How Do I Vote by Mail?

The Postal Service is expecting more than 25 million ballots to be cast by mail this election season.  Voters are being encouraged to mail their ballots early to make sure they meet delivery deadlines set by election officials. But every state has different rules regarding the “vote by mail” option. Listed below are a few guidelines for New York and New Jersey State voters.

New York law requires voters to provide a reason for choosing to vote by mail.

You may vote by mail/absentee in New York by meeting one of the following criteria:
• unavoidably absent from your county on Election Day
• unable to appear at the polls due to illness or disability
• a patient in a Veterans’ Administration Hospital
• detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action
• confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony

How do I vote by mail in New York?

Contact your County Board of Elections office. Note: You may become a permanent absentee voter in New York if you are permanently disabled. Indicate your disability on section D of the absentee application.
Your completed absentee ballot application must be mailed to your County Board of Elections office no later than 7 days before the day of the election or personally delivered no later than 5 days before election day. Click on the link for a list of County Board of Elections offices in New York: http://www.elections.ny.gov/

In New Jersey, any voter can now vote by mail in any election. You do not need a reason to Vote by Mail.

A voter may vote by mail by completing the Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, and returning the application to their County Clerk.

To receive your ballot by mail, the application must be received by the County Clerk 7 days prior to the election.

A voter may also apply in person to the County Clerk until 3 p.m. the day before the election.

The County Clerk cannot accept faxed or emailed copies of an Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, unless you are a Military or Overseas voter, since an original signature is required.

Military personnel, their spouse and family and, citizens living abroad

may vote by mail using the Federal Post Card Application, (FPCA SF-76).
Click the link for information on the Federal Post Card Application: http://www.fvap.gov/

“Mail is an increasingly important part of U.S. elections,” said USPS COO Megan Brennan. “All American voters living overseas, whether civilian or military, have the opportunity to mail their completed ballots back home free of charge using the APO/FPO or by hand-delivering their ballots to the nearest American embassy or consulate.”

USPS also is offering the following tips for voters using mail ballots:

• Visit state websites to determine election office locations and Vote-by-Mail rules.
• Check with local election office for rules governing mail ballots.
• Place completed ballots inside their window envelopes correctly.
• Ensure proper postage and stamp placement on the upper right-hand corner of envelope.

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