A few weeks ago, we asked you to submit some of your questions about early voting, and today we wanted to take some time to answer them. Below are our answers to your top five questions about early voting, and if you think we missed any, let us know in the comments below or by submitting any additional questions here!
When can I go vote early?
Early voting starts on Saturday, October 26th and will continue until Sunday, November 3rd. If you choose not to vote early, you can still vote on Election Day, which is Tuesday, November 5th. Below are the designated dates and times for early voting.
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Saturday Oct. 26 |
10 am to 4 pm |
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Sunday Oct. 27 |
10 am to 4 pm |
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Monday Oct. 28 |
9 am to 5 pm |
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Tuesday Oct. 29 |
7 am to 8 pm |
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Wednesday Oct. 30 |
9 am to 5 pm |
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Thursday Oct. 31 |
9 am to 5 pm |
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Friday Nov. 1 |
7 am to 8 pm |
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Saturday Nov. 2 |
10 am to 4 pm |
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Sunday Nov. 3 |
10 am to 4 pm |
Where do I go to vote early? Should I go to my regular poll site?
Your early voting poll site may not be the same poll site that you usually go to on Election Day, so check the NYC Poll Site Locator before you go!
What’s the difference between early voting and absentee voting?
Early voting is done in person at a designated poll site, whereas absentee voting allows you to mail in your ballot to your borough BOE office before Election Day (you can also deliver it in person). In order to vote absentee, you must fill out an absentee ballot application and provide an excuse for why you can’t vote in person at your designated polling place (e.g. due to illness, disability, or being away from New York City). However, it’s worth noting that currently, the New York State Constitution does not specifically cover other excuses that might prevent voters from voting in person, such as childcare, unavoidable duties within the county or New York City, or extreme inconvenience.
What are the benefits of voting early vs. waiting to vote on Election Day?
Our last post addressed five major reasons early voting is beneficial for voters, poll workers, candidates running for office, and our democracy as a whole. While it’s your choice as a voter to decide when you’d like to vote, the introduction of an early voting period is an important step in the right direction of providing voters with more options for participating in our democracy and decreasing wait times on Election Day.
What do I need to bring with me?
ID is not required to vote in the state of New York, but you may need to show ID at your poll site if you’re a first-time voter who registered without giving a Social Security or driver’s license number.
Got any other questions about voting or early voting specifically? Make sure to let us know by clicking here or commenting on this post below!
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