Should I register to vote in New York or in my home state?
I'm a student, and my address in Ithaca is only temporary. Do I vote here, or at my permanent address?
This is a personal choice. You might choose based on which electoral contests are most important to you, where you think your vote will have the most impact, the place you most strongly identify with, or other factors. However, you may only vote in ONE place.
Don't delay! Different states have different deadlines!
Voting in your home state by absentee ballot:
- First, get registered! Go to vote411, or USA.gov/voter-registration, to find specific directions for each state.
- Next, request an absentee ballot. Go to USA.gov, How Where & When to Vote.
- Mail your absentee ballot.
- Important! Make sure you follow your state’s deadlines for requesting and returning your absentee ballot. See your state’s absentee voting deadlines -- -- and note the dates for when your ballot must be postmarked or received. It’s an important distinction.
Voting in New York:
- Fill in the online registration form: Register to vote in New York.
- Print and mail the form before the deadlines listed below.
Once you are registered, you will receive a postcard with your polling place! You can also check Vote411. Simply type in your address and you will see your Congressional district, NYstate Assembly and Senate districts, and your polling place.
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When/Where/How?
There are a number of excellent online resources to help you keep up-to-date on who's running in your area as well as the logistics of voting locally or by absentee ballot.
- Vote411.org (National League of Women Voters)Search by state and topic. Excellent information on registering, absentee voting, and DEADLINES for each state. New! Vote411.org now includes information about local races in Tompkins County. Enter your address and you will find information about who will appear on your ballot and their answers to questions submitted to them by the LWV of Tompkins County.
- Rock the VoteOutstanding resource for students and everyone else.
- Can I Vote?This nonpartisan web site was created by state election officials to help eligible voters figure out how and where to go vote.
Includes links to verify your registration, absentee ballots, and more. - Vote.org"Everything you need to vote." How to register, check your registration status, request an absentee ballot, find your polling place, and more.
New York
- New York Voter Registration SearchVerifies your registration, along with polling location and legislative districts.
- New York -- Campus Vote ProjectFocusing on the college campus population, but useful for everyone.
- New York State Voter toolOnce you are registered, use this easy tool to see your Congressional District, NYS Assembly and NYS Senate districts, polling place, and ward (Ithaca).