Register to Vote
Elections are important because your vote is your voice, and you can use your vote to speak up about the issues that matter to you. Want to change something? It’s up to you to raise your voice for the future that you want to see.
Are You Eligible?
To register to vote, you have to be:
- A citizen of the United States (born in the U.S. or naturalized). That includes people who were born in Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- A resident of New York State for at least 30 days before the election.
- At least 18 years of age by Election Day (that includes if you turn 18 on Election Day!).
What about people with experiences of incarceration?
- If you’ve been convicted of a felony, you’ll need to re-register to vote.
- You can still register to vote if you’ve ever been convicted of a misdemeanor.
- You can vote from jail as long as you’re registered and not serving time on a felony
conviction. Contact your local Board of Elections for an absentee ballot before the deadline. - You don’t need to provide documents about your criminal history to register and vote.
How to Register to Vote
First, complete a voter registration form with your signature. Then you’ll need to either mail or hand-deliver the form to your local county Board of Elections. Don’t know if you’re registered? Double check online at voterlookup.elections.state.ny.us.
Guide to the New York State Voter Registration Form
If you already have a Driver’s License, Non-Driver’s ID card or Learner’s Permit issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you can register to vote or update your voter registration on the DMV website: dmv.ny.gov/mydmv.
Voter Registration Tips
- Your home address determines which races you’re eligible to vote in, so it’s important to update your registration when you move.
- In New York, you can change your party enrollment when you register, but you won’t be able to vote in a primary election for the new party of your choice in the same year. A change of enrollment will go into effect one week after the next general election.
- If you are experiencing homelessness, you can register using the location of where you stay at night, which can be the closest building address to a street corner, a shelter, a bus station or any other location.