NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New York state voters who plan to vote by mail in November can now request their absentee ballots online.
The state’s online absentee ballot portal officially launched on Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a release. Anyone who is registered to vote in New York state can request a ballot.
New York state residents who request an absentee ballot will still be able to vote in person if they decide to do so, the New York State Board of Elections’ website notes.
Voters must “apply online, postmark, email or fax a completed application or letter request for the General Election Absentee ballot no later than seven days (Oct. 27, 2020) before the election,” its website says.
“You may apply in-person up to the day before the election (Nov. 2, 2020)," the site says. "You may file an application at any time before the deadlines, but ballots will be mailed out beginning or about Sept. 18, 2020."
“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,” it adds.
New York City voters who plan to vote by mail can also request their absentee ballots via the New York City Board of Elections’ online absentee ballot application portal.
In August, Cuomo signed into law a package of legislation that will allow all registered voters in New York state to vote via absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation will require the state Board of Elections to count any ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day (Nov. 3) and received within seven days after Election Day, as well as any ballots without a postmark that are received on Nov. 4.