Orange County Voters Change Party Enrollment by Feb. 14 for June Primary

Orange County election officials reminded registered voters that Feb. 14 is the deadline to change party enrollment if they want that change to count for the June primary. Voters who miss the cutoff will not be able to vote in a different party’s primary on June 23, and late changes “will take effect seven days after the June Primary,” the county said.

The county’s notice, headlined "Fall in Love with Your Party by Valentine's Day," explains why the deadline matters: "Primary elections are a way for political parties to choose who will be their candidates on the general election ballot in November." The Orange County government website also noted that "New York State has closed primaries, meaning that to vote in a party’s primary election, you must be an enrolled member of that party."

To accommodate last-minute changes, the Orange County Board of Elections will open its office on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM to accept enrollment updates. The county message states plainly: "Enrollment change requests must be received by the Board of Elections by February 14th to be effective for the June Primary." The Board of Elections likewise reminded voters that "Feb. 14, 2026 is the statutory deadline to change party enrollment to be eligible to vote in the June 23, 2026 primary."

Practically, that means residents planning to switch party enrollment ahead of the primary should submit a new voter registration form to the Board of Elections and make sure it is received by the office by the end of the day on Feb. 14. The county’s announcement indicates there are multiple methods to submit the form, and it is important that submissions be received by the deadline because changes arriving later will not be reflected on June 23.

The deadline will affect contests up and down the ballot. County-level contests, town and village party nominations, and leaning races for state Assembly and Senate seats are often decided in primaries when turnout is lower and party registrants have disproportionate influence. Voters who want to participate in those choices should act now to ensure their enrollment reflects their intended primary ballot.

For Orange County residents, the immediate next step is to submit any enrollment change and verify receipt by the Board of Elections before Feb. 14. With the June 23 primary approaching, that single administrative step will determine whether voters can participate in the party nominating contests that shape the November ballot.