You must be a registered voter in order to vote in the general or primary elections. To register, you must be a United States citizen, be 18 years old by the date of the election, live at your present address for at least 30 days before an election, and not claim the right to vote elsewhere. You may not register or vote if you are in prison for a felony conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to download a voter registration form, click here. You may pick one up at your local post office, public library or motor vehicle office. You may also call the BOE at (315) 435-8683 and ask to have an application sent to you.
Yes. Many public agencies are now providing voter registration forms and assistance. You can also register at the Board of Elections office at 1000 Erie Blvd West, Syracuse, NY 13204 .
No. Once you register in a county, you will remain registered at that address. Name, address or party enrollment changes can be made by submitting a new registration application. If you move outside of the county, you need to re-register in your new county.
You should receive a postcard from the Board of Elections some time during the spring, telling you where to vote. Watch for it! It will also indicate your election district number, which you need to know on Election Day. To visit our polling place locator, click here. Or, you can call our office and we will tell you your appropriate polling place.
A primary is an election that may take place within each of New York State ‘s official political parties. It precedes the general election and provides enrolled political party members the opportunity to nominate their party’s candidates for elected office as well as to elect various party officials. However, if there is no contest, there is no primary.
Enrolled party members who help nominate candidates by signing petitions and voting in the primary have greater political clout than non-enrolled voters who can only vote in the general election. Moreover, you are not obligated to vote for your party’s candidate in the general election. In November, you may vote for any candidate from any party.
If you will be out of town on Election Day or are physically unable to go to the polls, you can vote by absentee ballot.
Early mail ballot applications and/or Absentee ballot applications can be obtained by writing the Board of Elections, or by calling our office at (315) 435-8683. For more information and online forms, click here.
The majority of voters do not need to bring anything. First time voters who applied by mail, and did not provide us with a verified identification, may be asked to show ID. For those voters who do have to provide ID at the polls, a number of forms will be accepted. Either a current and valid photo identification with the voter’s name and picture (such as passports, driver’s license, or student identification card), a social security number, or else a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows the name and address of the voter will be accepted.
Please call our office at (315) 435-8683 and we can check your eligibility. If you are not on the poll-list, it may be because your registration form was not received or, for a primary, because you aren’t enrolled in a party. If you believe that you are eligible, you should call our office at (315) 435-8683.
If you need some help because you are disabled or cannot read the ballot, federal law allows you to have a friend or relative assist you in the voting booth. Election employees at the polling place are also ready to help you. Be sure to let them know you’ll need assistance before entering the voting booth.
The NYS Board of Elections can be found here: https://www.elections.ny.gov/
Revised: January 23, 2024