Early voting begins Saturday in NY presidential primary election
Early voting for New York's presidential primary begins Saturday. The photo was taken at The Great Neck House in November 2023 in Great Neck. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Early voting begins for the New York presidential primary on Saturday during which registered Democrats and Republicans can cast a ballot over an eight-day period. Only registered voters enrolled in a party may vote in their party’s primary.
Here are some facts about voting:
When is the early election period this year?
Early voting begins Saturday and extends through the following Saturday, March 30. No polls will be open March 31 (Easter Sunday) or April 1, the day before the traditional Presidential Primary Day on April 2.
Where are the voting sites?
There are 27 early voting locations in Nassau County and 20 locations in Suffolk County. Voters may use any of the sites. A voter’s traditional polling site may not be on the list because not all polling places are open for early voting.
A list of polling locations is available on local Board of Elections website.
Nassau County voters may contact nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/BOE/index.html or call 516-571-VOTE.
The Suffolk County Board of Elections may be contacted at suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/BOE or at 631-852-4500.
When can Nassau County voters cast ballots during early voting?
Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (until 8 p.m. at BOE headquarters)
Tuesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (until 8 p.m. at BOE headquarters)
Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, March 29 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
When can Suffolk County voters cast ballots during early voting?
Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, March 29 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 30 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Who is on the ballot?
Democrats can vote for Joseph R. Biden, Marianne Williamson or Dean Phillips.
Republicans can vote for Donald J. Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki R. Haley or Chris Christie.
Democrats can also select delegates to the National Democratic Convention from their congressional district.
Who can vote?
Registered Republicans and Democrats may cast ballots during early voting. Voters may check their eligibility through a state BOE portal voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/.
When must absentee and mail-in ballots be received?
Ballots must be postmarked no later than April 2 and received at the county BOE by April 9. They may be delivered in-person at the BOE no later than April 2 at 9 p.m. They can also be brought to an early voting site between March 23 and March 30 or to a local poll site on April 2.
May I vote early, then change it?
No. Under state law, when a ballot is cast during early voting, that voter can’t vote again during early voting or on Election Day.
Also, a voter who is issued an absentee or mail-in ballot may not cast a vote on a voting machine during early voting or on Election Day and may only vote by affidavit ballot at a poll site.
When is the traditional Presidential Primary Day?
Voters may cast ballots at their local polling places on April 2 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A voter can determine their polling place through the state’s voter lookup at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/.
Vera Chinese covers Suffolk County government and politics. She joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.
