West Point, New York Public Records

Registration deadlines require voters to register at least 25 days before an election. Acceptable identification includes a driver's license, non-driver ID, or the last four digits of a Social Security number for online registration, though new voters may need to provide proof of identity when voting for the first time. The community has no municipal government or city elections due to its status as a federal military reservation; residents vote only in federal, state, and county elections. The Town of Highlands holds town board and supervisor elections in odd-numbered years, but military reservation residents' participation depends on their residency status. Military personnel stationed there may choose to maintain legal residence in their home states or establish New York residency. Residents find their assigned polling place through the New York State Board of Elections polling place locator at https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ by entering their address. Most vote at Highland Falls Elementary School or Highland Falls Middle School depending on their specific district assignment. New York's election records accessible to the public include voter registration lists (available to candidates and political committees with restrictions), campaign finance disclosures through the New York State Board of Elections at https://publicreporting.elections.ny.gov/, candidate filing information, and precinct-level election results. Individual voter history showing whether someone voted, not how they voted, is considered public but access is restricted. In the November 2024 presidential election, Orange County reported approximately 190,000 registered voters with turnout of approximately 67%, or roughly 127,000 ballots cast, reflecting New York's competitive suburban voting patterns. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters in the area will decide the New York gubernatorial race (Governor Kathy Hochul's seat is up in 2026), all 150 New York State Assembly seats including District 99 which represents the community, State Senate District 42, Orange County Executive, County Legislature seats, District Attorney, County Clerk, and various town positions for Highlands. No U.S. Senate seat from New York is scheduled for 2026 (next Senate election is 2028). Local voters may also decide on state and county ballot propositions. New York offers absentee voting; applications are available at https://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingAbsentee.html and must be received by the Orange County Board of elections at least seven days before the election (or postmarked by that date). Absentee ballots can be requested for specific reasons including illness, disability, being out of the county on election day, or permanent absentee status for voters with disabilities. Early voting in New York runs for nine days prior to Election Day at designated early voting sites; Orange County typically operates approximately 8-10 early voting locations. Military and overseas voters use the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) for absentee ballot requests through the Federal Voting Assistance Program at https://www.fvap.gov/.