YOUTH AND THE VOTE

2026

Official Voting Website: https://elections.ny.gov/

New York provides voter information tools to register to vote, check voter registration status, find polling locations, view election deadlines, and learn about early voting and mail-in voting. The state also offers resources on accessible voting, voter rights, election results, and opportunities to participate in civic engagement.

Voter Registration: https://elections.ny.gov/register-vote

Check Your Voter Registration and Find Your Polling Place: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/

Find Your Early Voting Location: https://elections.ny.gov/ways-vote

How to Vote: https://elections.ny.gov/ways-vote

Early Mail and Absentee Voting: https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot/

Voter Rights and Accessible Voting: https://elections.ny.gov/ways-vote

2026 Election Information and Deadlines: https://elections.ny.gov/

Election Results: https://elections.ny.gov/

New York City Voting Resources: https://vote.nyc/

Nonpartisan Voter Education (VOTE411): https://www.vote411.org/

League of Women Voters of New York State: https://lwvny.org/

Vote.org: https://www.vote.org/

Rock the Vote: https://www.rockthevote.org/

Election Protection and Voter Assistance: https://866ourvote.org/

New York State AFL-CIO Voter Resources: https://nysaflcio.org/vote

Civic Engagement Opportunities: Residents can get involved beyond voting by volunteering with voter education organizations, attending community meetings, learning about local policies, participating in advocacy efforts, and helping eligible community members access reliable voting information.

2024

TOP STRATEGIES/INITIATIVES TO INCREASE REGISTRATION & TURNOUT

State Policies and Resources

• New York State Board of Election site. 
• NYS DMV facilitates online registration with a driver’s license.
• Voter pre-registration starts at 16, vote at 18.
• New York: Election deadlines, dates, and rules

High school Initiatives

• NYC Campaign Finance Board sponsors Youth Programs  to encourage youth  engagement through peer-to-peer style education, partnership with CUNY, and We Power NYC Ambassadors.

• ID rules and helpline for New York  voters.   

• Civics week launched at Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, Queens.  
• NYC Student Registration Drive.
• High school websites include voting information and registration tools, for example Syosset High School. 
• Let NY Vote is a coalition or grassroots activists and partners that is successfully advocating for voting rights reforms that benefit young voters (and others), for example: pre-registration at 16 and 17 and online registration. Legislation that would permit same day registration is “in progress.” 
• Jennifer Wolfe of Oceanside advising When We All Vote’s My School Votes initiative.

College and University initiatives

• 65 NY campuses participated in ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge;  2 campuses won Platinum Awards for voter turnout rates > 80%.
• 2020 New York Campus Voting Challenge Award Winners: 
  • Highest Voter Registration Award, 2-year Institution: Dutchess Community College
  • Highest Voter Registration Award, 4-year Institution: Bard College 
  • Most Improved Voter Turnout Award, 2-year Institution: Dutchess Community College
  • Most Improved Voter Turnout Award, 4-year Institution: Ithaca College 
  • Highest Voter Turnout Award, 2-year Institution: Dutchess Community College 
  • Highest Voter Turnout Award, 4-year Institution: Ithaca College (79.5% – an increase of 38% above 2016)
  • Best Campus Democratic Engagement Action Plan Award, 2-year Institution: Westchester Community College 
  • Best Campus Democratic Engagement Action Plan Award, 4-year Institution: SUNY: Stony Brook University
• NEW YORK CAMPUS VOTER GUIDE

Other Factors and Initiatives

• Rock the Vote in New York.
• NYC Campaign Finance Board shifted to digital communications to give voters safe choices during the pandemic including a voter registration site created in partnership with TurboVote.
• New York requires voter registration 25 days before an election. This disproportionately affects young NY citizens.