Who Can Register?

In order to be eligible to register to vote, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen (including anyone born in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam) or be a naturalized U.S. citizen (a foreign-born individual who is granted citizenship by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
• Be a New York resident for at least 30 days prior to an election
• Be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file a form (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary or other election in which you want to vote)
• Not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardoned or restored rights of citizenship)
• Not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere

You also need to register to vote if:

• You have changed your address since the last time you voted or registered to vote
• You wish to change your party affiliation
• You have changed your name since last voting

 

You must be registered at least 25 days before an election. The last day to register to vote by mail or in person to be eligible to vote in the October 14, 2022, general election is November 8, 2022.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines “voting” as the formal expression of a preference for a candidate for office or for a proposed resolution of an issue. Voting is the foundation upon which our democracy rests. The vote is our voice, and it should be used loudly and regularly. Use your voice. Vote!

Political Parties

Enrolling in a political party is optional. However, if you wish to vote in a political party’s primary elections, you must enroll in that political party. A change of enrollment received by the BOE not later than Feb. 14 or after July 5 is effective immediately. Any change of enrollment made between Feb. 15-July 5th, shall be effective on July 5.

How Do I Register?

Registering to vote is easy to do. The University makes voter registration forms available to all CUNY students when they register for classes and through voter registration events.

The NYS voter registration form is also available through your CUNYfirst account. It’s a personalized form that you can mail in yourself. You don’t even need a stamp. It’s as simple as that.

Ask about voter registration and the collection of application forms at your college. For more information about voting, please call or visit the following websites:

• THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
  cuny.edu/vote (this webpage)
• THE NEW YORK CITY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
  (212) VOTE-NYC; vote.nyc
• NEW YORK CITY CAMPAIGN FINANCE BOARD
  (212) 409-1800; nycvotes.org
• THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
  (212) 725-3541; lwvnyc.org

Confirmation of Registration

You will receive an official postcard from the Board of Elections in the mail indicating your election district, polling place and schedule for voting. You will also be sent a Voter’s Identification Card. If either card is not received within two weeks of registering, call the Board of Elections hotline at (212) VOTE-NYC.

How to Obtain an Absentee Ballot Application

If you cannot get to your poll site on Election Day, you may qualify to vote by absentee ballot. You can vote by absentee ballot if you are temporarily or permanently ill/disabled, if you are out of town on Election Day for business, vacation, school or similar circumstances, or due to COVID-19. For the general election, the last day for Board of Elections to receive an absentee ballot application by mail, email, fax or online is October 24, 2022, and in person November 7, 2022. Absentee ballots must be postmarked or delivered by November 8, 2022, at a Board of Elections office. To obtain an absentee-ballot application, check the first box in Section 15 of the voter registration form, access the form at cuny.edu/vote or call the Board of Elections at (212) VOTE-NYC.