Election 2023: Putnam County Absentee, Early Voting Info

Editor's Note: The Putnam County Board of Elections at 25 Old Route 6 in Carmel is one of two early voting sites in Putnam. The location was incorrect in the original version of this article. Patch regrets the error.

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7 with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Not registered? Register as a new voter by Oct. 28.

As author Rex Stout (a Brewster resident) once had his fictional detective Archie Goodwin say, "I have never understood why anybody passes up that bargain. It doesn't cost a cent, and for that couple of minutes, you're the star of the show, with top billing. It's the only way that really counts for you to say I'm it, I'm the one that decides what's going to happen and who's going to make it happen."

Here's the New York State Voter Registration Form.

Registered voters in Putnam County don’t have to wait until Nov. 7 to cast their ballots. You still have time to apply for an absentee ballot, or you could take advantage of early voting.

Absentee Ballot Information for Nov. 7 General Election:

• Oct. 23 is the last day for the Board of Elections to receive an application, letter, fax, email or absentee online portal request for the General Election ballot.
• Nov. 6 is the last day for an applicant or agent to apply in person at the Board of Elections for the General Election absentee ballot.
• Nov. 7 is the last day to postmark the General Election absentee ballot by mail. The ballot must be received by the Board of Elections within 10 days.
• Nov. 7 is the last day to deliver the General Election absentee ballot in person to the Board of Elections or at any poll site throughout the county, by the close of the polls on election day.

Due to a recent change in law, New York State voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine if they have already been issued an absentee ballot for that election. Voters who have already been issued an absentee ballot can still vote in person using an affidavit ballot. The affidavit ballot will be kept separate until the election is completed. Election officials will verify whether the voter’s absentee ballot has been received. If the voter’s absentee ballot has been received, the affidavit ballot will not be counted. If the voter’s absentee ballot has not been received, the affidavit ballot will be counted.

There will also be nine early-voting days when registered voters will be able to cast their ballots prior to Election Day.

The Putnam County Board of Elections and the North Highlands Fire House are accessible to voters with physical disabilities. Voting by an absentee ballot is still an option if you are out of Putnam County on Election Day or if you are permanently or temporarily disabled.

Putnam County will have two early voting sites located at:

• Putnam County Board of Elections at 25 Old Route 6 in Carmel.
• North Highlands Fire House, 504 Fishkill Rd., Cold Spring

If you are a registered voter in Putnam County, you may vote at either site.

The early voting days and times are:

• Saturday, October 28: 9 am to 5 pm
• Sunday, October 29: 9 am to 5 pm
• Monday, October 30: 9 am to 5 pm
• Tuesday, October 31: 12 pm to 8 pm
• Wednesday, November 1: 9 am to 5 pm
• Thursday, November 2: 12 pm to 8 pm
• Friday, November 3: 9 am to 5 pm
• Saturday, November 4: 9 am to 5 pm
• Sunday, November 5: 9 am to 5 pm

If you cast a ballot during early voting, you are then not eligible to vote on Election Day. The results from early voting will be reported after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7.

Poll sites are accessible to voters with physical disabilities. Voting by an absentee ballot is an additional option.

The list of candidates on Putnam County ballots can be found here.

More information is available on the Putnam County Board of Elections website. You may also contact the Putnam County Board of Elections at (845) 808-1300 or via email.