Deadline to Change Political Party Affiliation is This Saturday

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Registered voters in Cortland County, New York who want to change their political party affiliation must do so by this Saturday, February 14, in order to be eligible to vote in the closed primary elections on June 23. The Board of Elections office will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accept enrollment change requests, and voters can also submit changes online or by mail as long as they are received by the deadline.

Why it matters

New York's primary elections are closed, meaning only voters registered with a specific party can participate in that party's primary. The deadline to change party affiliation is an important one for voters who want to have a say in who their party's nominees will be in the general election.

The details

Voters have until February 14 to change their party affiliation with the Cortland County Board of Elections. Those who miss the deadline will have to wait until 7 days after the June 23 primary election to have their enrollment change processed. The Board of Elections office will be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accept in-person requests, and voters can also submit changes online or by mail as long as they are received by the 14th.

• The deadline to change party affiliation is this Saturday, February 14, 2026.
• The June 23, 2026 primary election in New York is a closed primary, meaning only voters registered with a specific party can participate in that party's primary.

What’s next

Voters who miss the February 14 deadline will have to wait until 7 days after the June 23 primary election to have their party affiliation change processed.