Albany, NY – 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.