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
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 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 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
- Regardless of the method in which you receive your ballot, you must return your ballot to your local county board of elections by personal delivery, postal mail or certain private delivery services (
79.8KB). - If you have requested your ballot, but have not yet received it, you may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot and return that to your county board of elections.
Tracking Your Ballot
- You can utilize New York's Military and Overseas Ballot Tracking Website to track when your ballot has been received by your local county board of elections.
Military Deadlines
MILITARY DEADLINES FOR 2021 PRIMARY ELECTION (JUNE 22)
| Date | Voter Registration |
|---|---|
| May 28 | Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for military voter to be eligible to vote in primary. Sec. 10-106(5). |
| Date | Requesting Your Ballot |
| May 28 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5). |
| June 15 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by mail previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5). |
| June 21 | Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person if previously registered. Sec 10-106(5). |
| Date | Returning your Ballot |
| June 22 | Last day to postmark return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than June 29th. Sec 10-114(1). |
MILITARY DEADLINES FOR 2021 GENERAL ELECTION (NOVEMBER 2)
| Date | Voter Registration |
|---|---|
| Oct. 23 | Last day for a board of elections to receive registration for military voter to be eligible to vote in general. Sec. 10-106(5). |
| Date | Requesting Your Ballot |
| Oct. 23 | 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. 24 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5). |
| Nov. 1 | Last day to apply in-person if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5). |
| Date | Returning Your Ballot |
| Nov. 2 | Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 15th. Sec. 10-114(1), |
Overseas Civilian Voting (Special Federal Voters/Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act Voters)
Qualifications
- United States citizens living outside of the United States whose intent to return is uncertain and 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 otherwise be entitled to vote in based on your New York address.
- United States citizens living outside of the United States who intend to return and whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a UOCAVA voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all races on the ballot that they would otherwise be entitled to vote in based on your New York address.
Registering/Applying for a Ballot
- To register as a new overseas voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application 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 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 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
- Regardless of the method in which you receive your ballot, you must return your ballot to your local county board of elections by personal delivery, postal mail or certain private delivery services ( 79.7KB).
- If you have requested your ballot, but have not yet received it, you may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot and return that to your county board of elections.
Tracking Your Ballot
- You can utilize New York's Military and Overseas Ballot Tracking Website to track when your ballot has been received by your local county board of elections.
Overseas Civilian Voting Deadlines
DEADLINES FOR OVERSEAS (UOCAVA) VOTERS FOR 2021 PRIMARY ELECTION (JUNE 22)
| Date | Voter Registration |
|---|---|
| May 28 | Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for UOCAVA voter to be eligible to vote in primary. Sec. 11-202(1)(a). |
| Date | Requesting Your Ballot |
| May 28 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1). |
| June 15 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4). |
| Date | Returning Your Ballot |
| June 22 | Last day to postmark UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than June 29th. Sec. 11-212.. |
DEADLINES FOR OVERSEAS (UOCAVA) VOTERS FOR 2021 GENERAL ELECTION (NOVEMBER 2)
| Date | Voter Registration |
|---|---|
| Oct. 8 | Last day for a board of elections to receive registration application for UOCAVA voter to be eligible to vote in general election. Sec. 11-202(1). |
| Date | Requesting Your Ballot |
| Oct. 8 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1). |
| Oct. 26 | Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4). |
| Date | Returning Your Ballot |
| Nov. 2 | Last day to postmark ballot UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 15th. Sec. 11-212. |