Voter guide
Absentee & Early Voting in Brooklyn
Can’t make it to your poll site on election day? New York gives you two other ways to vote: nine days of in-person early voting, and mail ballots that any registered voter can request. Here’s how both work.
Option one: vote early, in person
New York holds nine days of early voting before every primary and general election. Your early voting site is assigned by address and may be different from your election-day poll site — check yours before you go.
- NYC BOE early voting information — sites, dates, and hours for the current cycle.
- Poll site locator — shows both your early voting and election-day sites.
Option two: vote by mail — five steps
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Decide which ballot you need
Any registered NYC voter can request an early mail ballot — no excuse needed. Traditional absentee ballots cover voters who are absent from the county on election day, have an illness or disability, care for someone who is ill or disabled, or are detained.
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Request your ballot from the NYC BOE
Request online through the NYC Board of Elections ballot portal, by mail with the application form, or in person at a borough BOE office. Request early — the application itself has a deadline before each election. Verify current dates at vote.nyc.
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Fill it in carefully
Mark your choices, seal the ballot in the inner oath envelope, sign and date that envelope, then seal it in the return envelope. An unsigned oath envelope is the most common reason mail ballots get rejected.
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Return it on time
By mail: it must be postmarked by election day — mail it early. In person: drop it at any NYC poll site during voting hours, at any early voting site while early voting is open, or at a BOE borough office by election day.
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Track your ballot
The NYC BOE’s ballot tracker shows when your ballot is mailed, received, and counted — check it after you return your ballot.
Official ballot links
- Request an absentee or early mail ballot (NYC BOE)
- Track your ballot — mailed, received, counted.
Request and return deadlines move with each election calendar — verify the current dates at vote.nyc before you rely on them.
Common questions
Do I need an excuse to vote by mail?
Not anymore. Any registered New York voter can request an early mail ballot — no excuse required. Traditional absentee ballots still exist for voters who are out of the county, ill or disabled, a caregiver, or detained.
How do I make sure my mail ballot counts?
Sign and date the inner oath envelope, return it early (postmarked by election day at the latest), and track it on the BOE ballot tracker. The unsigned oath envelope is the most common reason mail ballots get rejected.
Is my mail ballot actually counted?
Yes — valid mail ballots are counted in every election, and the BOE tracker shows your ballot’s status. If you want to help safeguard the count, become a paid poll worker or Republican poll watcher.
More voter guides: register to vote · switch your party to Republican · voter resources hub