Voting and Coronavirus (COVID-19): Information for NYC Voters

Protect your health, and the health of our democracy. Make sure your voice is heard in upcoming elections!

Last updated: May 19, 2020 at 1:30 PM

All voters with a primary election on June 23 will be eligible to vote in the election by absentee ballot. The Board of Elections will mail you an application to request your ballot, or you can request one online today at www.nycabsentee.com. Sign up to receive email and text message updates at nycvotes.nyccfb.info/vote_smart, or text VOTESMART to 917-979-6377.

We know that New Yorkers are concerned about the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19), and we want to make sure that you have the information you need to vote safely in upcoming elections. This page is being updated as additional information becomes available.

A federal appeals court has ruled that New York’s presidential primary will be held. Special elections for Queens Borough President, Council District 37 (CD37), and Assembly District 31 (AD31) were canceled. But primary elections for state and local offices will proceed as planned, including primary elections for Queens Borough President and AD 31, as well as Congress, state Assembly, and state Senate. The primary election for CD37 has been canceled, because only one candidate qualified for the ballot. Voters can check whether they have primaries in their neighborhood by searching their home address in the Poll Site Locator.

Whether you are ill, in self-quarantine, or simply want to limit your exposure to crowds, there are options available to stay involved while taking care of yourself.

Vote by mail, by requesting an absentee ballot
Anyone registered to vote in NYC can cast their ballot in the June 23 election by mail, by requesting and submitting an absentee ballot. Voters can request their absentee ballot online, at www.nycabsentee.com, or send in the print-at-home form below. The Board of Elections will also automatically mail every eligible voter an absentee ballot application, which voters can complete and return to request their mail-in ballot. We expect these applications to arrive by the end of May. You only need to complete the application once, whether online or in print. Voters should indicate that the reason is “temporary illness” (the definition of which has been expanded to cover the risk of contracting the coronavirus). Visit our How to Vote page and click “Vote Absentee” for more details on absentee voting.

Request deadline for June Primary Elections: June 16

Online ballot request form: www.nycabsentee.com

Print-at-home absentee ballot request forms:

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Guide to the Absentee Ballot Request Form 

Vote early!
All registered voters can participate in early voting, which starts 10 days before Election Day. Benefits include shorter wait times and less crowding at the polls.

Early Voting for June Primary Elections: June 13 - 21

Find your early voting location

Follow public health advice
We strongly encourage New Yorkers to vote by mail, but the Board of Elections is working to make sure that polling sites are as clean and safe as possible. The CDC has also issued guidelines for election polling locations. But your health is in your hands, too: washing or using hand sanitizer after touching surfaces in public spaces (including voting machines) is a smart way to stay healthy, whenever you vote. Visit www.nyc.gov/coronavirus for more information on prevention and ways to stay healthy.

Need more information on upcoming elections? Visit Voting.NYC and read the Voter Guide for profiles of the candidates. This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Check the top of the page for the date and timestamp for the last update. For the health and safety of our staff and visitors, the Campaign Finance Board is currently providing all services remotely; visit our Contact Us page for details.

Visit www.nyc.gov/coronavirus for complete information on the virus, the city’s response, and how you can help stop the spread of coronavirus.