If you live in New York City and plan to vote in 2026, three questions usually come first: where do I vote, when can I vote early, and how do I get a ballot if I cannot make it to a polling site? This guide walks through each option using the official rules from the New York City Board of Elections (NYC BOE) and the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE), so you can plan your vote without guessing.
Quick answer: how to find your polling site, vote early, or vote by mail in NYC
Every registered NYC voter has two assigned polling locations: one for the early voting period and one for Election Day. They are not always the same address. To look up either site, enter your residential address into the NYC Board of Elections poll site finder at findmypollsite.vote.nyc. The same tool also returns your sample ballot, your Assembly District, and your Election District. To vote at home, any registered voter in New York may request an early mail ballot or an absentee ballot from the NYC BOE; both ballot types are counted the same way.
Find your assigned polling site
The NYC Board of Elections is the only authoritative source for poll site assignments inside the five boroughs. Three official tools will give you the answer:
- Find My Poll Site (findmypollsite.vote.nyc) returns both your Election Day site and your assigned early voting site after you enter your address.
- Find Your Poll Site on the main NYC BOE site (vote.nyc/page/find-your-poll-site) provides the same lookup with additional information about accessibility and entrance details.
- NYC 311 can route you to the correct lookup if you do not have internet access at the moment you need it.
Two important rules to remember. First, your Election Day poll site is fixed by your residential address; you cannot vote at a different Election Day site within the city. Second, your early voting site is also fixed by your address, but it is often a different building from your Election Day location. Always check both before you head out.
What the poll site tool shows you
When you enter your address into the NYC BOE finder, the result page typically lists your Election Day poll site address, your Election Day poll site entrance and accessibility notes, your assigned early voting site address, your Assembly District and Election District, and a link to your sample ballot for the next election on the calendar. If any field is missing or you see an “address not found” message, the most common cause is a recent move or a typo. Double-check your address with the United States Postal Service standardized format, and if it still fails, contact the NYC BOE directly at 1-866-VOTE-NYC.
Early voting in NYC: how it works
New York State requires every county to offer at least nine consecutive days of early voting before each Primary, General, and qualifying Special Election. In New York City, that means nine days of in-person voting at your assigned early voting site. You do not need a reason to vote early, you do not need an appointment, and you cast the same official ballot you would on Election Day.
Hours during early voting
Daily early voting hours in New York City vary by day. The NYC BOE publishes the official hours for each election on its Upcoming Elections page. As an example, the daily hour pattern published by the NYC BOE for the April 28, 2026 Special Election in City Council District 3 is the same nine-day shape voters see for citywide elections:
- Saturday, April 18, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday, April 19, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Monday, April 20, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Tuesday, April 21, 2026 — 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Wednesday, April 22, 2026 — 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Thursday, April 23, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Friday, April 24, 2026 — 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday, April 25, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday, April 26, 2026 — 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
That mix of weekday, weekend, morning, and evening shifts is the standard NYC pattern. It is built so that voters with weekday work schedules have at least two evenings (the Tuesday and Wednesday late shifts) and four weekend windows to vote without taking time off. Always confirm the specific hours for the election you are voting in on the NYC BOE Upcoming Elections page, because hours can change election to election.
Early voting for the June 23, 2026 Primary
The NYC BOE has scheduled the citywide Primary Election for Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The early voting period for that primary runs from Saturday, June 13, 2026 through Sunday, June 21, 2026 — nine consecutive days. The full daily hour breakdown for the June Primary will be posted by the NYC BOE in advance of the early voting period.
Early voting for the November 3, 2026 General Election
The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The early voting period for the General Election runs from Saturday, October 24, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026.
What to bring when you vote early
If you are already registered, you do not need to bring identification to vote in New York City. Poll workers will ask for your name and address, locate your record in the poll book, and provide your ballot. If you are voting for the first time after registering by mail and you did not provide an ID number on your registration form, you may be asked for one of the following: a current and valid photo ID, a current utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, a paycheck, or another government document showing your name and address. Bringing one of these is a smart hedge even if you are not sure whether the requirement applies to you.
Vote by mail: early mail ballots and absentee ballots
New York City voters have two ways to vote by mail. Both ballots are counted the same way and arrive in the same envelope; the only difference is the eligibility rule used to request them.
Early mail ballot
Under the New York Early Mail Voter Act, any registered voter may request an early mail ballot for any election. You do not need to provide a reason. Apply through the NYC BOE at vote.nyc/RequestBallot or directly through the NYSBOE early mail application portal at ballotapplication.elections.ny.gov/home/earlymail.
Absentee ballot
You may request an absentee ballot if you meet one of the eligibility reasons in New York Election Law, which include absence from your county on Election Day, illness or physical disability, caring for a sick or disabled family member, residence in a Veterans Administration hospital, or detention in jail awaiting trial or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor. Apply through the NYC BOE at requestballot.vote.nyc/absentee.
Mail ballot deadlines for the June 23, 2026 Primary
For the citywide Primary on June 23, 2026, the NYC BOE deadlines are:
- Last day to apply for an early mail or absentee ballot online or by mail: Saturday, June 13, 2026.
- Last day to apply in person at your county Board of Elections office: Monday, June 22, 2026.
- Last day to return a mail ballot: Postmarked no later than Election Day, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, OR delivered in person to a county Board of Elections office, an early voting site, or your Election Day poll site by 9:00 PM on Election Day.
The same ten-day-before rule applies to all New York elections: applications to receive a ballot by mail or online must be received by the local Board of Elections no later than ten days before the election. Applying earlier is always safer than applying close to the deadline.
How to return a mail ballot
Once you receive your mail ballot, you have four ways to return it. You can mail it back in the prepaid envelope, postmarked no later than Election Day. You can drop it off at any NYC Board of Elections borough office. You can drop it off at any early voting site in your borough during early voting hours. You can drop it off at any Election Day poll site in your borough by 9:00 PM on Election Day. Whichever method you choose, follow the instructions in the ballot envelope precisely. Sign the oath envelope where indicated, and seal the ballot inside the security envelope before placing it in the outer return envelope. A missing signature or a ballot in the wrong envelope is the most common reason a mail ballot is set aside for cure or rejected.
Election Day voting
If you do not vote early or by mail, you can vote in person on Election Day at your assigned Election Day poll site. Polls in New York City are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Election Day. As long as you are in line by 9:00 PM, you are entitled to cast your ballot.
If something goes wrong at your poll site
If a poll worker cannot find your name in the poll book, you have the right to vote on an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot is a paper ballot sealed in an envelope and reviewed by the Board of Elections after the election; if your registration is verified, your votes are counted. You may also call the New York Attorney General’s Election Day hotline or the NYC BOE voter helpline (1-866-VOTE-NYC) to report any obstacle to voting.
Accessibility at NYC poll sites
Every poll site in New York City is required to be accessible to voters with disabilities. Each site is equipped with a Ballot Marking Device (BMD) that allows voters to mark a ballot privately and independently using audio prompts, larger text, sip-and-puff devices, or other adaptive controls. If you need curbside voting, a poll worker can bring a ballot to your vehicle outside the poll site. Service animals are permitted inside poll sites. If you encounter an accessibility problem at your poll site, you can report it directly to the NYC BOE.
Voter registration: are you eligible?
To vote in any New York City election, you must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old by Election Day, a resident of the address where you are registered for at least 30 days before the election, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. The deadline to register or to update your address for the June 23, 2026 Primary is determined by state law. The NYSBOE publishes the full registration and voting deadline calendar at elections.ny.gov/registration-and-voting-deadlines.
If you are not sure whether you are registered, the NYSBOE voter lookup tool will confirm your registration status, your party enrollment if any, and your registered address. New York holds closed primaries, which means in most primary elections you can only vote in the primary of the political party in which you are enrolled.
Key 2026 NYC election dates at a glance
- Tuesday, April 28, 2026 — Special Election, City Council District 3 (Manhattan). Early voting April 18 through April 26.
- Tuesday, June 23, 2026 — Primary Election (citywide). Early voting June 13 through June 21. Mail ballot application deadline June 13 (online or mail), June 22 (in person).
- Tuesday, November 3, 2026 — General Election (citywide). Early voting October 24 through November 1.
For any election not listed here, including community board elections and other special elections that may be added to the calendar, the NYC BOE Upcoming Elections page (vote.nyc/elections) is the single source of truth.
Where to get help
If you have a question that this guide does not answer, the most reliable channels are:
- NYC Board of Elections — vote.nyc, phone 1-866-VOTE-NYC.
- New York State Board of Elections — elections.ny.gov.
- NYC Votes (Campaign Finance Board civic engagement program) — nycvotes.org, including the Election Calendar and the What’s on the Ballot page.
These are the official sources used throughout this guide. If you see voting information from another source that contradicts what is published by the NYC BOE or NYSBOE, follow the official source.
Frequently asked questions
Can I vote at any polling site in NYC?
No. Each registered NYC voter is assigned to a specific Election Day poll site and a specific early voting site based on their residential address. You must vote at your assigned site for that voting period.
Is my early voting site the same as my Election Day site?
Often it is not. Always check both addresses on the NYC BOE poll site finder before heading out.
Do I need ID to vote in NYC?
Most voters do not need to show ID. First-time voters who registered by mail without providing an ID number may be asked for one of several acceptable documents. Bringing a photo ID or a recent utility bill is a safe hedge.
What is the difference between an early mail ballot and an absentee ballot?
The eligibility rule is the only difference. Any registered voter may request an early mail ballot for any reason. An absentee ballot requires one of the statutory excuses listed in New York Election Law. Both ballots are counted the same way.
When is the deadline to request a mail ballot for the June 2026 Primary?
Saturday, June 13, 2026 to apply online or by mail. Monday, June 22, 2026 to apply in person at the NYC Board of Elections.
How do I know my mail ballot was counted?
The NYC BOE provides a ballot tracking tool through the same portal you use to request your ballot. You can confirm that your ballot was received by the Board of Elections after Election Day.
What time do polls close on Election Day?
9:00 PM. If you are in line by 9:00 PM, you have the right to vote.
