Skip to main content

Learn about registering to vote in Cattaraugus County and New York State.

Voter Registration Form

Note: You will need a PDF reader (free) to print out the Voter Registration Card. A PDF viewer may be built into your web browser or you may have to download a PDF viewer for your device.

Please read the requirements below to see if you're eligible to vote.


Download a Voter Registration Form

Download the NYS Voter Registration Form:

print the form, sign it and mail it or drop it off to the Cattaraugus County Board of Elections.


TO REGISTER TO VOTE YOU MUST:

  1. be a citizen of the United States.
  2. be 18 years old (you may pre-register at 16 or 17 but cannot vote until you are 18)
  3. be a resident of the county for at least 30 days before the election.
  4. not be in prison for a felony conviction. 
  5. not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

You can obtain a mail registration form by calling our office at (716) 938-2400.

Complete the form and mail it to your County Board of Elections. Voter Registration forms are available from:

  • U.S. Post Offices
  • Public Libraries
  • Village/Town Clerk offices

You may also register in person at your County Board of Elections.

You may also register online at the Department of Motor Vehicles website at https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/electronic-voter-registration-application

You need to re-register to vote if:

  • you move out of the county
  • change your name
  • change your party enrollment

If you move within your county call your County Board of Elections for specific instructions.


HOW CAN I VOTE IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS?

You must be enrolled in one of the four recognized parties (i.e., Democrat, Republican, Conservative and Working Families) and there must be a primary in the party in the election district in which you are enrolled.


HOW DO I INDICATE MY CHOICE OF A PARTY?

You use the same form as you do for registering to vote. In Section I, indicate that you are filing either a new registration or a change of enrollment; then complete Section 10.

NOTE: A change of enrollment received by the BOE not later than February 14th or after June 28th is effective immediately.  Any change of enrollment made between February 15 - June 28 shall be effective on June 29th.


WHERE DO I VOTE?

Each year in April, you should receive a postcard from the Board of Elections verifying your current address. This card also indicates the location of your polling place and whether or not this place is accessible to the handicapped. If you have any questions about the information provided, call your County Board of Elections.


CAN I OBTAIN SPECIAL HELP AT THE POLLS IF I NEED IT?

Yes. A voter with a disability may have the assistance of anyone of their choice, so long as the person providing the assistance is not the voter's employer or union agent. If the voter requests assistance from inspectors at the polling place, one from each of the two parties represented there will help.


HOW DO I CAST A WRITE-IN VOTE?

If you ask, an inspector will show you on the sample ballot displayed in your polling place, how to cast a write-in vote.


HOW IS MY VOTE KEPT SECRET?

Your vote is protected through a system of mechanical and administrative safeguards. The number assigned to each voter by the inspectors in no way reveals for whom you voted. This makes it possible to keep an exact record of the number of votes cast on the machine and to pinpoint any problems that may occur on the machine.


HOW CAN I VOTE WHEN I AM AWAY FROM HOME?

If you will be absent from your county on election day because of your occupation, business, vacation or studies, you can request an absentee ballot application and vote by absentee ballot in any primary, special or general election. The application may be obtained from any Board of Elections. Just call, write or apply in person as soon as you know that you will be out of your county. If you are calling or applying by mail, you must do so at least seven days before the election. If you are applying in person, you may do so up to and including the day before the election.


HOW CAN I VOTE IF I AM ILL OR DISABLED?

If you are unable to vote in person because of illness or physical disability, you may vote by absentee ballot. Normally, applications for absentee ballots must be mailed to the Board of Elections not later than seven days before the election. However, if you become ill or disabled within ten days of the election, you may submit the application up to and including the day before the election. Persons who are permanently ill or disabled may receive absentee ballots for all fUture elections by filing only one application indicating your illness or disability. You will then be sent an absentee ballot for every primary, special and general election for which you qualify as a voter. Caregivers are also eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

Also, special absentees are available to victims of domestic abuse, election inspectors, and for those whose religious scruples would be violated by entering a polling place located in a church.


Other Voting Questions

Contact the Cattaraugus County Board of Elections with your questions. Visit the NYS Board of Elections website at www.elections.ny.gov.