My Early Voting RIGHTS
Your Early Vote Will Count. In New York, Early Voting is just like voting on Election Day. Early voters scan their completed ballot just after privately marking it. Early voting results are counted, tabulated and included in the election night (unofficial results) totals.
Countywide Early Voting (Outside NYC). Voters may visit ANY of the Early Voting Centers in the county where they reside, except in New York City, where voters are assigned by address to ONE early voting site.
Voter Suppression Is Illegal. While voter eligibility may be challenged when voting, abuse of the challenge process (bad-faith or baseless challenges) is a crime that can intimidate and suppress voters. If you are the victim of voter suppression, file a report with the NYS Attorney General's Hotline at 800-771-7755 or online; to Election Protection (866-OUR-VOTE); to NYDLC (866-NYDLC-01).
- In addition, complete this Vote Early NY Incident Form, so our network of pro-voter advocates and attorneys can follow up. Personal identifying information will be kept confidential.
- Early Voting DAYS
For Primary, General, and Special elections, every local Board of Elections must provide voters with nine days to vote in person prior to Election Day. The Early Voting period begins on the second Saturday prior to Election Day and ends on the Sunday prior to Election Day Tuesday. Find My Early Voting Options
- Early Voting HOURS OF OPERATION
Local Boards of Elections must provide at least 72 hours of Early Voting, as follows:
WEEKDAYS
Local Boards must provide a minimum of eight early voting hours per day on weekdays, between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm. All voters must have access until 8:00 pm on at least two weekdays.
WEEKENDS
Local Boards must provide a minimum of eight hours of early voting per day on all weekend days or holidays, between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm.
Counties may provide additional early voting hours, and many do!
- Early Voting LOCATIONS
In counties with at least 500,000 registered voters—Erie, Monroe, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and New York City (excluding Staten Island), Local Boards of Elections must provide at least one early voting site for every full increment of 40,000 registered voters.
In counties with less than 500,000 registered voters, Local Boards of Elections must provide at least one early voting site for every full increment of 30,000 registered voters with a maximum requirement of ten sites.
Many Boards provide additional early voting locations. The most populous city in each county must host at least one site (or if there is no city, the most populous municipality, or the county seat in Washington County). To the extent practicable, if such city or municipality has public transportation routes, the site shall be situated along such routes. Click Here for county-by-county voter registration and enrollment data.
Greater access is encouraged; less access is prohibited: Localities may provide more Early Voting access (locations and hours) than required, but not less. These minimum safeguards ensure basic access for all voters while providing local flexibility to tailor a program that best meets the needs of residents.
- Key Program DEADLINES
- May 1st. For the General Election, local boards must designate early voting sites and hours by May 1st each year. Prior to a Primary or Special Election, early voting sites, hours, and any assignments must be designated at least 45 days prior. This allows the public, press, civic groups, and candidates to assess the plan for equity.
- June 1st. Local Boards must file an annual early voting communications plan. They should use any and all forms of media designed to reach and raise awareness among residents, but they aren't required to do very much. Local boards must provide basic early voting program information to local media outlets.
Resource Conservation. For Primary or Special elections only, a local Board may decide to reduce the number of early voting sites deployed if the Board determines a lesser number is sufficient to meet the needs of voters.
Countywide Access is the Rule. Outside New York City, voters may visit ANY Early Voting Center in the county where they reside. However, in limited circumstances of technical “impracticality”, a local board may decide to restrict access and "assign election districts" to one or more early voting sites. However, all voters must still have equal access to early voting (i.e., the minimum required days and hours outlined above must be available to all voters). As of Summer 2024, only NYC restricts voters to ONE assigned early voting site.
Election Integrity Safeguard. All ballots and scanners used for early voting must be secured during the full early voting period through the close of polls on Election Day. Early voting ballots are counted and canvassed in the same manner as on Election Day. They may not be tabulated prior to Election Day night, nor may unofficial results be tabulated or released sooner.
Voters Check in with Electronic Poll Books. Most counties have adopted electronic poll books to expedite and modernize the voter check in process. Voters should sign legibly when checking in, as they would sign a document. The New York State Board of Elections has approved three Electronic Poll Book vendors that are in use in New York. Click below to access each SBOE Vendor Assessment Report.
Robis Elections, Inc.
Tenex Software Solutions, Inc.
KNOWiNK