can vote by absentee ballot.
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"How Can I Get An Absentee Ballot?"
Absentee ballot applications can be obtained by writing the Board of
Elections, calling toll-free 1-866-VOTE-NYC or (212) VOTE-NYC, e-mailing
your request to vote@boe.nyc.ny.us (please put in the subject line the borough in which you reside)
or visit our Absentee page.
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"How Do I Mark A Paper Ballot"
Be sure to follow the directions that are printed on a paper ballot.
Paper ballots are canvassed by scanning them with machines so you must
mark them correctly. It is simple to do. Just fill in the ovals
near your choice. Do not use any other mark. Fill in the ovals with
a pencil or a pen with blue
or black ink. Do not write
anywhere on the ballot. If you want to vote for someone whose name does
not appear on the ballot - you may write his or her name in the write-in
box and fill in the oval on that write-in box. If there are propositions
up for vote, you will find them on the back of the ballot. Mark your vote
by filling in the oval next to either "yes" or "no".
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"I'm Disabled. Where Can I Vote?"
Most polling places are now accessible to the handicapped. If yours
is not, you may ask to have your records transferred to a nearby
accessible polling place where the ballot will be the same as in
your election district.
You may also vote by absentee ballot. If you have a long-term or
permanent illness or disability, you can apply for a permanent
absentee ballot and you will automatically receive one before each
primary and general election.
Click Here for information.
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"What Do I Need When I Go To Vote?"
The "Help America Vote Act" (HAVA) which was enacted into law in 2002,
requires all first time voters, who registered by mail on or after January 1, 2003,
to provide additional identification either on or with the voter registration
application, i.e., the driver's license number or the last four digits of your social security number.
If you do not provide your drivers license number or the last four digits of your
social security number at the time you submit your registration form by mail,
you can include a copy of any of the following documentation with your registration application :
Non-Driver ID Number; Current and Valid Photo ID; Current Utility Bill; Bank Statement;
Government Check or Paycheck; Government Document that shows Name and Address.
If the voter has not provided any of the acceptable forms of identification by the time
they vote in a Federal Election, the voter will not be allowed to vote by machine, but will
be able to vote by affidavit ballot. The voter will not be denied the right to vote.
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"What Do I Do When I Get To The Polling Place?"
When you enter the polling place, you'll see tables and voting
machines for one or more election districts (E.D.). At the table
for your E.D. you will be asked to sign next to a facsimile of
your original signature on an alphabetical computerized poll-list.
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"What If I'm Not Permitted To Vote?"
If you are not on the poll-list, ask the inspector to verify that you
are at the proper table for your address. Make sure that it is your
correct Election and Assembly District. It may be because your registration
form was not received by the deadline or, for a primary, because you aren't enrolled
in a party. If you believe that you are eligible, you can still vote.
Ask for an affidavit ballot, which is basically a paper ballot. After
the election, the Board of Elections will check its records and your
vote will be counted if you are indeed eligible to vote and are at the correct polling site.
If not, you will receive a notice that you are not eligible, along with a
registration application for future elections.
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"How Do Voting Machines Work?"
Click here
for Voting Instructions
When you enter the voting booth, pull the large red handle to activate
the machine. Do not move it until you have completed your selections. You
have three minutes in which to vote. Make your selections by moving the
lever next to the name of each candidate you wish to vote for until an
'X' appears. You can change your mind and move the levers up and down
as often as necessary. However, once your choices are made, leave them
down and pull the large red handle to register and count your vote.
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"Suppose I Need Help?"
If you need some help because you are disabled or cannot read the ballot,
federal law allows you to have a friend or relative assist you in the
voting booth. Election employees at the polling place are also ready
to help you.
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"If I Register To Vote, Will I Be Called For Jury Duty?"
Jurors are drawn from lists of state taxpayers and licensed drivers as
well as from voter registration rolls. Do not give up your right to vote
in the hope that you will avoid jury duty. Chances are, if you pay taxes
or drive a car, you will still be called. Besides, serving on a jury is a
privilege, one that permits you to personally stand up for all Americans'
right to a trial by a jury of their peers.
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"Can A Felony Conviction Affect My Right To Vote?"
Click here for Registration of Former Felons Information (English) pdf
Click here for Registration of Former Felons Information (Espaņol) pdf
Click here for Registration of Former Felons Information (Chinese) pdf
Click here for Registration of Former Felons Information (Korean) pdf
Citizenship
Note: In Order To Be Eligible To Register One Must Be A Citizen Of The
United States.
A Permanent Resident, A Green Card Holder, Or A Person Who
Is In This Country On A Visa Is Not Eligible To Register To Vote Until
S/He Obtains Citizenship.
Voter Registration Form
(Visit our registration
page for more information.)
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In order to be processed, line #2 of the voter registration form must be
checked - "Are you a U.S. citizen?___Yes ___No"
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If this box is not completed the registration form will be returned to
the registrant requesting that the material be furnished and the form
be completed.
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If a voter's citizenship has been challenged the Board of Elections has a right to
investigate and verify the authenticity of the claim.
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