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Military and Overseas (Federal) Voting

Military Voting

Qualifications

  • Persons serving in the military, along with their spouses and/or dependents, may register as a military voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal, state and local races that they would be otherwise entitled to vote in if they were to go to their assigned polling place based on their New York residence.

Registering/Applying for a Ballot

  • To register as a new military voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application (External Link) and return it to your county board of elections in New York.
  • This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles.
  • Always be sure to share any change of address information with your county board of elections.
  • Applications are available from your Voting Assistance Officer on base, or you can visit either the Federal Voting Assistance Program Website (External Link) for forms and information.
  • On this application, you may state a preference as to how you would like to receive your ballot. You can choose mail, fax or email as a preferred method of transmission.
  • If you have stated a preference to receive your voting materials by email/online, you will receive an email notification directing you to the State’s online ballot delivery site, https://nysballot.elections.ny.gov (External Link) to access your ballot.
  • Questions? Call the State Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your Voting Assistance Officer or US Embassy office or Consulate.

Returning Your Ballot

Tracking Your Ballot

Military Deadlines

MILITARY DEADLINES FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTION (NOVEMBER 5)

Date Voter Registration
Oct. 26 Last day for a board of elections to receive registration for military voter to be eligible to vote in general. Sec. 10-106(5). (10/27 Saturday)
Date Requesting Your Ballot
Oct. 26 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5). (10/27 Saturday)
Oct. 29 Last day for a board of elections to receive application by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
Nov. 4 Last day to apply in-person if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
Date Returning Your Ballot
Nov. 4 Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 18th. Sec. 10-114(1),

Federal Voting (Special Federal Voters/UOCAVA)

Qualifications

  • United States citizens living outside of the United States whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a special federal voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal races (President/Vice President, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives) that they would be otherwise entitled to vote in based on your New York address.

Registering/Applying for a Ballot

  • To register as a new special federal voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application (External Link) and return it to the county board of elections of their previous New York residence.
  • This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles.
  • Always be sure to share any change of address information with your county board of elections.
  • You can visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program Website (External Link) for forms and information.
  • On this application, you may state a preference as to how you would like to receive your ballot. You can choose mail, fax or email as a preferred method of transmission.
  • If you have stated a preference to receive your voting materials by email/online, you will receive an email notification directing you to the State’s online ballot delivery site, https://nysballot.elections.ny.gov (External Link) to access your ballot.
  • If you move back to the US, contact your county board of elections, to have your registration reflect that change.
  • Questions? Call the State Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your US Embassy office or Consulate.

Returning Your Ballot

Tracking Your Ballot

Federal Deadlines

DEADLINES FOR OVERSEAS (FEDERAL) VOTERS FOR 2019 GENERAL ELECTION (NOVEMBER 5)

Date Voter Registration
Oct. 11 Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for Special Federal voter to be eligible to vote in general election. Sec. 11-202(1).
Date Requesting Your Ballot
Oct. 11 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for Special Federal voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1).
Oct. 29 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for Special Federal voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4).
Date Returning Your Ballot
Nov. 4 Last day to postmark ballot Special Federal return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 18th. Sec. 11-212.