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Early Mail/Absentee Information


Early Mail and Absentee ballot requests may be made on-line through this portal for Elections held this calendar year. You may also request an early mail or absentee ballot for an elections by mailing a paper form to our office.


Qualifications to Vote by Mail


You may request to vote by mail if you are:


  • A registered voter of Erie County and wish to vote early by mail.
  • Unavoidably absent from Erie County on election day.
  • Unable to appear at the polls due to a temporary or permanent illness or disability.
  • A patient in a Veterans' Administration Hospital.
  • Detained in jail awaiting Grand Jury Action or confined in prison after conviction for an offense other than a felony.
  • On active duty in the uniformed service or an eligible spouse or dependent of such individual.
  • A US citizen living outside the country.
  • A voter with special needs and require a special ADA compliant ballot.

How to Request an absentee or mail-in ballot


Should you miss the application deadline, we urge you to take advantage of any one of the 38 early voting sites to cast a ballot for the election. Absentee ballot requests may also be delivered in person to the Erie County Board of Election office located at 134 W Eagle St, Buffalo until 5pm of the day prior to the election.

Submit an On-Line Request.  The most efficient way to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot is by using our on-line portal. This avoids transcription errors and the necessity and delays accompanying the sending of your request through the mail. You will receive immediate confirmation of your request.


Mail in your Request.  To submit a paper request for an absentee ballot, click a link below and deliver or mail the completed form to the Erie County Board of Elections, 134 W Eagle St, Buffalo NY 14202. Requests personally delivered to the Erie County Board of Elections will be accepted up to the date preceding the election.

Early Mail Ballot Application (PDF)
Solicitud de boleta anticipada por correo (PDF)
Absentee Ballot Application (PDF)
Aplicacion Espanoles Voto Ausente (PDF)

Separate Mail-in Form and Instructions for Active Duty Military Overseas Voters.  Persons on active duty in the uniformed service or an eligible spouse or dependent of such indivdual and US citizens living outside the country,click the link below.

Federal/Military Ballot Application (PDF)

Separate Form and Instructions for Special Needs Voters.Voters with special needs who require a special ADA Compliant Ballot Application, click the link below. A printer is available at the ECBOE offices to print an accessible ballot and all Early Voting and Election Day polling locations are equipped wth a Ballot Marking Device (BMD)

Special Needs ADA Compliant Accessible Ballot Application (PDF)

What to do with your Voted Absentee Ballot


Mail your Voted ballot to the Erie County of Elections, 134 W Eagle St, Buffalo, NY 14202 so it is postmarked no later than the day of the election.

Alternatively, you can hand deliver your voted ballot to the Erie County Board of Elections office located at 134 W Eagle St, Buffalo, NY 14202 any time during normal business hours on or before  election day or any one of the 38 Erie County early voting locations during designated voting hours or to any of the 315 polling sites between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm on election day.

Check the Status of Your Request


To check the status of your absentee or mail-in ballot or request, click here.