Voter guide
How to Register to Vote in Brooklyn
Five steps, about ten minutes. Registration is handled by the New York City and State Boards of Elections — we link you straight to the official forms and never collect your information.
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Confirm you’re eligible
You must be a U.S. citizen, a resident of New York State and your county for at least 30 days before the election, at least 18 years old by election day, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. New Yorkers on parole can register and vote.
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Get your ID information ready
To register online you need a New York State DMV ID (driver license, permit, or non-driver ID). Without one, you can still register with the paper form using the last four digits of your Social Security number.
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Register online, by mail, or in person
Fastest: the NYS DMV electronic voter registration portal. By mail: download the form from the NYC Board of Elections (available in multiple languages) and mail it to your county BOE. In person: any NYC BOE borough office.
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Choose your party enrollment
New York has closed primaries — only voters enrolled in a party can vote in that party’s primary. To vote in Republican primaries, check the Republican box on the form. See our party-switch guide if you’re already registered.
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Confirm your registration
Use the NYS voter lookup to confirm your registration went through, check your party enrollment, and find your poll site. Do this before every election — poll sites can change.
Official registration links
- NYS DMV electronic voter registration — the fastest option if you have a NYS ID.
- NYC Board of Elections — register to vote — paper forms in multiple languages, borough office addresses.
- NYS voter lookup — confirm your status, party enrollment, and poll site.
Common questions
What is the voter registration deadline in New York?
Your registration must be received by the Board of Elections before the deadline for each election — typically 10 days before election day. Always confirm the exact date for the current cycle at vote.nyc or elections.ny.gov before the deadline passes.
Can I register online?
Yes — with a New York State DMV ID you can complete the whole thing online through the DMV portal. Without one, print the BOE form and mail it in.
How do I register as a Republican?
Check the Republican box in the party section of the same form — that’s it. Because New York has closed primaries, your enrollment decides which primaries you can vote in. Already registered in another party? Read the party-switch guide — the deadline to change is months earlier than most people expect.
More voter guides: switch your party to Republican · absentee & early voting · voter resources hub