Early Vote By Mail / Absentee Ballots

Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

Who May Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Each person must apply for themselves. It is a felony to make a false statement in an application for an early mail ballot, to attempt to cast an illegal ballot, or to help anyone to cast an illegal ballot.

How to Apply for an Early Mail Ballot

You may apply for an early mail ballot in any of the following ways:

• If you have a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application portal. Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities. For more information, see the Accessible Ballot section below.
• By going in-person to your local county board of elections
• By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to your local county board of elections and receive your ballot
• You can download a PDF version of the New York State Early Mail Ballot Application Form using the links below:
  • English Early Vote by Mail Application
  • Spanish Early Vote by Mail Application

When is it Due?

Applications requesting to receive an early mail ballot must be received by the board of elections in Rockland County no later than ten days before the election. For early mail ballots to be received in-person, applications must be received by your board no later than the day before the election.

How to Cast an Early Mail Ballot

1. Once you receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
2. Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope. (This envelope will have a place for your signature.)
3. Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
4. Seal the Security Envelope.
5. All early mail ballots include a pre-paid Return Envelope. Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”.) The Return Envelope does not require any additional postage.
6. Seal the Return Envelope.

For the June 24, 2025, State and Local Primary Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than June 24th.
2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than June 24th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between June 14th and June 22nd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on June 24th by 9pm.

For the November 4th General Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 4th.
2. Bringing it to your County Board of Elections Office no later than November 4th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site in your county between October 25th and November 2nd.
4. Bringing it to a poll site in your county on Election Day, November 4th by 9pm.

Who May Apply for an Absentee Ballot 

You may qualify to vote absentee for the following reasons:

1. Absent from your county or, due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
2. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
3. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
4. In jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot

You may apply for an absentee ballot in any of the following ways:

• If you have a print disability, which means any disability that interferes with the effective reading, writing, or use of printed material, and require a ballot with accessible features you may apply using the online Accessible Ballot Application portal. Print disabilities include blindness, low vision, dyslexia dysgraphia, learning disabilities, and physical disabilities that limit writing abilities. For more information, see the Accessible Ballot section below
•  By going in-person to the Rockland County Board of Elections
• By designating another person to deliver your application in-person to your local county board of elections and receive your ballot
•  You can download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form:
  • English Form

If you cannot pick up your ballot, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot.

If you are permanently ill or disabled, you have the right to receive an Absentee Ballot for each subsequent election without further application. Simply file an application with your county board of elections indicating permanent illness or physical disability.

You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot for every election until your registration is canceled.

Electronic Submissions

Absentee application may be submitted via mail, email, fax, or via the State Board of Elections Electronic Portal (see below). Drop in applications are also accepted.

Letter/Email Request

You may also request an Absentee Ballot by sending a letter or email. The letter must be received no later than 10 days before the election. The letter or email must contain the following information: your name and date of birth, the address where you are registered, an address where the ballot is to be sent, and the reason for the request.

The letter may be sent via mail, email or fax. Our email is VoterInfo@co.rockland.ny.us and our fax is 845-638-5196.

Please note: Unless you are applying to become a Permanent Absentee Voter due to illness or disability, Absentee applications are valid for one calendar year only.

Absentee Portal

Visit the State Board of Elections and apply using the Absentee Ballot Portal. This is convenient and efficient. You can apply for the Primary, General, or both in under 5 minutes. Your request will be transmitted directly to us. We encourage you to take advantage of the portal.

New Legislation

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voter's absentee ballot has been received. If the voter's absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter's absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.

Chapter 481 of the Laws of 2023, Establishing the New York Early Mail Voter Act. The application is for one Calendar year. Any registered voter may apply and applicants must be registered at the address on the application. Early mail ballots follow the same timeliness restrictions as absentee ballots with regard to deadlines.

Download the following Application form for more information.

Forms to Download

When completing the application form, be sure to print clearly.

• Download Absentee Ballot Application

Meeting Voter Access Needs

If you are a visually impaired voter or cannot independently cast your ballot, you may also apply for an accessible absentee ballot using the State Board Accessible Absentee Portal and downloading the Accessible Absentee Ballot Application.

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but not limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores, and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device (“BMD”) during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.

Important: Take Mail Times into Account

The law now requires that we receive your application 10 days prior to the election, you should be mindful of mailing and processing times. It may take several days for us to receive your application and we need up to 4 days to process and mail back to you. We strongly encourage voters to mail applications earlier.

Designate Someone to Pick up Your Ballot

If you cannot pick up your ballot or will not be able to receive it through the mail, you have the right to designate someone to pick it up for you. Only that person designated on your application may pick up and deliver your ballot. Important: The expanded submission policies may not be used if you are designating an agent for pick up. You must submit a paper application to the Board to assign an agent.

How to Cast an Absentee Ballot

• Once your receive the ballot, mark the ballot according to your choices for each office following the instructions on the ballot.
• Once you have completed marking your ballot fold it up and place it in the Security Envelope (This envelope will have a place for your signature).
• Sign and date the outside of the Security Envelope.
• Seal the Security Envelope.
• Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of Rockland County Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, "Official Election Mail")
• Seal the Return Envelope.

Return the Ballot in Person

If you prefer to drop off your ballot rather than mailing it, return the ballot in person.

• You or a representative can return it to any of our poll sites on Election Day. Go straight to the Managers. Do not wait on line to return your ballot. You must return your ballot by 9:00PM.
• You or a representative can return it to any of our early voting centers during Early Voting. See the Early Voting & Extended Hours page. Go straight to the Managers. Do not wait online to return your ballot.
• You or a representative can return it to the Board of Elections during regular business hours.
• You or a representative can return it to the Board of Elections during our extended hours. See the Early Voting & Extended Hours page.
• You or a representative can return it to the Board of Elections on Primary or General Election Day. We are open from 6AM until 9PM. You must return your ballot by the 9:00PM deadline.
• Secure Ballot Box: Return it to the Board of Elections after hours. Use our secure ballot return box, right outside of our front door. Important: After hours return is not available on Election Day. The deadline to return your ballot is 9:00PM. The ballot box kiosk will be closed and locked promptly at 9:00PM on the day of the General Election.

Return the Ballot by Mail

Ballots normally have to be postmarked the day before the election. New legislation was signed into law allowing voters to postmark the ballots up until the day of the election, General: November 4, 2025. Ballots must be received by us not later than seven (7) days after the election. Once you receive your ballot, complete it, place it in the oath envelope, sign the oath envelope, seal it, place it into the mail envelope, seal it, and mail it immediately. The earlier the better!

Remember: As the deadline approaches, you may ask the Post Office to physically stamp your ballot so that you can ensure your ballot has the proper postmark date.

Important: Take Mail Times into Account.
While the law allows you to postmark your ballot on the day of the Election of the day before the election, you should be mindful of mailing times. Your ballot must be received within seven (7) days to be counted. Mail times will vary based on location. We strongly encourage you to return your ballot as soon as you receive it. The Post Office guidance is at least 10 days prior to the election.

Absentee Cures

There are certain errors or problems that can occur when a voter completes an absentee ballot envelope. Many of these errors or problems are curable by means of filing a cure statement with your board of elections. If your ballot envelope has a curable defect, you will receive a notice from the board of elections.

Additional Information

For additional information visit the New York State Board of Elections.

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