Student Leadership and Engagement

Voter Registration

Voting is a fundamental right that allows citizens to participate the election of governmental leaders on a local, state-wide, and national level. The New York State Board of Elections is responsible for the administration and enforcement of laws relations to elections.

Voter registration forms are available on the Buffalo State College campus in the Student Leadership and Engagement office in Campbell Student Union, Room 400.

Qualifications to Register to Vote

• be a United States citizen;
• be 18 years old by December 31 of the year in which you file the voter registrationform (note: you must be 18 years old by the date of the general, primary, or other election in which you want to vote);
• reside of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election;
• not be in prison or on parole for a felony conviction (unless parolee pardorned or restored rights of citizenship);
• not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court;
• not claim the right to vote elsewhere

How and Where to Register to Vote (Deadlines)

• You can register in person at your county board of elections or at any New York State Agency-Basedvoter registration center.
• You may also submit your voter application form at the Department of Motor Vehicles, either in person or on their web site if you already have a DMV-issued identification.
• You can request a New York State Voter Registration form by mail by entering your name directly in the NYS voter database.
• You can call 1-800-FOR-VOTE hotling to request a voter application.

New York State Voter Registration Form

• You may register to vote using the New York State Voter Registration Form accessible at the links below. You can complete a PDF version of the New York State Voter Registration Form on-line by clicking on the link below, typing the necessary information and selecting the appropriate boxes. Alternatively, you can print the form to complete by hand.
  • Complete English Form On-Line (298KB)
  • Complete Spanish Form On-Line (278KB)
  • Once the form is completed, you need to print the form and sign it. We cannot accept any kind of digital or Adobe-generated signature. Then, mail the form to your county board of elections.
• You can also complete an Accessible version of the New York State Voter Registration Form on-line by clicking on the link below, typing the necessary information and selecting the appropriate boxes.
  • Accessible English Form On-Line
  • Accessible Spanish Form On-Line
  • Once the form is completed, you need to pring the form and sign and date it. Then, mail the form to your county board of elections.

How to Make Changes to Your Registration

Change of Name and/or Address

The voter registration form should be used as a change of address form. Notices of change of address from registered voters received at least 20 days before a special, primary or general election by a county board of elections must be processed and entered in the records in time for that election.

Change of Party Enrollment

The voter registration form should be used to change your party enrollment from one party to another or to enroll for the first time in a party. A change of enrollment received up until February 14th each year will be effective immediately. Changes received on or after February 15th until seven days after the June Primary will be set aside and opened the seventh day following the June Primary and entered in the voter's registration record. Please see Deadlines referenced above.

Victims of Domestic Violence

N.Y. Election Law (5-508) allows victims of domestic violence who obtain a court order from NY Supreme Court, Family Court or County Court in the county where they are registered to have their voter registration record kept separate and apart from other registration records and not be made available for inspection or copying by the public or any other person, except election officials acting within the course and scope of their official duties. Under a separate section of the law (11-306), you can also be excused from going to your polling place to vote and get a special ballot. For further information, you should contact your local board of elections for their confidential registration and special ballot procedures.

Information provided by New York State Board of Elections