In some states, certain convictions mean losing your voice at the ballot box, and many people believe that is the case in New York, too. In New York, though, people with felony convictions have their voting rights automatically restored once they are released from incarceration. Since 2021, people on parole or post-release supervision are also eligible to vote.

One step can be confusing, though: even if you voted or registered before you were incarcerated, you must register to vote again after you’re released. You can check if your voter registration is active here, and you can register to vote online, in person at your county’s board of elections, or by mail. The deadline to register to vote in the upcoming election is October 24, 2026. 

People with misdemeanor convictions do not have their voting rights restricted and can even vote while incarcerated. The New York City Department of Correction must provide both registration forms and absentee ballots for these eligible voters.  

The barrier for people who are unhoused or living in a shelter is often the belief that you need a permanent address to register to vote. You don’t. In 1984, Coalition for the Homeless won Pitts v. Black, which guaranteed homeless New Yorkers the right to vote regardless of where they live. If you’re in a shelter, you can register with your shelter address. If you’re staying outside, you can register using any address where you sleep.

When it is time to vote, you have options!

You can vote early from October 24 through November 1, or on November 3, Election Day, from 6 AM to 9 PM. Your early voting polling location may be different than your polling place for Election Day. Find your polling place for Election Day and early voting, as well as the hours here. Any registered voter is also eligible to vote by mail-in ballot. Requests for these ballots are due by October 24, and you can see more information here. You can call the New York City Board of Elections with additional questions at 1-866-VOTE-NYC.  

You can also visit this website to view a sample ballot, so you can learn about the candidates running in this election, any other proposals or matters that may be on the ballot, and choose those that best align with your vision for your community, city, and state.  

If you encounter any problems at your polling site, such as your name not being on the list or a poll worker saying you are ineligible to vote, do not walk away. If you feel confident that you are eligible to vote, ask for a paper or provisional ballot. You can always call the New York Attorney General’s Election Hotline at 1-800-771-7755 if you feel you are experiencing any form of discrimination at the polls.

Everyone should have a say in what happens in their community – voting is an important way to have that say.

We hope you will use your voice in the upcoming election on Tuesday, November 3.    

DISCLAIMER: This communication is not legal advice. 

Additional Resources:  

https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/get-help/know-your-rights/voting-rights/  

https://www.lac.org/resource/voting-and-criminal-records  

https://vote.nyc/page/find-your-poll-site