New York abstained from the July 2, 1776 vote on independence.
The Second Continental Congress voted on the Lee Resolution, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies should be free and independent states. Twelve colonial delegations voted in favor, while New York abstained because its delegates had not yet received authorization from the New York Provincial Congress.
New York's abstention did not prevent Congress from approving the resolution. On July 9, the colony's delegates received permission to support independence, and the news reached Congress several days later. The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, before that authorization arrived.
This episode helps explain why the vote for independence and the adoption of the Declaration are dated differently. July 2 marked the formal approval of the independence resolution, while July 4 marked approval of the document explaining and announcing the decision.