Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Early Voting Period is October 24,2020 - November 1, 2020
Absentee Voting
Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot ( Deadlines )
1. Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability (temporary illness includes being unable to appear due to risk of contracting or spreading a communicable disease like COVID-19).
3. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
5. Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.
When is it due?
You must apply online, postmark, email or fax a completed application or letter request for the General Election Absentee ballot no later than 7 days ( October 27, 2020 ) before the election. You may apply in-person up to the day before the election ( November 2, 2020 ). You may file an application at any time before the deadlines, but ballots will be mailed out beginning on or about September 18, 2020 . (PLEASE BE AWARE THAT DESPITE THE ABOVE DEADLINES THE POST OFFICE HAS ADVISED THAT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE TIMELY DELIVERY OF BALLOTS APPLIED FOR LESS THAN 15 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION .)
How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot ( Deadlines )
You may apply for an absentee ballot in any of the following ways:
• Electronically through our Absentee Application Portal (COMING SOON)
• By sending an email request to your local county board of elections
• By sending a fax request to your local county board of elections
• By going in-person to your local county board of elections
• By mailing a paper application to your local county board of elections You can download a PDF verson of the New York Sate Absentee Ballot Application Form:
• Download English Form (see pdf below)
• Download Spanish Form (see pdf below)
Upon completion, applications must be mailed to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election or delivered in person no later than the day before the election.
• By sending a letter to your county board of elections. The letter must contain the following information:
• Name and date of birth of the voter
• the address where you are registered
• an address where the ballot is to be sent
• the reason for the request, and
• the signature of the voter If you apply by letter, an application form will be mailed with your ballot.
The application form must be completed and returned with your ballot.
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.
If your are visually impaired or have low vision, please use the Accessible Absentee Ballot Application - COMING SOON
How to Cast an Absentee 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.
• 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 may return the ballot in any of the following ways:
1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 3rd.
2. Bringing it to the County Board of Elections Office no later than November 3rd.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site between October 24th and November 1st
4. Bringing it to a poll site on November 3rd.
For NYC Residents:
To Apply for a Ballot:
· Online - Click Here
· Email application to Apply4Absentee@boe.nyc
* Applications must be saved in a (.pdf) format to avoid delays *
· Fax application to 212-487-5349
· Mail application to local borough office
· Calling 1-866-VOTE-NYC (1-866-868-3692)
· Download the Application (English)
Applications for additional languages are below.
· Absentee Ballot Application (Spanish pdf)
· Absentee Ballot Application (Chinese pdf))
· Absentee Ballot Application (Korean pdf)
· Absentee Ballot Application (Bengali pdf)
Accessible Absentee Application
Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot
· Absent from New York City on Election Day.
· Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability; or because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
· A patient or inmate in a Veterans' Administration Hospital.
· Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.
· You are convicted of a Felony and imprisoned or on parole. However, you can vote after conviction of a Felony if you have received a pardon from the Governor or you are on probation.
In-Person Absentee Voting
Absentee voting in person begins as soon as the ballots are available and ends on Election Day.
All borough offices are equipped with Ballot Marking Devices (BMDs) available for voters. For more information, please visit https://vote.nyc/page/accessibility
On Election Day, absentee ballots can be cast until 9:00 PM.
Emergency Absentee Ballots
If the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail has passed and you cannot appear at the polls on Election Day because of an accident or sudden illness, then you may send a representative with an authorized letter to receive an Absentee Ballot Application and Absentee Ballot and return both to the Board of Elections by 9:00 PM on Election Day at your borough office .
Overseas and Military Voters
If you are applying for an absentee ballot because you or your family are in the military or because you currently reside overseas, do not use this application. You are entitled to special provisions if you apply using the Federal Postcard Application.
For more information about military/overseas voting, contact the board of elections or refer to the Military and Federal Voting sections at: https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingMilitaryFed.html
By-Mail Absentee Voting
After making your votes on the ballot, fold the ballot and put it in a smaller envelope. Sign and date the back of the envelope. Seal the envelope and put it in the larger envelope that is addressed to the Board of Elections. Mail or deliver your ballot to your borough Board of Elections office.
An absentee ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and must reach the Board of Elections no more than 7 days after the election to be counted.
Theodore J. Skerpon
President/Business Manager
IBEW Local 97
Found In: