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Qualifications to Vote by Absentee 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.

Accessible Absentee Ballot Application

If you cannot affirm that you are visually impaired or otherwise disabled, you must request a regular absentee ballot.

If you are visually impaired or otherwise have a disability such that your disability requires you to use a special accessible absentee ballot that can be read by a screen reader,please apply via the Application Portal for accessible absentee ballot.

Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system in need of printing services in order to print their ballot can access such services at certain public printing resources, including but limited to, libraries, print stores, shipping stores and office supply stores. Voters should contact their local printing resources for details on the printing services offered. Voters using the accessible absentee ballot system can also print their absentee ballots at the County Board offices.

In-person voting using an accessible Ballot Marking Device ("BMD") during early voting or on Election Day is still available to voters with a disability who do not want to vote by absentee ballot using the accessible absentee ballot system.

When is the application due?

A request for an absentee ballot must be received by the Board of Elections 15 days before an election. You may apply in-person up to the day before the election. You may file an application at any time before the deadlines, but ballots will be mailed out about 45 days prior to Election Day.

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/Oath Envelope.
• Seal the Security/Oath Envelope.
• Place the Security Envelope in the Return Envelope. (This envelope will have the return address of Onondaga 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:
  1. Put it in the mail ensuring it receives a postmark no later than Election Day.
  2. Bringing it to the County Board of Elections Office no later than 9pm of Election Day.
  3. Bringing it to an early voting poll site during their respective open dates and times.
  4. Bringing it to a poll site in Onondaga County on Election Day by 9pm

There are several types of absentee voters:

MILITARY - Members of the Armed Forces and their dependents
REGULAR - Voters who are out of the county, or ill on Election Day or Primary Day
PERMANENTLY DISABLED – These voters are on a permanent list and receive a ballot for each election
SPECIAL BALLOT - For those who are unable to vote in person due to Religious Scruples, Duties for the Board of Elections or a Victim of Domestic Violence
SPECIAL FEDERAL - American citizens living abroad whose last address in the states was in Onondaga County. This ballot only contains Federal offices.
SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL- This ballot for the office of President and Vice-President is available only to registered voters in Onondaga County who move to another jurisdiction and do not meet residency requirements to register