Key Dates and Deadlines
The following information is specific to voters registered in New York State. If you would like to look further into dates and deadlines for other states, visit the following resources:
Voter Registration Details by State
Early Voting Calendar by State
Nationwide Election and Voting Information
Election Dates and Polling Site Hours
New York State's two major 2026 election dates are:
- Primary Elections: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
- General Election: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026
On both dates, polls are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Early Voting Periods
New York State provides designated early voting periods for each election:
- Primary Elections: June 13, 2026 through June 21, 2026
- General Election: October 24, 2026 through November 1, 2026
Early voting hours vary by county. Voters should consult their local Board of Elections for specific schedules and available early voting polling site location(s), based on their registration address.
Voter Registration Deadlines
New York voter registration deadlines require applications to register to vote or update an existing registration to be received by the Board of Elections by the following dates, to participate in the respective election:
- Primary Elections: June 13, 2026
- General Election: October 24, 2026
Voters may register or update their information online, by mail, or in person through the New York State Board of Elections. Address changes must be submitted at least 15 days before an election to be processed in time. The Center for Civic Justice is happy to help you with this process. Feel free to contact us at civicjustice@stonybrook.edu or visit our office in Stony Brook Union L-20.
Party Enrollment Deadline
Party enrollments are only pertinent for the primary election; most states require that you select a party affiliation in order to vote in primary elections. If you are not registered to vote in New York State (a closed primary state), you can check if the state where you are registered is an open, closed or semi-closed primary state.
- Primary Election: February 14, 2026; any party enrollment changes received after this date will not take effect until June 30, 2026 (after the New York primary election).
Voting By Mail
New York State offers two (2) forms of voting by mail:
- Early Mail Ballots: Available to all registered voters
- Absentee Ballots: Available to voters who meet specific eligibility requirements, such as absence from their county on Election Day, illness or disability, caregiving responsibilities, or certain forms of confinement
Ballot Application Deadlines
To receive an early mail ballot, applications can be delivered:
- In person - Application must be received by your county Board of Elections no later than the day before the election
- By mail - Application must be received by your county Board of Elections no later than the 10th day before the election
- Online - Application must be received by your county Board of Elections no later than the 10th day before the election
Your early mail ballot materials will be sent to you beginning 46 days before federal, state, county, city or town elections in which you are eligible to vote. If you applied after this date, your ballot will be sent immediately after your completed and signed application is received and processed by your local board of elections.
Ballot Return Deadlines
- Primary Election: Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by June 23, 2026, and received by June 30, 2026. Ballots returned in-person may be delivered by hand to 1.) the county Board of Elections by 9:00 PM on June 23, 2026, 2.) an early voting site in your county between June 13, 2026 and June 21, 2026, or 3.) a polling site in the county of registered address on June 23rd by 9:00 PM
- General Election: Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by November 3, 2026, and received by November 10, 2026. Ballots returned in-person may be delivered by hand to 1.) the county Board of Elections by 9:00 PM on November 3, 2026, 2.) an early voting site in your county between October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026, or 3.) a polling site in the county of registered address on November 3rd by 9:00 PM
Additional guidance on completing your ballot and about Absentee Ballot eligibility and process can be found on the New York State Board of Elections website.
Mailing recommendation: The United States Postal Service recommends allowing at least seven days for ballots to be delivered to the Board of Elections. Ballots deposited after the final collection time on Election Day may not receive a same-day postmark and could therefore be ineligible for counting.
(Content adapted from the New York Board of Elections website.)