General Election

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023

 Early Voting Period is October 28 - November 5, 2023

New Absentee Ballot Procedure

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. 

If a voter requests a second absentee ballot, any previously issued absentee ballot that is returned by the voter will be set aside unopened to provide the voter a chance to return the second ballot, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If both ballots are received before the return deadline, the ballot with the later postmark date is accepted and any other ballots that have been received are rejected, unless the first ballot has already been opened. If a voter submits more than one timely absentee ballot and cast an affidavit ballot, the last received ballot, either submitted in person during the election or by mail within the absentee return deadline, will be canvassed. 

Qualifications to Vote by Absentee Ballot

1. Absent from Orange County on Election Day.
2. Unable to appear at the polls due to temporary or permanent illness or disability.
3. Unable to appear because you are the primary care giver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
4. A resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
5. Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

2023 Absentee Ballot Deadlines

General Election

(PLEASE BE AWARE THAT DESPITE THE ABOVE DEADLINES THE POST OFFICE HAS ADVISED THAT THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE TIMELY DELIVERY OF BALLOTS APPLIED FOR LESS THAN 15 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION.)

How to Apply for an Absentee Ballot

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

• Electronically through our Absentee Ballot Application Portal:  Electronic Absentee Ballot Request Portal
• By sending an email request to absentee@orangecountygov.com
• By sending a fax request to (845) 291-2437
• By going in-person to our office - Orange County Board of Elections, 75 Webster Ave, Goshen, NY 10924 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, masks are required)
• By mailing a paper application to your local Orange County Board of Elections, PO Box 30, Goshen, NY 10924
  
  You can download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form: Absentee Ballot Application - English  Absentee Ballot Application - Spanish

By sending a letter to Orange County Board of Elections, PO Box 30, Goshen, NY 10924.
 . The letter must contain the following information:

1. Name and date of birth of the voter
2. the address where you are registered
3. an address where the ballot is to be sent, and
4. the reason for the request.
   
    If you apply by letter, an application form will be mailed with your ballot. The application form must be completed and returned with 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.

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.

If you are visually impaired or otherwise disabled, such that your disability requires you to use an accessible absentee ballot application, you have two accessible options to request a ballot on this page, either using the Accessible Electronic Ballot Application Portal:

Accessible Electronic Ballot Application Portal

Accessible Electronic Ballot Application Portal Instructions

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 your county Board of Elections on the outside and should have a logo that reads, “Official Election Mail”)
• Seal the Return Envelope.
• You may return the ballot in any of the following ways:

For the November General Election:

1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than November 7th.
2. Bringing it to the County Board of Elections Office no later than November 7th by 9pm.
3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site between October 28th and November 5th.
4. Bringing it to a poll site on November 7th by 9pm.

Considerations for returning an Absentee Ballot by mail

When mailing your completed ballot, the USPS recommends that voters allow enough time for ballots to be returned to the Board, which is generally seven days ahead of the general election. New York State requires your ballot to be both postmarked by November 7th, 2023 and received by our Board by November 14th, 2023. Voters who mail in their ballots on Election Day must be aware of the posted collection times on collection boxes and at the Postal Service’s retail facilities, and that ballots entered after the last posted collection time will not be postmarked until the following business day.