CUNY students, faculty, and staff play an important role in shaping the civic life of New York City. This resource page has information on eligibility, registration procedures, campus contacts, and upcoming events. All efforts to register voters on CUNY campuses should be non-partisan and designed to ensure that students have access to accurate information about the voting process.
Voter Registration Information
Eligibility to Register:
To register to vote in New York City, an individual must:
- Be a United States citizen
- Be a New York City resident for at least 30 days before the election
- Be 18 years old on or before Election Day (individuals may pre-register at 16)
- Not claim the right to vote elsewhere
- Not serving a prison sentence or on parole for a felony conviction (unless your parole was pardoned or restored rights of citizenship)
- Not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court
Key Dates and Deadlines:
- Last day to change your address prior to the General Election – Monday, October 20th
- Voter registration deadline for the General Election – Saturday, October 25th
- Early voting for the General Election – Saturday, October 25th – Sunday, November 2nd
- Election Day – Tuesday, November 4th
How to Register:
CUNY provides multiple avenues for voter registration:
- Online: Register through the NYC Voter Registration Portal or the New York State Board of Elections website [requires a valid New York State DMV ID].
- In person: Obtain a voter registration form from your campus’s Voter Registration Coordinator, a CUNY Votes event, or an NYC Board of Elections office.
- By Mail: You can fill out this form, print it, sign it, and mail it in to the Board of Elections (no stamp is necessary).
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I register if I do not have a permanent address? You do not need a fixed address to register to vote. Register with any address or location where you are sleeping.
- Do I need to register with a political party? No. You may register without enrolling in a political party. However, enrollment is required to participate in party primaries.
- Can out-of-state students register in New York City? Yes, if they meet the residency requirement of living in New York City for at least 30 days before the election.
- Is this initiative partisan? No. All CUNY voter registration efforts are non-partisan. The purpose is to ensure students are informed and able to exercise their voting rights.
Want to Help Register Students to Vote?
Organize a Voter Registration Event on Campus:
To get assistance organizing a voter registration event on campus, contact:
- NYPIRG Campus Coordinators: The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) collaborates with students on many CUNY campuses to support civic engagement and voter registration. Contact NYPIRG on your campus.
- CUNY Campus Voter Registration Coordinators: Each CUNY campus has a designated Campus Voter Registration Coordinators who can provide assistance with registration forms, deadlines, and voter information.
Guidelines for Registering Your Students to Vote:
- PSC encourages faculty and staff members to educate students about the importance of voter registration and civic engagement.
- Voter registration must be non-partisan. Members can inform students of voting rules (such as the requirement to register with a party to vote in that party’s primaries), but may not encourage or discourage students from registering with a specific party. Members should not encourage students to vote for specific candidates.
- You may collect completed voter registration forms from students, but it is your responsibility to mail them or deliver them by hand so they are received by the Board of Elections by the October 25 voter registration deadline.
Key Resources:
- NYC Votes: Information on registering and voting in New York City
- CUNY Votes: CUNY’s non-partisan voter registration and education initiative
- NYC Voter Registration Portal: Register to vote online in New York City
- New York State Board of Elections: Official source for statewide registration forms, deadlines, and eligibility information
Published: October 15, 2025
