Voting in the Nov. 3 election: Here’s what you need to know

This is the last week to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election, and early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 24.

For Suffolk County residents planning to vote, here are the deadlines, early voting hours, links to check your registration and polling place and how to vote on Suffolk’s new touchscreen machines.

Address changes due today

Today, Monday, Oct. 19, is the deadline for the Suffolk County Board of Elections to receive a voter’s address change for processing in time for the general election, according to the New York State Board of Elections calendar.

Voters can update their address through the state’s online voter registration system or by submitting a voter registration form.

Check your registration — and register by Saturday

Residents can check their voter registration status here. The state’s lookup tool also provides polling place information and mail ballot tracking.

The deadline to register for the Nov. 3 election is Saturday, Oct. 24. Applications must be received by the Board of Elections by that date; a postmark alone does not meet the deadline. Residents can register online or find instructions for registering by mail or in person. Details are available on the state’s registration deadline page.

New touchscreen voting machines in Suffolk County

Suffolk’s new touchscreen voting machines will be used for the first time in a general election in Suffolk County. The county board of elections purchased the $34.8 million voting system last year from Election Systems & Software of Omaha, Nebraska.

Here’s how the new machines work:

• Voters will be provided with a ballot card that they insert into the machine.
• The ballot appears on the screen and the voter touches their selections on the screen.
• Upon completion, the voter touches a button on the screen to print the ballot. Once the votes are recorded, the ballot card with the voter’s choices printed on it appears in the ballot card window, where the voter can review their selections one last time before casting their ballot.
• The voter then touches the on-screen button to cast their ballot, and the ballot moves from the window into a secure collection box inside the machine.

After recording all votes, the machines tabulate them as well. The computer-tabulated results can be audited by comparing them to the paper ballot cards.

Editor’s note: The video title references the 2024 election, but Suffolk County did not purchase this system until 2025 and began using it in 2026. Suffolk County posted this vide to YouTube on April 2, 2026.

Early voting: Oct. 24 – Nov. 1

Early voting runs from Saturday, Oct. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 1.

Registered Suffolk County voters may vote at any early voting location in Suffolk County, regardless of where they live within the county. On Election Day, voters must use their assigned polling place, according to the Suffolk County Board of Elections.

The county’s early voting schedule is:

Date	Hours
Saturday, Oct. 24	10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25	10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 26	10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27	7 a.m.–3 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28	7 a.m.–3 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29	Noon–8 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30	Noon–8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31	10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1	10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Locally, early voting will take place in the cafeteria at Riverhead Town Hall, 4 West Second St., Riverhead. The county’s full list of early voting locations and hours is available here.

There is no early voting Monday, Nov. 2.

Vote by mail ballot request deadline is Oct. 24

Any registered voter may apply for an early mail ballot. Absentee ballots are also available to voters who qualify because of absence from the county, illness, disability or other eligible circumstances. Applications and instructions for both options are available on the state Board of Elections ballot request page.

Saturday, Oct. 24, is the deadline for the Board of Elections to receive an application by mail or through the online portal for an absentee or early mail ballot. The deadline to apply in person is Monday, Nov. 2, according to the state election calendar.

Completed absentee and early mail ballots can be returned in several ways:

• By mail: The ballot must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, Nov. 3, and received by the county Board of Elections no later than Tuesday, Nov. 10.
• At an early voting site: Deliver it to any early voting location in Suffolk County during voting hours, Oct. 24 through Nov. 1.
• On Election Day: Deliver it to the Suffolk County Board of Elections or any polling place within Suffolk County by 9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Follow the ballot instructions carefully, including signing and dating the security envelope. Voters who have already been issued an absentee or early mail ballot and then choose to vote in person must use an affidavit ballot instead of a voting machine. See the state’s mail ballot instructions for details.

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters casting ballots in person that day must go to their assigned polling place. Check your Election Day polling location here.

For questions about registration, polling locations or ballots, contact the Suffolk County Board of Elections at 631-852-4500.