New York’s Elections: Make Your Voice Heard

Voting Booths
The General Election will be held on November 7th. NYPIRG’s nonpartisan voter mobilization project is committed to promoting political participation, safeguarding voter rights, and ensuring access to voter polls – whether by mail or in person – for all eligible New Yorkers.
Be ready for the 2023 elections:

Important Dates for the Upcoming General Election:

  • Voter registration deadline: October 28th
  • Absentee ballot application deadline (mail or online): October 23th
  • Last day to request absentee ballot in person: November 6th
  • Early voting period: October 28th through November 5th
  • General Election Day: November 7th

Check Your Registration Status and Find Your Poll Site

  • Check your voter registration status to verify that you are registered and make sure that your voter information is updated and accurate. If you recently registered, or updated your registration, changes may take a few weeks to appear on the website.
    If your registration status is found, you can also look up your poll site for both the early voting period and for Election Day. Your poll site for early voting may be different than your poll site on Election Day. Poll sites and hours of operation vary by county for early voting.
    In New York State, you must be registered with a party in order to vote in that party’s Primary Election. All registered voters are eligible to vote in the November Election, and you may vote for whichever candidate you want, regardless of party affiliation.
  • You can also contact your county Board of Elections to ensure that you are registered.

Make a Voting Plan

Once you are registered to vote, how do you want to cast your ballot? This year, New York voters can choose between these three options:

1. Voting in person during the early voting period (Saturday, October 28th – Sunday, November 5th):

  • You can avoid longer lines and skip the post office by casting your ballot during New York's early voting period. Look up your early voting poll site here.
  • Every county must have at least one early voting poll site.

2. Voting in person on Election Day:

  • You can go to the polls on Election Day (Tuesday, November 7th) and cast your ballot.

*Your assigned early voting poll site may not be the same location as your Election Day poll site. Look up your poll sites for early voting and for Election Day.

3. Voting by mail using an absentee ballot:

  • You can download an absentee ballot application (in English or Spanish), and get additional information and instructions, from the New York State Board of Elections absentee voting webpage.
  • Or you can apply for an absentee ballot by visiting or contacting your county Board of Elections.
  • Once your application is accepted, you will receive a hard-copy ballot through the mail.
  • You can then complete your ballot and drop it off or mail it in.
  • If mailed in, your ballot must be postmarked no later than November 7th. All absentee ballot return envelopes should have postage paid already. You should not need to add stamps. Contact your local Board of Elections if your absentee ballot return envelope is missing the postage paid mark.
  • Your ballot can also be dropped off at an early voting poll site from October 28th through November 5th, or at an Election Day poll site on November 7th. Look up poll sites for early voting and for Election Day.
  • If you are a New York City voter, you can track your absentee ballot application.
USPS recommends that voters mail their absentee ballot about seven days ahead of the election. All absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 7th, 2023 for the General Election.
You can still vote in person if you requested an absentee ballot, but you must use an affidavit ballot at your poll site. If you requested an absentee ballot, you should plan to vote with it by mailing it in or dropping it off in person (details above). However, if you requested an absentee ballot but would like to vote in person instead, you will have to vote with an affidavit ballot at your poll site (a paper ballot that is not scanned in a machine and is canvassed afterwards).

Our Impact

Over the past four decades, NYPIRG’s non-partisan voter mobilization campaign has guarded and fought to expand the rights of voters in New York through community outreach, advocacy, media work and litigation. Our work has resulted in:

  • Thousands of new voters registered every year.
  • Expansion of absentee voting, particularly during the pandemic.
  • An expansion to the state’s “Motor Voter” law, which requires all state agencies to offer a voter registration option at the point of using the agency.
  • Sample ballots available online to help familiarize voters and speed up election day lines.
  • Inclusion of email addresses on New York City voter registration forms.

NYPIRG supports voter reforms, including:

  • Elimination of the patronage-controlled Boards of Elections, starting with the merit selection of permanent Board employees across the state.
  • Improved Absentee Voting: We support no-excuse absentee ballot access. Additionally, as NYC has recently done, all local NY Boards of Election should allow voters to track their ballots – in the same way as mail delivery purchases are tracked now. This provides confidence in the system and allows for additional time to make alternative plans if needed.
  • Enhanced early voting participation. Since voting is a habit that must be ingrained and supported in the early years of eligibility – which coincide with typical college years – New York should cultivate this habit by supporting voting by students on campus.
  • Allowing voters to register and vote on Election Day.
  • Codifying case law with respect to students voting from a campus-area address.
  • Guidelines for better ballots. Poor ballot design can affect every voter at a poll site. Miniscule fonts, unnecessary graphics and unreadable directions result in spoiled ballots and longer wait times for all.
  • Improved poll worker performance. Voters should come first on Election Day. Unfortunately, for too many, the patronage structure of the Boards puts party loyalty first and public service second. New York can improve poll site conditions immediately by offering time off for state and city employees working the polls, and professionalizing poll worker training so that only qualified and trained staff work the polls.
NY budget proposals throw ‘make polluters pay’ environmental legislation into uncertainty  (WAER, March 15, 2024)
New York legislators and transparency advocates call for stronger Freedom of Information Laws  (QNS.com, March 14, 2024)
Statements In Support Of The 2024 Senate Majority One-House Budget Proposal  (Harlem World Magazine, March 13, 2024)
Calling for change to NY's 'broken' public records request system  (Niagara Gazette, March 12, 2024)
Anne Rabe of the New York Public Interest Research Group about the differences in climate-related aspects of the budgets proposed by the New York Assembly and the New York Senate  (Hudson Mohawk Magazine, March 12, 2024)
Will the Legislature "kick the can" on climate costs?  (WAMC, March 11, 2024)
During 'Sunshine Week', good government groups urge reform of New York's public records law  (The Buffalo News, March 11, 2024)
Advocates seek ban on 'unfair' business practices in N.Y.  (Albany Times-Union, March 10, 2024)
A Superfund for climate? These states are pushing for it.  (E&E News, March 6, 2024)
Dealing with New York's "other" crisis: The trash tsunami  (WAMC, March 4, 2024)
Legislature must address 'junk fees' this session  (Albany Times-Union, March 4, 2024)
SUNY, CUNY advocates call for more funding in state budget  (Albany Times-Union, February 29, 2024)
Which states could get new congressional maps in 2024?  (ABC News, February 29, 2024)
New York's consequential week  (WAMC, February 26, 2024)
New York legislators give thumbs down to IRC-drawn congressional maps  (Spectrum News, February 26, 2024)
NY still waiting on Congressional map approval  (WABC News 10, February 23, 2024)
New York lawmakers urged to reject Hochul's power grab  (The Center Square, February 21, 2024)
HealthyNYC: A Model for Health Policies in Other Cities  (Medriva, February 21, 2024)
NYPIRG survey indicates N.Y. students need more assistance with healthcare  (The Daily Orange, February 20, 2024)
Cuomo is back in court to protect his $5 million book deal  (WAMC, February 19, 2024)
News Archive
NYPIRG and Other Transparency Advocates Urge Legislature and Governor to Strengthen Freedom of Information Law for Sunshine Week
Release: Assembly One-House Budget Bill Shows House Rejected Inclusion of Popular “Make Polluters Pay” Climate Change Superfund Act. Organizations Ask: Why Are the Assembly and Governor Shielding Big Oil Climate Polluters Instead of Protecting NYS Taxpayers?
News Release: Youth, Faith & Environmental Groups Join with Legislators to Call for “Make Polluters Pay” Bill Requiring Big Oil to Fund Climate Crisis Costs to be Included in Senate and Assembly One-House Budgets Also: Check out NYPIRG's New Video Illustrating the Need to Make Corporate Polluters Pay
Video Release: Make Polluters Pay!
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG Releases “Small Claims, Small Changes: A Survey of Albany Small Claims Court 45 Years Later”
A NYPIRG report documenting a survey of litigants who participated in cases in the City of Albany Small Claims Court in 2021 shows the challenges facing consumers using the system.
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG Reacts to Governor Hochul's Budget Plan

Over 300 Business, Civic, Environmental, and Youth Groups Call on Governor Hochul to Modernize State Returnable Container Law (“Bottle Bill”)

Groups Urge Inclusion in the State Budget Due to Need for Enhanced Enforcement and Immediate Action to Increase Current Redeemed Beverage Container “Handling Fee”

NYPIRG Statement on the Passing of Sidney Wolfe, MD, Founder of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group
Today, a coalition of elected officials, youth leaders, and community organizations led by NYPIRG called on Governor Hochul to include the Climate Change Superfund Act in her upcoming budget. The Climate Superfund assesses the largest oil companies for the state's mounting climate-related expenses and does so in a way that protects the public from increased costs.
RELEASE: Another Storm, More Costs to NY Taxpayers: Will Governor Hochul Make Big Oil Pay? A coalition of groups today called on Governor Hochul to make the oil companies pick up the tab for the costs of NY's climate damages after another deadly storm that caused widespread damage to New York State.
NYPIRG and a coalition of environmental organizations and local elected officials today released a review of the climate costs facing New York City and called on Governor Hochul to make the biggest oil companies – not local taxpayers – pay to cover climate damages
NYPIRG Celebrated Its Five Decades of Victories and College Student Empowerment
Author and Activist Jane Fonda, Community Service Society’s David Jones, State Senator Liz Krueger, U.S. Sen. Schumer’s State Director Martin Brennan, and New Deal Strategies’ Camille Rivera Received NYPIRG's “changemaker” Awards
Climate Superfund News Conferences: Taxpayer Tally of Climate Costs Since 8/2022 is $2.7 Billion
NYPIRG Statement on the Death of Ryan Thoresen Carson
The biblical rains that are devastating parts of the state are fresh evidence that the costs of adapting New York's infrastructure to the world climate’s "new abnormal" will be staggering. Legislation -- approved by the Senate (S.2129A) -- would require the largest oil companies to help pick up the tab and do it in a manner that will stop them from passing the costs on to consumers. Read NYPIRG's statement on downstate's devastating floods.
Advocates and Business call on Governor Hochul and DEC to release grant funds to struggling Bottle Redemption Businesses
Thousands Join March to End Fossil Fuels, Demand Biden Declare Climate Emergency & Phase Out Plan
NYers face hundreds of millions of dollars in climate costs while big oil racks up huge profits, nearly three-quarters of a trillion dollars over past 30 months
NYPIRG 50th Anniversary, Celebrating Five Decades of Victories and College Student Empowerment, Will Be Held on October 13th in NYC – Author and Activist Jane Fonda, Community Service Society's David Jones, State Senator Liz Krueger, U.S. Sen. Schumer's State Director Martin Brennan, and New Deal Strategies' Camille Rivera to Receive NYPIRG's "Changemaker" Awards
Reports & Features Archive