New York General Election

Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Everything you need to vote in the New York general election, in a few simple steps.

Time left to register
Register by
October 24, 2026
Your registration must be received by this date to vote on November 3.
1 Register to voteDeadline: Oct 24 New to voting, or moved? Register or update your address. Register now → (opens in a new tab) 2 Check your registration Not sure if you’re registered? Look yourself up in under a minute. Am I registered? → (opens in a new tab) 3 Request a mail-in ballot Prefer to vote by mail? Any registered voter can apply for a mail-in ballot online. Request your mail-in ballot → (opens in a new tab) 4 Request an absentee ballot For voters who will be away from the county on Election Day, or who are unable to go to the polls due to illness or disability. Request your absentee ballot → (opens in a new tab) 5 Find your polling place Look up where to vote on Election Day or during early voting. Check where to vote → (opens in a new tab)

Key dates

  1. Oct 24Register by this dateRegistration must be received. Also the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot online or by mail. Early voting begins.
  2. Oct 24 – Nov 1Early votingNine days of in-person voting at any early voting site in Orange County.
  3. Nov 2Last day to apply in personTo pick up a mail-in or absentee ballot in person at the county Board of Elections.
  4. Nov 3Election DayPolls are open 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
  5. Nov 10Mailed ballots dueMail-in and absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov 3 and received by the county Board of Elections by Nov 10.

Every vote counts

Local races here have been decided by a handful of votes.

Why your vote matters

Three good reads on what a single vote can do.

NPRWhy every vote mattersRaces across the country that were decided by a single vote, or ended in a tie.Read the story → Mental Floss11 elections decided by one vote (or fewer)A quick tour of elections where every single ballot counted.Read the story → Nonprofit VOTELocal elections: small margins, big consequencesWhy the races closest to home can matter the most.Read the story →

How we won the right to vote

Every citizen who can vote today inherits a right that generations of Americans worked for.

  1. 1776A very small electorateWhen the country began, voting was mostly limited to white men who owned property. Rules differed from state to state.
  2. 187015th AmendmentThe Constitution said the right to vote cannot be denied because of race or color.
  3. 1917 & 1920Women win the voteNew York voters approved women’s suffrage in 1917. The 19th Amendment gave women across the country the right to vote in 1920.
  4. 1924Indian Citizenship ActCongress recognized Native Americans born in the U.S. as citizens. Some states kept them from voting for decades more.
  5. 1964 & 1965Poll taxes ended, Voting Rights ActThe 24th Amendment banned poll taxes in federal elections. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed practices used to keep Black citizens from voting.
  6. 197126th AmendmentThe voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.
Why it mattersVoting is how neighbors decide who sets local taxes, runs the schools and fixes the roads.
Why it is goodAn election lets every citizen have an equal say, whatever their background.
What you can doRegister by October 24, then vote early or on November 3.

Quick answers

Do I need to bring ID to vote?

Usually no. When you register, the Board of Elections checks your driver’s license or non-driver ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If your identity could not be verified at registration, bring an ID the first time you vote, such as a photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement or a paycheck.

Can I vote early?

Yes. Early voting runs October 24 to November 1 at any early voting site in Orange County. If you vote early, you cannot vote again on Election Day. See Orange County early voting sites.

What is the difference between a mail-in ballot and an absentee ballot?

Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot. An absentee ballot is for voters who will be away from their county on Election Day, who cannot go to the polls because of illness or disability, or who are caring for someone who is ill or disabled.

How do I return my mail-in ballot?

Mail it in the prepaid return envelope with a postmark no later than November 3, and it must reach the county Board of Elections by November 10. You can also hand it in at the county Board of Elections office or at a poll site in your county by 9:00 PM on November 3.

How do I check that I am registered or track my ballot?

Use the State Board of Elections voter look-up. It shows your registration, your polling place and the status of a mail-in ballot. Open the voter look-up.

Questions?

Reach us any time.

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