Election Hacks: What you need to know about Absentee Ballots

Signs around Pleasantville indicate a high voter population, October 29 2019 (Pleasantville Press/ Christina Bubba).

Posted By: cb10981p November 3, 2019

Each state has its own laws regarding the absentee ballot process. Voters use absentee ballots as an alternative to voting in person. 

For New York state, there are limitations on who qualifies for absentee ballots. Below are the qualifications: 

  • Absent from county or city you are a resident of on election day  
  • Unable to make the polls due to a temporary or permanent illness or disability
  • Are a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Association hospital 
  • Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.

Absentee ballots are popular at Pace University’s Pleasantville campus for students who are registered to vote at their home, rather than school, addresses. (Students who are registered at their on-campus addresses vote at Briarcliff High School.) Leading up to the 2016 presidential election and 2018 midterms, the university held “absentee ballot parties” for students to fill out ballots and pick up stamps. 

“Many Pace students come to the Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) for help with absentee ballots,” CCAR Program Coordinator Erin Mysogland said. “For the upcoming November 5th Election Day, the CCAR has spoken with about 25 students about absentee ballots and assisted in filling out applications.” 

Mysogland expects this number to rise much higher for the presidential primaries next spring. 

New to New York this year is the option to participate in Early Voting from October 26-November 3. This law expands the voting time frame, possibly lessening the need for absentee voting.  

Something else that could make absentee voting easier is the No Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting law. This would give anyone the right to vote via absentee ballot without needing to list a reason. State lawmakers approved no-excuse absentee voting earlier this year, but the change also requires a second legislative vote following the 2020 General Election, and voter approval in 2021.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 states and the District of Columbia allow voters to use absentee ballots without stating a reason.