Voting by Early Mail Ballot or Absentee Ballot
The General Election will be held on November 3, 2026
The early voting period will be Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1, 2026
EARLY MAIL BALLOTABSENTEE BALLOTHOW TO MARK YOUR BALLOTADDITIONAL INFORMATIONCHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR BALLOT
Early Mail Ballot
Who May Apply for an Early Mail Ballot
Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Each person must apply for themselves. It is a felony to make a false statement in an application for an early mail ballot, to attempt to cast an illegal ballot, or to help anyone to cast an illegal ballot.
How to Apply for an Early Mail Ballot (Deadlines)
You may apply for an early mail ballot in any of the following ways:
- By utilizing our online portal: Early Mail Application Portal
- By mailing a paper application to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
- By sending a fax request to (845) 808-1920
- By going in-person to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
- By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512 and receive your ballot.
- If you are visually impaired and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Absentee Ballot Application portal. Please find the link to the portal HERE.
You can download a PDF version of the Early Mail Ballot Application Form:
Download English Application
When is it due?
Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot by mail must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election. For early mail ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.
How to Cast an Early Mail Ballot
- Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
- Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
- Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
- Seal the Security Envelope.
- All early mail ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.)The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage.
- Seal the Return Envelope.
You or a representative may return the ballot in any of the following ways:
For the November 3, 2026 General Election:
- Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 3rd. Must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than November 10th.
- Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 3rd by 9 pm.
- Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 24th and November 1st.
- Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 3rd by 9 pm.
ABSENTEE BALLOT
Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot
- Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
- Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
- Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
- A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
- In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.
How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot (Deadlines)
You may apply for an absentee ballot in any of the following ways:
- By utilizing our online portal: Absentee Application Portal
- By mailing a paper application to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
- By sending a fax request to (845) 808-1920
- By going in-person to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
- You can download a PDF version of the Absentee Ballot Application Form:
If you cannot pick up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.
If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee Ballot for each subsequent election without further application. Simply file an application with your county board of elections indicating permanent illness or physical disability.
You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled.
Accessible Absentee Voting
- Voters with disabilities can visit https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/home/accessible to request an accessible absentee ballot.
- Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered. Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system can also print their absentee ballots at the County Board offices.
- In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.
When is it due?
Applications requesting to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election. For absentee ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.
How to Cast an Absentee Ballot
- Once you receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions provided.
- Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
- Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
- Seal the Security Envelope.
- Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”)
- Seal the Return Envelope.
You or a representative may return the ballot in any of the following ways:
For the November 3, 2026 General Election:
- Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 3rd. Must be received by the County Board of Elections no later than November 10th.
- Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 3rd by 9 pm.
- Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 24th and November 1st.
- Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 3rd by 9 pm.
Mail Time Considerations When Returning an Absentee Ballot
When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for a ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election. Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day.
Absentee Cures
There are certain errors or problems that can occur when a voter completes an absentee ballot envelope. Many of these errors or problems are curable by means of filing a cure statement with your board of elections. If your ballot envelope has a curable defect, you will receive a notice from the board of elections. The cure process is described here.
Additional Absentee/Early Mail Ballot Information
Due to a change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee/early mail ballot for that election.
Voters who have already been issued an absentee/early mail ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voter’s absentee/early mail ballot has been received. If the voter’s absentee/early mail ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter’s absentee/early mail ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.
If a voter requests a second absentee/early mail ballot, any previously issued absentee/early mail ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside unopened to provide the voter a chance to return the second ballot, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely absentee/early mail ballot and cast an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee/early mail ballot return deadline, will be canvassed.