How Long Islanders can vote this election season

Early voting in New York begins Oct. 24, and registered voters have several ways to cast ballots in the general election now through the traditional Election Day on Nov. 3.

The election includes races for New York governor, comptroller and attorney general, all four of Long Island's congressional seats, state Senate and Assembly and some local town races. A full list of the candidates can be found here.

Ways to vote

Voters may vote by:

• Absentee ballot.
• Early voting by mail.
• Early voting at polling places from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.
• Going to polling sites on Election Day, Nov. 3, the traditional Election Day.

Where to vote

The state Board of Elections has an online portal where a registered voter may look up early voting sites. By clicking on an early voting site, the portal provides the days and times at which early votes may be cast at each early voting polling place.

The portal also provides a voter’s assigned polling site for Nov. 3. The state portal is here and can be used to see if a voter is registered.

Early voting

While Nassau and Suffolk counties each have nine days of early voting, their times vary daily. While voters can cast ballots at any poll site during the early voting period, they will need to vote at their assigned poll site on Election Day. Nassau voters can find the full list of early voting poll sites here, while Suffolk residents can find theirs here. 

Nassau County's schedule is as follows: 

• Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the county Board of Elections site open until 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, 10 a.m. 7 p.m., with the county Board of Elections site again open until 8 p.m.
• Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Early voting days and hours in Suffolk County:

• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 31, noon to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Mail-in ballots

Any registered voter for any reason may request a mail-in ballot through the following:

• Download an early mail ballot application here.
• Visiting their local board of elections office.
• Designating another person to deliver the application in person to their local board of elections and receive a ballot.

An application by mail for a mail-in ballot must be received by the local board of elections no later than 10 days before Election Day (in this case, Oct. 23).

New Yorkers can also drop off a mail-in ballot application in person at their local election board no later than Nov. 3.

Absentee ballots

An absentee ballot can be used when a voter is out of their county on Election Day or too infirmed to physically vote at their assigned poll site.

A New Yorker can apply for an absentee ballot through the state’s online portal.

Similar to a mail-in ballot application, absentee ballot requests must be received by the local board of elections on or before Oct. 23. Applications can be dropped off in person at the local board of elections no later than Nov. 2, the day before the election.

Once an absentee ballot is received, a voter must fill it out and can do the following: 

• Mail it with a postmark no later than Nov. 3. The ballot must be received by the local board of elections no later than Nov. 10.
• Drop it off at their local board of elections office no later than 9 p.m. on Nov. 3.
• Drop it off at an early voting poll site between Oct. 24 and Nov. 1.
• Bring it to any polling site within the voter’s county by 9 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Deadline to register to vote

Applications to register to vote by mail must be received by the local board of elections no later than Saturday, Oct. 24 for the applicant to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 3 election.

The deadline to apply for registration in person is also Saturday, Oct. 24. Applications may be submitted in person at any state agency participating in the National Voter Registration Act, including the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

How to register to vote

To register on the Online Voter Registration Portal, prospective voters will need a state NY.gov ID account. 

Prospective voters may sign a New York State Voter Registration Form and either submit it online or by printing it and hand-delivering or mailing it to the local board of elections by Saturday. The voter registration form is available in English and Spanish here.

Prospective voters may also call the state Board of Elections hotline at 800-FOR-VOTE (800-367-8683).

By Joe Werkmeister

joe.werkmeister@newsday.com

Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.

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