Related Information
Voter Registration
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | In person, mail, online. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Deadline | 25 days before Election Day | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Automatic | No | A8280C signed into law, establishes automatic voter registration on a rolling basis from 2023-2025. | No Legislative Activity |
| Same Day | No | No Changes | SB517 (in committee) would allow same day registration. |
Absentee Ballot Application
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excuse | Absence, illness/disability, patient care at a Veteran's Administration hospital, incarceration, or awaiting trial. | COVID-19 considered an acceptable excuse. | SB0360 institutes no-excuse absentee voting. Unless this resolution passes, the current law requiring an excuse to vote by absentee ballot remains the law |
| Automatic | No | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Deadline | Seven days before Election Day. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Valid for X# of Cycles | 1 | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Absentee Ballot Return (other than by mail)
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voter ID | Not required | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| In Person | Yes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Drop Box | Not mentioned by statutes. | Widely implemented throughout state by Governor's order. | Provisions have been introduced to establish new statutory language requiring drop boxes. SB.0492 Passed in the Senate AB.4128 Introduced in the Assembly |
| Return Deadline | 7 days after Election Day if by mail. Close of polls on Election Day if in person. | No Changes | A. 6047-A PASSED Allows mail-in ballots post-marked for election day to be counted. |
Ballot Harvesting
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited | No; state law silent | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Limited 3rd Party | Not prohibited | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Paid Political Operatives | Not prohibited | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Early Voting
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| By Mail | Yes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| In Person | Yes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Voter Identification - Absentee Ballot
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Verification | Yes | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Witness Statement | Only if the voter is unable to sign. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Other | - | - | - |
| Cure Process | No | No Changes | No Legislative Activity; Per New York District Court, unsigned absentee ballots allowed to be cured with 7 days of being notified of signature issue. |
Voter Identification - In Person
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Not required | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Other Options | - | - | - |
| Provisional Ballots | Used for first-time voters without valid ID, or voters whose names do not appear in the poll book. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
Voting Day
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 6AM-9PM | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Wait Time | State obligated to provide resources to ensure 30 minute maximum wait time. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Electioneering | Prohibited within 100 feet of polling places. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Other | - | - | - |
Voter Rolls
| Pre-COVID | During 2020 | 2021 Legislative Activity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update Frequency | Updated continuously. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
| Voter Removal | Death, felony conviction, moving, or mental incompetence. | No Changes | No Legislative Activity |
July 19, 2021
Not all of NY’s new voting reforms benefit voters, advocate says
Over the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a package of voting reforms, including ones that ease the rules and restrictions on mail-in absentee balloting.
But a leading voter access advocate said the state still has more to do before mail-in balloting is universally accessible.
The bills that Cuomo approved include eliminating the requirement that voters have to submit signed applications for absentee ballots. They will now be able to request the ballots by an unsigned letter or by going online to get one mailed to them.
Continue Reading on wxxinews.com
July 16, 2021
Governor Cuomo Signs Sweeping Package of Voting Reforms into Law
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed a sweeping package of voting reforms into law. The reforms help voters, candidates and boards of elections more easily perform their functions. The reforms include:
Eliminating signed absentee ballot applications and allowing absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day to be considered timely;
- Allowing voters to request absentee ballots through electronic means;
- Requiring boards of elections to post information about changes in polling places
- Conforming deadlines for the mailing of applications for absentee ballots to USPS guidelines;
- Allowing candidates who have lost primaries to be removed from ballots as candidates for different parties; and
- Increasing election district registrant enrollment from 1,150 to 2,000.
Continue Reading on governor.ny.gov