Absentee Voting

Election Day will be held on November 2, 2021.

The early voting period is October 23-31, 2021.

For additional absentee voting hours, please click here.

To Check the Status of Your Absentee Application and/or Ballot Click Here

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot (Deadlines)

  1. Absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.
  2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability (temporary illness includes being unable to appear due to risk of contracting or spreading a communicable disease like COVID-19).
  3. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
  4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
  5. Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot (Deadlines)

You may apply for an absentee ballot in any of the following ways:

  • By utilizing our online portal: Absentee Application Portal (The Absentee Portal is now Closed) 
  • By mailing a paper application to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
  • By sending a fax request to (845) 808-1920
  • By going in-person to 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
  • You can download a PDF version of the Absentee Ballot Application Form:

If you cannot pick up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.

If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee Ballot for each subsequent election without further application. Simply file an application with your county board of elections indicating permanent illness or physical disability.

You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled.

Accessible Absentee Ballot Application

If you cannot affirm that you are visually impaired or otherwise disabled you must request a regular absentee ballot using the regular application above.

If you are visually impaired or otherwise have a disability such that your disability requires you to use a special accessible absentee ballot that can be read by a screen reader, you can request such a ballot on this page using the Accessible Electronic Ballot Application or Application Portal:

When is it due?

Applications requesting to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than fifteen days before the election. For absentee ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.

How to Cast an Absentee Ballot

  • Once you receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
  • Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
  • Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
  • Seal the Security Envelope.
  • Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”)
  • Seal the Return Envelope.

You may return the ballot in any of the following ways:

For the November General Election:

  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 2nd.
  2. Bring it to the County Board of Elections Office no later than November 2nd by 9pm.
  3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site between October 23rd and October 31st.
  4. Bringing it to a poll site on Election Day, November 2nd by 9 PM.

Mail Time Considerations When Returning an Absentee Ballot

When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for a ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election.  Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day.

You Can Still Vote in Person if You Request an Absentee Ballot

Even if you request or cast and return an absentee ballot, you may still go to the polls and vote in person. The Election Law recognizes that plans change. The Board of Elections is required to check the poll book before canvassing any absentee ballot. If the voter comes to the poll site, on Election Day or during early voting and votes in person, the absentee ballot is set aside and not counted.

Absentee Cures

There are certain errors or problems that can occur when a voter completes an absentee ballot envelope. Many of these errors or problems are curable by means of filing a cure statement with your board of elections. If your ballot envelope has a curable defect, you will receive a notice from the board of elections. The cure process is described here (pdf 141KB).

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 the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512.
  • 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 the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
  • 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 Putnam County Board of Elections at (845) 808-1300 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your Voting Assistance Officer or US Embassy office or Consulate, or email the Putnam County Board of Elections at putnamcountyelections@putnamcountyny.gov.

Returning Your Ballot

  • Regardless of the method in which you receive your ballot, you must return your ballot to the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512 by personal delivery, postal mail or certain private delivery services (pdf 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 the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512

Tracking Your Ballot

Military Deadlines

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 Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512.
  • 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 the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512
  • 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 the Putnam County Board of Elections, to have your registration reflect that change.
  • QUESTIONS?? Call the Putnam County Board of Elections at (845) 808-1300 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your Voting Assistance Officer or US Embassy office or Consulate, or email the Putnam County Board of Elections at putnamcountyelections@putnamcountyny.gov.

Returning Your Ballot

  • Regardless of the method in which you receive your ballot, you must return your ballot to the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512 by personal delivery, postal mail or certain private delivery services (pdf 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 the Putnam County Board of Elections, 25 Old Route 6, Carmel, NY 10512.

Tracking Your Ballot

Overseas Civilian Voting Deadlines

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.