Get Ready to Cast Your Ballot

Everything you need to register to vote, make a voting plan, and cast your ballot on election day.

Important New York State Election Information

All important NYS election deadlines can be found online. Please keep in mind the amount of time it takes for mail to reach its destination once it has been placed in a mailbox. To ensure that your election materials arrive on-time, we recommend placing them in the mail at least 1 week prior to the deadline.

2026 General Election

Date	Action(s)
October 19, 2026	Last day for the Board of Elections to receive change of address forms for already registered voters
October 24, 2026	Last day for the Board of Elections to receive new voter registrations, online or by mail Last day for the Board of Elections to receive absentee ballot or early mail ballot applications, online or by mail
October 24-November 1, 2026	Early voting period
November 2, 2026	Last day to request an absentee ballot (must be picked up in person)
November 3, 2026	Election Day! Polls are open from 6 am – 9 pm Last day to drop off or mail early vote by mail or absentee ballot (must be postmarked by Election Day in order to count)

Voter Registration

Make sure you are registered to vote by checking your voter registration status. If you are not registered to vote, follow the steps below.

Not a New York state resident? You can check your registration status online.

Fill out a voter registration form. To register to vote in New York, please complete an online voter registration form. Register online and learn more about the qualifications to be eligible to vote.
1. Registering to vote outside of New York? Learn more about the process.
If you are unable to fill out an electronic voter registration form, stop by The Space, located in Union B105, to pick up a paper application. Once completed, place your application in the drop box located outside of The Space. SULA staff will mail it to the appropriate Board of Elections for you.

Voting In Person

If you plan to vote in-person, you can do one of the following:

Vote on Election Day

To vote in-person on election day, you must visit your assigned polling site. You can find information on your polling site online. Students who register to vote on-campus will have the SERC listed as their polling place. If your polling place is off-campus, make sure you have a transportation plan to get there. Polling sites are open from 6 am – 9 pm. Don’t forget that classes are in session on Election Day!

Participate in Early Voting

If you want to vote in-person, but can’t make it to your polling site on election day, you can choose to participate in early voting. Each county has designated early voting locations with varying hours of operation; these locations may be different than your Election Day polling sites. Check online for information on early voting sites. Please note that you can only utilize early voting sites located in your registered county.

Absentee Ballot/Early Mail Ballot

Unable to make it to your polling place on Election Day, but still want your vote to be counted in your hometown? If so, consider voting with an absentee ballot or early mail ballot!

Please note: While given different names, absentee ballots and early mail ballots operate very similarly in New York state.

To request an absentee ballot or early mail ballot, please follow these steps:

Ensure that you are registered to vote. If you are not registered, follow the steps in the section above to submit your voter registration form.
Complete the NYS absentee or early mail ballot. We recommend choosing the online application process for efficiency.
If you are registered to vote in a state other than New York, you must request a ballot for your home state.
If you would prefer to mail the application in, please bring it to the drop box located out of The Space, located at Union B105. SULA staff will mail it to the appropriate Board of Elections for you.

Need More Assistance?

Visit the Civic Engagement team at Seymour Union B105, email us at mszurgyi@brockport.edu, or visit the NYS County Board Roster website for more information.