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New York State Board of Elections Urges Voters to
Mail Completed Ballots Early Following USPS Postmark Changes
Published: June 12, 2026 at
12:30 p.m.
By: Press Release from NYS Board of Elections
New York State Board of Elections Urges Voters to
Mail Completed Ballots Early Following USPS Postmark Changes
ALBANY, N.Y. –
New York State election officials are encouraging voters to return early
mail and absentee ballots for the June 2026 Primary Election as soon as
possible following recent changes to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postmark
procedures that may affect how mail is dated and processed.
Under updated
USPS guidance this year, a postmark reflects the date a mail piece is
processed at a postal facility rather than the date it was deposited in the
mail. As a result, mail placed in a mailbox on a particular day may not
receive a postmark until a later date. To ensure ballots are counted,
voters are strongly encouraged to mail their ballots well before the
deadline or return ballots directly to a poll site or their county board of
elections.
“While these
postal changes do not alter New York's election laws, they underscore the
importance of voters making a plan to return their ballot,” stated Kristen
Zebrowski Stavisky, Co-Executive Director of the State Board of Elections.
“The most effective step voters can take is to return their ballot early.
Doing so helps ensure their vote reaches election officials in a timely
manner and eliminates uncertainty related to mail processing.”
“The Board is
committed to ensuring voters understand how these changes may affect the
handling of mailed ballots,” added Raymond J. Riley III, Co-Executive
Director of the State Board of Elections. “We encourage every voter who
plans to vote by mail to review the deadlines, understand their options,
and return their ballot as soon as possible. Every eligible voter should
cast their ballot with confidence in the process and peace of mind."
New York State
election law permits ballots to be postmarked up through election day.
Voters who choose to mail a ballot close to this deadline may request a
manual or hand-stamped postmark at a USPS retail counter. These are
available at no charge upon request. Properly postmarked ballots must be
received by the voter’s county board of elections within seven days of
election day.
Voters in New
York are encouraged to contact the State Board of Elections or their local
county boards of elections directly for information about the upcoming
election and voting options. If you have any questions regarding this press
release, please contact Kathleen McGrath or Jennifer Wilson at the State
Board of Elections at (518) 474-1953 or by email at INFO@elections.ny.gov.
IMPORTANT DATES
TO REMEMBER:
The 2026 Primary
Election is June 23, 2026.
For new voters,
the deadline to register to vote before this
election is June 13, 2026.
For voters
wishing to receive a ballot by mail, the deadline to make this request is
June 13, 2026.
Early in-person
voting occurs from June 13, 2026, through June 21, 2026.
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