Voter Eligibility

In order to register to vote, and to vote in New York, you must:

• • be a United States citizen;
  • be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file this [voter registration] form (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote);
  • resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election;
  • not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardoned or restored rights of citizenship);
  • not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
  • not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

You may pre-register to vote at 16 or 17 years old, but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old.

To request additional information about voter eligibility in New York or in other states, please email us at civicjustice@stonybrook.edu.

For more information, visit the New York State Board of Elections website.