Overview
New York State Election Law (5-508) allows victims of domestic violence to apply for a confidential registration by delivering a sworn statement to their local county board of elections stating they are a victim of domestic violence and they wish to have their voter registration record kept confidential because of the threat of physical or emotional harm to themselves or a family or household member. Their voter registration record will be kept separate and apart from other registration records for four years 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.
Further, under a separate section of New York State Election law (11-306), victims of domestic violence can be excused from going to their polling place to vote and get a special ballot mailed to them or delivered to them at the county board of elections.
For more information, please contact your county board of elections for their confidential registration and special ballot procedures.
Statement of Confidential Voter
The New York State Statement of Confidential Voter should be completed and submitted to the voter's county board of elections.
If the individual is not yet registered to vote, a voter registration form must be completed first.
Upon processing the completed Statement of Confidential Voter, the county board of elections shall ensure that any registration record maintained by them be kept separate and apart from other such records. It will not be made available for inspection or copying by the public or any person, except election officials acting within the course and scope of their official duties and only as pertinent and necessary.
The confidentiality of such registration records shall begin upon the board's acceptance of the application and will continue for four years from such date. A new application may be made prior to the expiration of such four year term.
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - English
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Spanish
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Bengali
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Chinese
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Korean
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Malayalam
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Tagalog
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New York State Statement of Confidential Voter - Urdu
Special Ballot Application
New York State Election Law (11-306) provides that the New York State Special Ballot Application may be used by victims of domestic violence to avoid going to a polling place to vote, and instead, to receive a ballot via mail or in person at the board of elections.
The application should be completed and submitted to the voter's county board of elections.