The midterm elections are just days away. For Polish Americans in New York, New Jersey and Chicago, this is the last chance to check where and when they can vote, because registration and mail ballot request deadlines have largely passed and each state has its own hours and rules. Only U.S. citizens who are registered to vote can vote in federal and state elections. Below is a summary of the key dates, based on state and city election offices.
New York: early voting through November 1
According to the New York State Attorney General, early voting runs from Saturday, October 24, through Sunday, November 1. In New York City, early voting sites are open on Thursday, October 29, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from Friday through Sunday (October 30 – November 1) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and anyone in line at 9 p.m. can still vote.
The registration deadline passed on October 24. An absentee or early mail ballot can still be picked up in person at your local board of elections until Monday, November 2. A completed ballot can be dropped off in person until 9 p.m. on Election Day or mailed; it must be postmarked by November 3 and reach the board by November 10. Your early voting site may be different from your Election Day site, so check the address in the NYC Board of Elections poll site locator before you go. In New York City you can also get help from a Polish-language interpreter at the polls.
New Jersey: early voting sites open through Sunday, polls open until 8 p.m. on Election Day
The New Jersey Division of Elections says early voting runs from October 24 through November 1, 2026. Sites are open at least from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday; no appointment is needed. A list of sites in each of the 21 counties is available on the New Jersey Division of Elections website. On Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Registration closed on October 13, and the deadline to request a mail ballot by mail was October 27. You can still pick up a ballot in person from your county clerk until 3 p.m. on Monday, November 2. A mailed ballot must be postmarked by Election Day and reach the county board of elections by November 9; ballots placed in a drop box or delivered to the board office must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Illinois and Chicago: you can still register on Election Day
Illinois offers grace period registration, which lets you register and vote in a single visit, up to and including Election Day, at designated locations. Online registration closed on October 18. Early voting continues through November 2 at some locations; in Chicago, sites in all 50 wards have been open since October 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
A mail ballot application must reach your local election authority by October 29. The ballot must be postmarked on or before Election Day and reach the election authority by November 17. Drop boxes accept ballots until 7 p.m. on Election Day, though some close earlier. Polling places on November 3 are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A summary of the deadlines is available in the Illinois Legal Aid Online guide.
What to check before you leave home
- Your registration status and polling place address. In New York and New Jersey, your early voting site may be different from your Election Day site.
- The hours for the specific day, especially in New York City, where they change from day to day.
- If you vote by mail: the postmark deadline, the deadline for the ballot to arrive and the drop box closing time.
- Always confirm details with your county or city election office, since local deadlines may differ.
Sources: New York State Attorney General – 2026 election key dates, NYC 311 – voting hours, New Jersey Division of Elections – FAQ, New Jersey – “How to Vote” flyer (PDF), Illinois Legal Aid Online, CBS Chicago – early voting in Chicago.
Polish American organizations and institutions in your area are easy to find in the Polish Pages directory.
