Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Each person must apply for themselves. It is a felony to make a false statement in an application for an early mail ballot, to attempt to cast an illegal ballot, or to help anyone to cast an illegal ballot.

How to Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

You may apply for an early mail ballot in any of the following ways:

• Apply online. EARLY MAIL BALLOTREQUESTAPPLICATION PORTAL
• If you have a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application portal. Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities. For more information, see the Accessible Ballot section below.
• By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to the board of elections and receive your ballot.
• You can download a PDF version of the New York State Early Mail Ballot Application Form using the links below:

Early by Mail Ballot Application - English

Early by Mail Ballot Application - Spanish

When is it Due?

Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot must be received by the board of elections in your county no later than ten days before the election. For early mail ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.

Vote by Early Mail Ballot

How to Cast an Early Mail Ballot

1. Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
2. Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
3. Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
4. Seal the Security Envelope.
5. All early mail ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.)The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage.
6. Seal the Return Envelope.

You may return the Early Mail Ballot in any of the following ways:

For the June 25, 2024 State and Federal Primary Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than June 25th.
2. Bringing it to the Board of Elections Office no later than June 25th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between June 15th and June 23rd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on June 25th by 9pm.

For the November General Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 5th.
2. Bringing it to the Board of Elections Office no later than November 5th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26th and November 3rd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 5th by 9pm.

Apply for an Absentee Ballot

Who May Apply for an Absentee Ballot

You may qualify to vote absentee for the following reasons:

1. Absent from your county on Election Day.
2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
3. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
5. In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor

Absentee Application

Complete the form and mail it to the Chemung County Board of Elections.

IMPORTANT: Please provide all information to us under Sections 1 through 8. Under Section 2, if you do not specify which election(s) you are requesting, then please provide the dates that you will be absent. If all the information is not filled in, we will not be able to process the application and therefore, you will not receive an absentee ballot.

There are instructions on the back of the application. If you have any questions, then please call our office and we will be glad to help you.

• apply online. Absentee Ballot Application
• If you have a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application portal. Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities. For more information, see the Accessible Ballot section below.
• By going in-person to your local county board of elections
• By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to your local county board of elections and receive your ballot
• You can download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form:

Absentee Ballot Application - English

Absentee Ballot Application - Spanish

When is your absentee ballot application due?

Applications must be mailed no later than the 15th day before the election or delivered in person no later than the day before the election.

In-Person Absentee Application and Ballot Drop Off Instructions

• Applications and ballots can be dropped off at the Board of Elections: 378 S. Main St., Elmira, during normal office hours of 8:30am- 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday. you can come into the office and hand it directly to our staff at the counter.
• 45 Days Prior to the Election our S ecure Absentee Ballot Drop Box will be available 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week. Located in front of the Board of Elections offices.
• Absentee ballots may be dropped off at the BOE until 9pm on Election Day.
• On Election Day, each polling site will have a secured pink Absentee Ballot Drop off bag next to the poll book / check in table. Absentee ballots may be dropped off at your polling site.

Vote by Absentee Ballot

How to Cast an Absentee Ballot

1. Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot
2. Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
3. Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
4. Seal the Security Envelope.
5. All absentee ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.)The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage.
6. Seal the Return Envelope.

You may return the Absentee Ballot in any of the following ways:

For the June 25, 2024 State and Federal Primary Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than June 25th.
2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than June 25th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between June 15th and June 23rd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on June 25th by 9pm.

For the November General Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 5th.
2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 5th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 26th and November 3rd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on November 5th by 9pm.

Accessible Absentee Ballot Application

If you cannot affirm that you are visually impaired or otherwise disabled you must request a regular absentee ballot using the regular application or portal linked above.

If you are visually impaired or otherwise have a disability such that your disability requires you to use a special accessible absentee ballot that can be read by a screen reader, you have two accessible options to request such a ballot on this page, either using the Accessible Electronic Ballot Application found on the top left - hand side of this page or use the Application Portal .

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered. Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system can also print their absentee ballots at the County Board offices.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.

As always, please contact our office with any questions

Military Voting

Qualifications

Persons serving in the military, along with their spouses and/or dependents, may register as a military voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal, state and local races that they would be otherwise entitled to vote in if they were to go to their assigned polling place based on their New York residence.

Registering/Applying for a Ballot

• To register as a new military voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application and return it to your county board of elections in New York.
• This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles.
• Always be sure to share any change of address information with your county board of elections.
• Applications are available from your Voting Assistance Officer on base, or you can visit either the Federal Voting Assistance Program Website for forms and information.
• On this application, you may state a preference as to how you would like to receive your ballot. You can choose mail, fax or email as a preferred method of transmission.
• if you have stated a preference to receive your voting materials by email/online, you will receive an email notification directing you to the State's online ballot delivery site to access your ballot.
• Questions? Call the State Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your Voting Assistance Officer or US Embassy office or Consulate.

Returning your Ballot

Regardless of the method in which you receive your ballot, you must return your ballot to your local county board of elections by personal delivery, postal mail or certain private delivery services.

Military Voting Deadlines

FOR APRIL 2 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

• March 23 Last day for a board of elections to receive application to absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
• March 26 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
• April 1 Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person if previously registered. Sec 10-106(5).
• April 2 Last day to postmark return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than April 9th. Sec 10-114(1).

FOR JUNE 25 FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PRIMARY

• June 15 Last day for a board of elections to receive application to absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
• June 18 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
• June 24 Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person if previously registered. Sec 10-106(5).
• June 25 Last day to postmark return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than July 2nd. Sec 10-114(1).

FOR 2024 GENERAL ELECTION (NOVEMBER 7)

• October 26 Last day for a board of elections to receive application to absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
• October 29 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 10-106(5).
• November 4 Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person if previously registered. Sec 10-106(5).
• November 5 Last day to postmark return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 18th. Sec 10-114(1).

Overseas Civilian Voting (Special Federal Voters/Uniformed & Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act Voters)

Qualifications

• United States citizens living outside of the United States whose intent to return is uncertain and whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a special federal voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all federal races (President/Vice President, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives) that they would otherwise be entitled to vote in based on your New York address.
• United States citizens living outside of the United States who intend to return and whose last U.S. residence was in New York, along with their children, may register as a UOCAVA voter in New York, entitling them to receive an absentee ballot for all races on the ballot that they would otherwise be entitled to vote in based on your New York address.

Registering/Applying for a Ballot

• To register as a new overseas voter and/or to request an absentee ballot, you must complete a Federal Post Card Application and return it to the county board of elections of their previous New York residence.
• This application will register you (if not already registered) and will also serve as your absentee ballot application for 2 federal general election cycles.
• Always be sure to share any change of address information with your county board of elections.
• You can visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program Website for forms and information.
• On this application, you may state a preference as to how you would like to receive your ballot. You can choose mail, fax or email as a preferred method of transmission.
• If you have stated a preference to receive your voting materials by email/online, you will receive an email notification directing you to the State’s online ballot delivery site to access your ballot.
• If you move back to the US, contact your county board of elections, to have your registration reflect that change.
• Questions? Call the State Board of Elections at 518-474-1953 or the Federal Voter Assistance Program at 1-800-438-8683, or contact your US Embassy office or Consulate.

Returning your Ballot

• Regardless of the method in which you receive your ballot, you must return your ballot to your local county board of elections by personal delivery, postal mail or certain private delivery services.
• If you have requested your ballot, but have not yet received it, you may use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot and return that to your county board of elections.

Overseas Civilian Voting Deadlines

FOR JUNE 25 FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PRIMARY

• June 15 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1).
• June 18 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4).
• June 25 Last day to postmark UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than July 2nd. Sec. 11-212.

FOR 2024 GENERAL ELECTION (NOVEMBER 5)

• October 26 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if NOT previously registered. Sec. 11-202(1).
• October 29 Last day for a board of elections to receive application for UOCAVA voter for absentee ballot by mail if previously registered. Sec. 11-204(4).
• November 5 Last day to postmark UOCAVA return ballot. Must be received by the local board of elections no later than November 18th. Sec. 11-212.