Qualifications to Register to Vote

• You must be a United States citizen.
• You can pre-register at 16 years of age, but you cannot vote until you are 18
• You must be a resident of this state and the county, city or village for at least 30 days before the election.
• You must not be in prison for a felony conviction.
• You must not be adjudged mentally incompetent by a court.
• You must not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

How and Where to Register to Vote 

You can register in person at:

The Jefferson County Board of Elections
1st Floor of the County Office Building
175 Arsenal Street
Watertown NY 13601

You can register through any New York State agency-based voter registration center (DMV, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, CUNY, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Department of Health - WIC Program, Department of Labor, Department of Social Services, Department of State, Division of Veterans' Services, Military Recruiting Offices, Office for the Aging, Office of Mental Health, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, SUNY, Adult Career and Continuing Education Services - Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) and the Workers' Compensation Board).

You may register to vote using the New York voter registration form accessible at the links below:

Complete English form online (PDF)

Complete Spanish form online (PDF)

Once the form is complete, you need to print the form and sign it. We cannot accept any kind of digital or Adobe-generated signature. Mail your form to us at the address above.

For an accessible version of the New York state voter registration form, visit the New York State Board of Elections website.

Victims of Domestic Violence

N.Y. Election Law (5-508) allows victims of domestic violence to apply for a confidential registration by delivering a sworn statement to their local county Board of Elections stating they are a victim of domestic violence and they wish to have their voter registration record kept confidential because of the threat of physical or emotional harm to themselves or a family or household member. Their voter registration record will be kept separate and apart from other registration records for four years and not be made available for inspection or copying by the public or any other person, except election officials acting within the course and scope of their official duties. Under a separate section of the law (11-306), they can also be excused from going to their polling place to vote and get a special ballot. For further information, please contact your local board of elections for their confidential registration and special ballot procedures.