Absentee Voting

The General Election will be held on November 7, 2023

The early voting period is October 28- November 5, 2023

For additional absentee voting hours, please click here.

Haga clic aquĆ­Ā para ver el horario de oficina adicionales en EspaƱol.

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

New Absentee Ballot Procedure!

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee ballot for that election.

Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voterā€™s absentee ballot has been received. If the voterā€™s absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voterā€™s absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.

If a voter requests a second absentee ballot, any previously issued absentee ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside unopened to provide the voter a chance to return the second ballot, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely absentee ballot and cast an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee return deadline, will be canvassed.

To cancel your absentee ballot application please click here.

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot

  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. In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot

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

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 Voting

  • Voters with disabilities can visit https://absenteeballot.elections.ny.gov/home/accessible to request an accessible absentee ballot.
  • Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores.Ā  Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered.Ā Ā  Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system can also print their absentee ballots at the County Board offices.
  • In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (ā€œBMDā€) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.

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, ā€œOfficial Election Mailā€)
  • 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 7, 2023.
  2. Bringing it to the County Board of Elections Office no later than November 7, 2023 by 9pm.
  3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site between October 28, 2023 and November 5, 2023.
  4. Bringing it to a poll site on November 7, 2023 by 9pm.

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.Ā  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.

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 describedĀ here (pdfĀ 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 aĀ 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 theĀ Federal Voting Assistance Program WebsiteĀ 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 Stateā€™s online ballot delivery site,Ā https://nysballot.elections.ny.govĀ 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 atĀ 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 10512Ā by personal delivery, postal mail or certainĀ private delivery services (pdfĀ 79.8KB).
  • If you have requested your ballot, but have not yet received it, you may use theĀ 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

FOR 2023 GENERAL ELECTION (November 7)
Date Deadline Information
October 28 Last day for a board of elections to receive registration for military voter to be eligible to vote in general. Sec. 5-210(3).
October 28 Last day for a board of elections to receive applicationĀ by mailĀ if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
October 31 Last day for a board of elections to receive applicationĀ by mailĀ if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
November 6 Last day to applyĀ in-personĀ if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
November 7 Last day to postmark ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 20th. 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 aĀ 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 theĀ Federal Voting Assistance Program WebsiteĀ 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 Stateā€™s online ballot delivery site,Ā 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 atĀ 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 10512Ā by personal delivery, postal mail or certainĀ private delivery services (pdfĀ 79.7KB).
  • If you have requested your ballot, but have not yet received it, you may use theĀ 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 2023 GENERAL ELECTION (November 7)
Date Deadline Information
October 28 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).
October 28 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballotĀ by mail if NOTĀ previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1).
Octomber 31 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballotĀ by mailĀ if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4).
November 7 Last day to postmark ballot UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 20th. Sec. 11-212.