Information on registering to vote in New York state and elsewhere


Dear Students,

To vote in state or federal elections, you must be a registered voter. I am pleased to provide you with information about how to register to vote in New York state and elsewhere.

To register in New York state, you must be a United States citizen, be 18 years old by the date of the election in which you want to vote, reside at your present address in New York state for at least 30 days before an election, and not claim the right to vote elsewhere. This year’s in-person registration deadline to vote in the upcoming November 8th General Election is October 14, 2022; mail registration applications must be postmarked no later than October 14 and received no later than October 19, 2022; and registered voters’ change of address notices must be received by October 19, 2022. Voter registration forms are available on the Ithaca campus at West Campus House Offices, Appel Commons Community Center, Robert Purcell Community Center, Mann Library, and the Engaged Cornell Hub.

For assistance with voter registration, as well as absentee ballots, getting to the polls, or figuring out where and how to vote, you can email or visit the website of Cornell Votes, a nonpartisan, student-led effort to increase voter registration and civic engagement among all Cornellians. Should you choose to register in Ithaca, most Cornell students will be able to utilize on-campus polling sites. Should you choose to register at your home address, Cornell Votes can assist in mailing in your voter registration form regardless of your home state.

The New York State Board of Elections also has information on options for registering, including:

  • In Person: This can be done at your county board of elections or at any New York state agency-based voter registration center. If you are residing in Ithaca, visit the Tompkins County Board of Elections.

  • By Mail: Print the online (PDF) voter registration form. (Note, to ensure the entire form is printed, print on legal size paper or shrink to fit on letter size paper.) Or, to request a registration form be mailed to you call 1-800-FOR-VOTE or enter your information online through the New York State Board of Elections website. In all cases, the form must be completed, signed, and mailed or delivered to your county board of elections.

  • Online: If you have a New York State DMV issued driver license, permit or Non-Driver ID, you may register to vote or update your voter information online. Please note, the online application can take up to 6 weeks to process, so be sure to submit your application ASAP.

Out-of-state students may register to vote by completing the National Mail Voter Registration Form. To order a printed version, contact the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (866-747-1471; clearinghouse@eac.gov). After filling out this form, you must send it to a state or local election office for processing. See state-specific instructions included in the form for additional information. The national form also contains voter registration rules and regulations for each state and territory.

Finally, below are website links that provide more information, both specific to voter registration as well as to general governmental information.

New York State:

National:

Best regards,

Joel M. Malina
Vice President for University Relations