Who Can Vote?
- be a U.S. citizen,
- be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file the voter registration form,
- be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote,
- not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction,
- not claim the right to vote elsewhere, and
- have lived in the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election.
Register to Vote
Are you registered to vote? Do you want to change your party, your address, your name? Do you have other questions? Start here:
Not registered yet? Download your NYS registration form in English or Spanish.
The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Voter Registration Application now offers the opportunity to complete an application to register to vote or to update the information you have on file with the Board of Elections.
Updated information could include providing your County Board of Elections with your new name, new address, or changing a party enrollment.
Applications completed on this website are forwarded to the appropriate County Board of Elections for approval and processing.
See the FAQs about Electronic Voter Registration
Nassau County Board of Elections provides information about how to register, deadlines, requirements, political parties, registration drives, living overseas, and much more.
First Time Voters
Congratulations on Registering to Vote! As a citizen (age 18 or older) you have the right and responsibility to vote in elections. Educate yourself on the candidates and issues in each election.
Once your registration has been processed by your county Board of Elections you will be mailed a card giving your polling place. If you do not receive the card in 4-6 weeks or have questions you may call them:
- New York City 212 487-5300
- Nassau County 516 571-2858
- Suffolk County 631 852-4500
Although only enrolled members of a party can vote in that party’s primary election, registered voters may vote for any candidate of any party on Election Day in November.
If you will be out of your county, or are physically unable To get to the polling place, you may request an absentee ballot from your Board of Elections. To be sure your request is processed, ask for this form at least 4 weeks before Election Day.
ID Needed for Voting in New York State
Federal law requires persons who register by mail for the first time to provide identification. Identification means a current NYS driver’s license or the LAST FOUR digits of your Social Security number.
If you do not have either of these, you may provide a copy of a valid photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check or some other government documentation that shows your name and address. If you do not provide identification when you registered, you will be asked for it the first time you vote.
NEVER LEAVE THE POLLING PLACE WITHOUT VOTING! If your name is not on the list, ask for a provisional ballot!
Let Us Take the Guesswork Out of Voting
Helpful Websites
- Find the facts about voting in your state at VotingNewYork.org. Before an election, find your polling place and your complete ballot for elections with nonpartisan information about candidates and ballot measures. And your polling place. You will save time by using Smart Voter’s handy, consolidated and well organized online information. Also, archives are available to show results of previous elections.
- Legal Guide to Student Voting: The Brennan Center at the NYU School of Law The League encourages 18-year-old high school students to register to vote.
- Nassau County Voting FAQs contains voting registration forms in both English and Spanish as well as additional information on the voting process.
Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballots may be requested from your Board of Elections if you meet one of these criteria:
- Absence from county or New York City on election day
- Patient or inmate in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- Temporary illness or physical disability
- Permanent illness or physical disability
- Detention in jail/prison, awaiting trial, awaiting action by a grand jury, or in prison for a conviction of a crime or offense which was not a felony
- Duties related to primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled
Click for a New York State absentee ballot application.
This application must either be personally delivered to your county board of elections not later than the day before the election, or postmarked by a governmental postal service not later than 7th day before election day.
The ballot itself must either be personally delivered to the board of elections no later than the close of polls on election day, or postmarked by a governmental postal service not later than the day before the election and received no later than the 7th day after the election.
Student Voting
Legal Guide to Student Voting:The Brennan Center at the NYU School of Law has an excellent website that provides the requirements for residency, registration, ID and absentee ballot for all 50 states. It is applicable to all voters, not just students. There is also a page specifically for New York voters.
