Your Local Election Headquarters
Polling Places Open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 5
New Yorkers can expect familiar names on the presidential ballot: Kamala Harris (Democratic/Working Families) and Donald Trump (Republican/Conservative) with their respective running mates, Tim Walz and JD Vance.
Additional Candidates
Voters can also write in candidates, but only those certified by the State Board of Elections. The following candidates have been certified:
| Party | Candidate | State |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Jill Stein | Massachusetts |
| Independent | Andre Ramon McNeil, Sr. | Missouri |
| Independent | Andrew O’Donnell | New York |
| Independent | Chris Garrity | New Hampshire |
| Independent | Cornel West | California |
| Independent | Future Madam Potus | Alaska |
| Independent | Garry Hubbard | Virginia |
| Independent | Raymond Anthony Scollin | New York |
| Independent | Shiva Ayyadurai | Massachusetts |
| Libertarian | Chase Oliver | Georgia |
| Socialism and Liberation | Claudia De La Cruz | New Jersey |
Senator Election
New Yorkers will also select a senator:
| Party | Candidate |
|---|---|
| Democratic/Working Families | Kirsten Gillibrand |
| Republican/Conservative | Michael Sapraicone |
| LaRouche | Diane Sare |
Voting Requirements
To vote, you must be an American citizen, a resident of New York for at least 30 days, 18 or older by Election Day, and registered. If you’re registered in another state, currently incarcerated for a felony conviction, or specifically banned by a judge, you can’t vote in New York.
ID Requirements
First-time voters might need to show identification if they forgot their social security number or driver’s license number when initially registering to vote. Accepted IDs include a driver’s license or state-issued ID, passport, utility bill, bank statement, or paycheck confirming your name and address. The vast majority of New Yorkers won’t need an ID to vote.
Absentee Voting
Being physically present in the county on Election Day does not invalidate an absentee ballot. However, absentee voters who decide to vote in person instead can’t use a machine. They must fill out an affidavit ballot at the polls, which will be counted when officials confirm that no absentee ballot has already been submitted.
Military Voting
Military members, their spouses, and dependents registered in New York can vote by absentee ballot in all races as if voting in person. The deadline to apply in person for a military absentee ballot is November 4. Military and overseas absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 5, and arrive at the County Board of Elections by November 18 to be counted.
Counting Disputed Ballots
The New York State Court of Appeals has approved counting disputed ballots when inspectors deadlock. In New York, a vote counts even if it’s cast during early voting by someone who then dies before Election Day. For mail-in or absentee ballots, it depends on whether the envelope with the ballot was already unsealed upon officials learning about the death. If the ballot was already processed, it counts, but if it’s still sealed and officials know the voter died before Election Day, it doesn’t.
Voter Bill of Rights
New York’s Voter Bill of Rights ensures that voters can cast their ballots in private, and the state also accommodates voters with disabilities. Such voters have the right to accessible voting systems, assistance options, and polling places. They can request a ballot marking device, vote by accessible mail-in ballot, access ADA-compliant polling sites, and bring a helper of their choice (except for their boss or an agent from their labor union).
Cybersecurity
To head off potential cybersecurity issues, voting machines in New York do not connect to the internet. And before using new machines, counties must complete acceptance testing. The State Board provides the necessary on-site testing software at the County Board office, testing voting mechanisms, including touchscreens and pushbuttons, and ballot configurations, including write-in candidates and ballots that fail with too many or too few votes for a given office.
Voting Machine Distribution
New York uses four types of voting machines: Clear Ballot, Dominion, Hart Verity, and Elections Systems & Software. The following is a list of the voting machine types used by each county:
| County | Machine |
|---|---|
| Albany | ES&S |
| Allegany | Hart Verity |
| Bronx | ES&S |
| Brooklyn | ES&S |
| Broome | Clear Ballot |
| Cattaraugus | Dominion |
| Cayuga | Clear Ballot |
| Chautauqua | Dominion |
| Chemung | Dominion |
| Clinton | Dominion |
| Columbia | Dominion |
| Cortland | Dominion |
| Delaware | Dominion |
| Dutchess | Dominion |
| Erie | ES&S |
| Essex | Dominion |
| Franklin | Dominion |
| Fulton | Dominion |
| Genesee | Dominion |
| Greene | Dominion |
| Hamilton | Dominion |
| Herkimer | Hart Verity |
| Jefferson | Clear Ballot |
| Lewis | Dominion |
| Livingston | Dominion |
| Madison | Dominion |
| Manhattan | ES&S |
| Monroe | Dominion |
| Nassau | ES&S |
| Niagara | Dominion |
| Oneida | Dominion |
| Ontario | Dominion |
| Orange | Dominion |
| Oswego | Clear Ballot |
| Otsego | Hart Verity |
| Putnam | Dominion |
| Queens | ES&S |
| Rensselaer | Clear Ballot |
| Rockland | ES&S |
| Saratoga | Dominion |
| Schenectady | ES&S |
| Schoharie | Dominion |
| Schuyler | Dominion |
| Seneca | Dominion |
| Staten Island | ES&S |
| Steuben | Clear Ballot |
| Suffolk | Dominion |
| Sullivan | Dominion |
| Tioga | Dominion |
| Tompkins | Clear Ballot |
| Ulster | Hart Verity |
| Warren | Clear Ballot |
| Washington | Hart Verity |
| Wayne | Dominion |
| Westchester | Dominion |
| Wyoming | Dominion |
| Yates | Hart Verity |
Paid Time Off
New Yorkers who don’t have four hours in a row outside their work shift to vote can take paid time off for up to two hours on Election Day. Someone with a 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. work schedule wouldn’t qualify, as the polls are open for another four hours after punch time. But someone working from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. would have only three hours before or after, which would qualify.
Employee Protections
Employees must inform their employer at least two working days in advance. This means that, if they’re closed on the weekends, you should notify them no later than November 1. Employees should contact the Department of Labor, the Attorney General’s Office, or their local County Board of Elections if their employer denies paid time off for voting. Nor can they force workers to use their personal time off instead.
Problems at the Polls
New Yorkers who show up at the wrong polling site can still have their votes counted. If poll workers don’t have a voter registration on file, they’ll provide an affidavit ballot. The vote would still apply if the voter was still in the right county and Assembly District.
Vote Counting
Absentee ballots undergo signature checks upon arrival and are scheduled to enter vote-counting machines on October 25, one day before early voting begins. The final tallying starts one hour before polls close on Election Day. Mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day must reach county boards by November 12 to count.
Certification
After the polls close, officials validate and certify the votes. Counties certify local counts within 25 days, with state certification expected around November 11—the Monday after the first Wednesday after Election Day.
Contact Information
If you or someone you know encounters a problem at the polls, contact the Attorney General’s election hotline at (866) 390-2992 or file a complaint online at electionhotline.ag.ny.gov. The hotline will stay open through November 6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the deadline to register to vote in New York?
A: The deadline to register to vote in New York is October 10.
Q: What is the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in New York?
A: The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot in New York is November 4.
Q: Can I vote on Election Day if I’m not registered?
A: No, you cannot vote on Election Day if you’re not registered. You must be registered to vote in New York at least 30 days before Election Day.
Q: Can I vote by mail-in ballot if I’m not registered?
A: No, you cannot vote by mail-in ballot if you’re not registered. You must be registered to vote in New York at least 30 days before Election Day to vote by mail-in ballot.
Q: What are the voting hours on Election Day?
A: Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Election Day.
