Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Love a primary election? Deadline to change your party affiliation is Feb. 14
By
Brigid Bergin
Published Feb 10, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Elizabeth Kim / Gothamist
By
Brigid Bergin
Published Feb 10, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York state voters who want to participate in the upcoming midterm primary elections can write a love letter to democracy in the form of changing their party affiliation.
Voters have until Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14th, to change their party status. Those who want to update it online have until Friday, Feb. 11th.
Those deadlines are for currently registered voters to either switch to a different party, or move from being registered as a so-called “blank” or non-affiliated voter, to being a party member.
New York State runs a closed primary system so participation is limited to voters who are registered members of a political party, which more often than not means registering as a Republican or Democrat. By joining a party, a registered New York voter can secure access to the June primary elections.
New Yorkers can also register as a member of a third party, but only registered party members can vote in their party’s respective primary. For example, if one joined the Working Families or Conservative parties, they would still not be able to vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries.
The primary election this year will be held on June 28th, preceded by nine days of early voting from June 18th through June 26th. Federal and state contests will be on the ballot this year, beginning with the primary contests. There are already early rumblings about competitive congressional and state legislative primaries across the region thanks to newly drawn district maps.
For now, here’s the information on how New Yorkers can update their voter registration to participate in the upcoming primary elections.
Who does this deadline apply to?
If you are already registered to vote, but you want to change or join a political party. Check your voter registration status here.
Can I fill the form out online?
Currently, the only way to update your voter registration information online is through the state Department of Motor Vehicles website. That system transfers information gathered on its website to your local Board of Elections office (BOE), so it has set an earlier deadline for any changes to voter registration information. That deadline is Friday, Feb. 11th.
To update your voter registration information online, you need to have the following information: a New York State DMV issued driver license, permit or non-driver ID; the ZIP code on file with the DMV and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Wait, isn’t the deadline to update this information Feb. 14th?
Yes, but the information needs to be received by the BOE by that date. You can also print out a voter registration form and drop it off at a local BOE office by close of business on Monday. Any voter registration forms received after won’t take effect until after the June primary.
What if I am not registered to vote at all yet?
This deadline is only to change party affiliation. People who are not registered to vote can register up until June 3rd if they want to participate in the primary election.
Tagged
new york state
elections
Brigid Bergin
Brigid Bergin is an award-winning senior reporter on the People and Power desk. She is fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy. In 2022, she hosted a live, ten-week call-in politics show ahead of the midterm elections called The People's Guide to Power. Brigid's reporting in 2017 included some of the first coverage of a political newcomer now known as AOC. In 2016, she broke the news of a voter purge in Brooklyn just days before New York’s presidential primary, triggering city, state and federal investigations. Brigid also guest hosts The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. She graduated from the University at Albany and the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-723-4719.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man accused of pushing ex-girlfriend and baby from Bronx balcony pleads not guilty
Nathaly Ramirez died from the fall, while the baby survived.
By
Samantha Max
Published Nov 4, 2026 at 1:50 p.m. ET
Rain in NYC and NJ will end weeks-long stretch of beautiful weather
Starting Thursday, the vibes are expected to shift.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
Rain in NYC and NJ will end weeks-long stretch of beautiful weather
Starting Thursday, the vibes are expected to shift.
By
Catalina Gonella
Strand Bookstore admits it took a pandemic loan despite being ineligible
By
Sonia Rao
Incumbents booted from Jersey City school board after years of dysfunction
By
Michael Sol Warren
Early Addition: We're not getting Trump's $5,000 checks but we are getting Rep. Anthony Constantino
By
James Ramsay
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .