A qualified voter may vote as an absentee voter under this section if during all the hours of voting on the day of an election if they will be: absent from the county of his or her residence; or unable to appear at the polling place because of illness or physical disability, or duties related to the primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled, or because he or she will be or is a patient in a hospital; or an inmate or patient of a veteran's administration hospital; or absent from his or her voting residence because he or she is detained in jail awaiting action by a grand jury or awaiting trial, or confined in jail or prison after a conviction for an offense other than a felony, provided that he or she is qualified to vote in the election district of his or her residence. 

If the application requests the absentee ballot be mailed, the application must be received by the district clerk not later than 7 days before the election for which the absentee ballot is sought. Otherwise, the application may be personally delivered to the district clerk not later than the day before the election. Applications may not be submitted more than 30 days prior to the election. If you are qualified for absentee voting and issued an absentee ballot, the ballot itself must be received by the school district clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the election in order to be canvassed.

Who 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.

Information for military and overseas voters: If you are applying for an early mail ballot because you or your family are in the military or because you currently reside overseas, do not use this application. You are entitled to special legal provisions if you apply using the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). For more information about military/overseas voting, contact your local board of elections or refer to the Military and Federal Voting sections at. https://www.elections.ny.gov/

Where and when to return your application: Applications for an early mail ballot that will be delivered in-person at the county board of elections to the voter or an agent of the voter must be received no later than the day before the election. Applications for a ballot to be delivered by mail to the voter must be received at the county board of elections no later than 10 days before the election. If the address of your county board of elections is not provided on this form, contact information for your local election office can be found on the New York State Board of Elections’ website, under “County Boards of Election” directory at: https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/CountyBoardRoster/CountyBoardRoster

Options available to you if you have an illness or disability: You may sign the early mail ballot application yourself, or you may make your mark and have your mark witnessed in the spaces provided on the bottom of the application/ Please note that a power of attorney or printed name stamp is not allowed for any voting purpose.

When your ballot will be sent: Your early mail ballot materials will be sent to you beginning 46 days before federal, state, county, city or town elections in which you are eligible to vote. If you applied after this date, your ballot will be sent immediately after your completed and signed application is received and processed by your local board of elections/ If you prefer, you may designate someone to pick up your ballot for you, by completing the required information in section 6 and/or section 7, as appropriate. Contact your local county board of elections if you have not received your ballot.