“No Excuse” Vote By Mail now available to all NY Residents!
Governor Hochul Signs Legislative Package to Strengthen Democracy and Protect Voting
New legislation allows all eligible, registered New York State voters the opportunity to vote early by mail in advance of an election.
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to register for your mail in ballot
This legislative package builds upon ongoing efforts to improve and protect access to the ballot box for all New Yorkers, including last year's enactment of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York, the most expansive state level voting rights act in the country.
Legislation (S. 7394-A/A. 7632-A) establishes a system for early voting by mail:
This legislation will create a process allowing all eligible, registered NYS voters the opportunity to vote early by mail in advance of an election.
A new application process will be developed to facilitate voter requests for early mail ballots
Voters will be able to request mail ballots up to ten days prior to the election
Requested Mail ballots with postage paid return envelopes will be received by all eligible and registered voters.
Early mail ballots must be mailed back to the appropriate board of elections no later than election day
This legislation represents a significant expansion of ballot access in New York State, and will provide millions of New York voters with an easy, safe, and secure means of voting early by mail ballot.
New York State now joins 28 states and Washington, D.C. in offering "no-excuse" absentee voting, which means that any voter can request and cast an absentee/mail ballot, no excuse or reason necessary.
Eight states conduct elections entirely by mail (California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington), which means voters do not need to request a ballot, and instead automatically receive one.
