The deadline to register to vote in this November’s election is approaching. Voters must register by October 8, 2021, to cast ballots this year.
New Yorkers can apply in-person at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when they complete a driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID transaction. They must have a reservation to visit a DMV office. Those who already have a license, permit, or non-driver ID can visit the DMV website to apply to register or update the information they have on file with the Board of Elections. Applications must be submitted online no later than October 8. Notices of change of address from registered voters received by October 13, 2021, by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for the election.
To apply by mail, applications must be postmarked no later than October 8, 2021, and received by a Board of Elections no later than October 13, 2021, to be eligible to vote in the general election. New Yorkers can also register in person at their local Board of Elections. Those who were honorably discharged from the U.S. Military or have become a naturalized U.S. citizen after October 8, 2021, may register in person at the Board of Elections up until October 23, 2021.
To apply to register using the DMV website, customers must enter information from their New York State driver license, permit, or non-driver ID, their date of birth, current zip code, last four digits of their Social Security Number, and their email address. The information provided is validated to ensure accuracy and security.
The DMV does not approve or deny voter registration applications. Upon completion, DMV sends the voter registration applications to the County Board of Elections for review and action. Once processed, the county will notify the applicants either that they are registered to vote or that additional information is needed to complete the application. Additionally, New Yorkers can use the New York State Board of Elections’ website, https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/, to check their voter registration status.
To be eligible to vote in New York, one must:
•be a United States citizen;
•be 18 years old (may pre-register at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until age 18);
•be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election;
•not be in prison for a felony conviction;
•not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
•not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
Read more about the process for registering to vote on the DMV website, https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application.
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