Good Question: Can I change my plans for voting?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — News10NBC’s Brennan Somers received another Good Question about voting during the pandemic.

Pam emailed wanting to know: "If you send in the application to request an absentee ballot and then change your mind and want to vote in person, can you do that?"

It’s something most of us have never had to think about because many people have never voted absentee.

The short answer is yes.

The NY Board of Elections website states:

Even if you request or cast and return an absentee ballot, you may still go to the polls and vote in person. The Election Law recognizes that plans change. The Board of Elections is required to check the poll book before canvassing any absentee ballot. If the voter comes to the poll site, on Election Day or during early voting and votes in person, the absentee ballot is set aside and not counted.

If you change your mind late in the fall and wanted to vote absentee instead of in person, the board issued this guidance:

You must apply online, postmark, email or fax a completed application or letter request for the General Election Absentee ballot no later than 7 days, Oct. 27, before the election. You may apply in-person up to the day before the election, Nov. 2. You may file an application at any time before the deadlines, but ballots will be mailed out beginning on or about Sept.18.

Be aware, despite the deadlines, the post office has advised they cannot guarantee timely delivery of ballots applied for less than 15 days before the election.

For more information on Election Day, click here.