General Election 2024: Key Dates
Sat, Oct 26 | Voter Registration Deadline; Early Mail and Absentee Ballot Request Deadline
- The Board of Elections office must receive your voter registration application—via mail, in person, or online—by this date.
- If you are requesting an early mail ballot or absentee ballot, the Board of Elections must receive your application via online portal, email, fax, or mail by this date. (You may request one in person through November 4—see below.)
Sat, Oct 26–Sun, Nov 3 | Early Voting in NYC
Mon, Nov 4 | Early Mail and Absentee Ballot Request Deadline (In-Person)
- This is the last day to apply in person at the Board of Elections for an early mail or absentee ballot.
Tues, Nov 5 | General Election Day!
- Polls are open 6 AM–9 PM. Find your poll site.
- This is the last day to postmark your early mail ballot or absentee ballot, and the last day to deliver a ballot in person at the Board of Elections office or a poll site.
Find Information in Your Language
Explore the NYC Votes website for voter information and resources in the following languages (located in the top right corner of the site): عربي • বাংলা • 简化字 • 正體字 • français • Kreyòl ayisyen • हिंदी • 한국어 • Polski • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ • Pусский • español • اردو
The New York State Board of Elections has information available in the following languages: español • 中文 • Pусский • יידיש • বাংলা • 한국인 • Kreyòl ayisyen • Italiano • عربي • Polski • français • اردو
Who Can Vote?
To vote in New York City, you must be registered to do so. You are eligible to register to vote if you:
- Are a citizen of the United States (includes people born in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
- Have been a New York City resident for at least 30 days.
- Are 18 years old (in New York State, you may pre-register to vote if you are 16 or 17, but you must be 18 on election day to vote)
- Are not serving a prison sentence or on parole for a felony conviction (unless your parole pardoned or restored rights of citizenship).
- Have not been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.
- Do not claim the right to vote elsewhere (outside the City of New York).
Source: NYC Board of Elections.
How to Register to Vote
- Visit VoteNYC to learn how to register to vote online (requires a valid DMV ID or New York State Non-Driver Photo ID Card), by mail, or in person at one of the Board of Election offices. In New York, you may pre-register to vote at the age of 16.
- Find detailed information from NYC Votes on how to register whether you do or don’t have a New York State ID.
- Check your registration status on the NYC Board of Elections voter website.
- Enroll for the first time with a party or change your party enrollment with New York State.
Find Your Polling Place
- Find your polling location using your address.
- Or, call the Voter Phone Bank: +1-866-VOTE-NYC (+1-866-868-3692).
How to Vote by Mail or as an Absentee
Find out what you need to know to get an early mail ballot or an absentee ballot, and how to cast your vote, via VoteNYC.
Know Your Rights!
- Check out the New York State Voter's Bill of Rights from the Board of Elections in the City of New York.
- Learn more from NYC Votes regarding your Voting Rights while registering to vote, at the poll site, and at work.
- If you have a disability or limited English language proficiency, learn about poll site and ballot accessibility from NYC Votes.
- If you were formerly incarcerated, learn about your voting rights from NYPL Connections: A Free Guide for Formerly Incarcerated People (see pages 205–210).
- If you are unhoused, learn more about your voting rights from the League of Women Voters of New York.
Find Out Who Represents You
Check out Who Represents Me? NYC to find out who your local, state, and federal representatives are, and scroll down to learn more about them.
Learn more about your representatives at the websites for the following offices:
Federal | The White House • U.S. Senate • U.S. House of Representatives
State | NY State Governor • NY State Attorney General • New York State Comptroller • New York State Senate • New York State Assembly
NYC | New York City Mayor • New York City Public Advocate • New York City Comptroller • New York City Council
NYC Boroughs | Bronx Borough President • Bronx District Attorney • Brooklyn Borough President • Brooklyn District Attorney • Manhattan Borough President • Manhattan District Attorney • Queens Borough President • Queens District Attorney • Staten Island Borough President • Staten Island District Attorney
How to Research Candidates
Here are some useful resources for finding out about the platforms of the candidates in your area.
Vote411 | This online voters' guide from the League of Women Voters allows you to type in your address to see the races on your ballot. Candidates' positions can be compared side-by-side, and you may print out your preferences as a reminder and take it with you to the polls on Election Day.
Plural | Formerly Open States, Plural allows you to search and track legislation and legislators. In their words, "Plural exists to make policy creation more transparent, responsive, and inclusive. And to make full participation possible."
Internet Archive TV News | The Internet Archive launched TV News Search and Borrow in 2012 "to enhance the capabilities of journalists, scholars, teachers, librarians, civic organizations, and other engaged citizens" by repurposing closed captioning "to enable users to search, quote and borrow U.S. TV news programs." It contains clips dating from 2009 to the present from over 2 million recorded programs that can be searched by keyword.
Vote Smart | This free online tool provides factual, unbiased information on candidates and elected officials including how they've voted, which bills they've sponsored, statements they've released, and more.
Ballotpedia | Ballotpedia allows you to see the races on your ballot and read about the candidates’ positions. It provides information about federal, state, and local politics, elections, and public policy.
How to Research the Issues
Here are some useful resources for finding out about the issues at play in this election as well as information about campaign finance.
Newspapers & Magazines
A wide selection of current newspapers and magazines are available to read in the Library's 92 locations. Find a location near you.
PressReader | Read over 2,000 U.S. and international newspapers in full-color, full-page format using PressReader. You will need to sign in using your library card credentials. Download the PressReader app for iOS or Android for use on a mobile device.
Flipster | Use your library card to access digital magazines from publishers including National Geographic, Condé Nast, Meredith, Bloomberg L.P., and more. Download the Flipster app for iOS or Android for use on a mobile device.
Explore more newspapers and magazines in NYPL's databases.
More Online Resources
Office of the New York State Attorney General | Find out what you can do to protect yourself and others against AI-generated misinformation including deepfakes in this note from the New York State Attorney General.
Factcheck.org | A project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, Factcheck.org is a nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer advocate for voters that aims "to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics." The site monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.
Public Agenda | This "national research-to-action organization" aims to help communities and the nation solve tough problems through research, engagement, and communication.
Opposing Viewpoints | Access the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center using your library card for material to support differing views. Students can develop critical thinking skills on thousands of current social topics in the forms of primary source documents, statistics, websites, and multimedia.
Resources About Campaign Finance
Federal Election Commission | The Federal Election Commission is an independent government agency created by Congress in 1974 "to promote confidence and participation in the democratic process." Its purpose is to administer and enforce federal campaign finance law. You can search presidential data including money raised, money spent, cash on hand, and debt, as well as research legal resources and find help for candidates and committees active in federal elections.
OpenSecrets | A nonpartisan, independent nonprofit, OpenSecrets tracks "money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy" with a mission "to track the flow of money in American politics and provide the data and analysis to strengthen democracy."
NYOpenGovernment.com | This website from the New York State Attorney General’s office aggregates data on campaign contributions and expenditures, lobbyist disclosures, government contracts, and registered charities from other New York State agencies to provide transparency and accountability.
Civics at The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library plays a leading role in fostering civic engagement and community participation. Learn about our programs, resources, collections and more!
NYC Voting and Elections for Teens
Get your questions about voting and elections answered and find ways to get involved in your community this election season, whether or not you’re of voting age!
