• Unavoidably absent from your county on Election Day
• Unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability
• A patient in a veteran’s administration hospital
• Detained in jail awaiting grand jury action or confined in prison after conviction of an offense other than a felony.

For the Nov. 4 General Election, the deadlines for absentee ballot applications and voting are as follows:

• Oct. 28, 2008 - last day to postmark an application for a ballot
• Nov. 3, 2008 - last day to apply in person for a ballot
• Nov. 3, 2008 - last day to postmark a ballot if returning by mail
• Nov. 4, 2008 - last day to deliver a ballot in person to the board of elections
• Nov. 12, 2008 - last day a ballot may be received by the board by mail

Please print clearly.

• Download Absentee Ballot Application (English)
• Download Absentee Ballot Application (Spanish)

Upon completion of the absentee ballot application, you must mail it to the Board of Elections.  Once we are in receipt of your application, a ballot will be mailed to you. Remember that an application for an absentee ballot is only valid for the calendar year of the request.

If you cannot pick up your ballot, or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you.  Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.

If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an absentee ballot for each subsequent election without further application.  Simply file an application with your Board of Elections containing a statement which describes the particulars of your illness or disability. The Board will review the facts stated and, if satisfied, will mark your registration record. You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is cancelled.

For additional information visit the New York State Board of Elections.