Though Election Day is not until Nov. 4, New York City residents can start casting their ballots during an early voting period that begins on Saturday — which is also the voter registration deadline.
The mayor’s race at the top of the ticket has been the focus for many New Yorkers. But a range of other local races are being decided, too. And don’t forget to flip the ballot over to weigh in on five citywide questions and one statewide measure.
Here’s what to know if you plan to vote early.
When can I vote early?
The early voting period begins Saturday, Oct. 25, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 2.
The opening and closing times for New York City polling places vary; they open between 8 and 10 a.m. and close between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., depending on the day. Check the Board of Elections website for specifics before you head out.
Where is my polling place?
You can look up your early voting location online. Note that it might be different from where you normally vote on Election Day.
What if I’m not registered to vote?
The deadline to register to vote in this election is Saturday, Oct. 25, the first day of early voting. You can check your voter registration status here.
Can I vote early by mail?
Registered voters can cast mail-in ballots early, but they must apply in time. The last day to apply online or by mail is on Oct. 25. You can also apply in person at your county board of elections through Monday, Nov. 3.
If you requested a mail ballot, you can drop off your completed ballot at any early voting site while the polls are open.
What if I want to vote on Election Day?
Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and voters who are in line when polls close will have the right to vote. Be sure to look up your voting location online.
Who is on the ballot?
Seven candidates will be on the ballot for mayor. The top three contenders, who have taken part in both mayoral debates, are Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman and the Democratic nominee; former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, an independent candidate running on a ballot line called Fight and Deliver; and Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels subway patrol group and the Republican nominee.
Mr. Mamdani will also be on the ballot as the Working Families Party’s nominee, and Mr. Sliwa is also running on a ballot line called Protect Animals.
Two independent candidates who suspended their campaigns in September, Mayor Eric Adams and Jim Walden, a lawyer, remain on the ballot. The remaining two candidates, Irene Estrada and Joseph Hernandez, have raised little money and did not qualify for the debates.
Voters across the city will also choose candidates for public advocate and city comptroller. There are contested races for all five borough president seats, and all 51 City Council seats will be on the ballot, though in some districts candidates are running unopposed.
In Manhattan, voters will choose a district attorney. The Democratic incumbent, Alvin L. Bragg, is running against Maud Maron, the Republican candidate and a conservative activist, and Diana Florence, a veteran of the Manhattan district attorney’s office who is running as an independent candidate.
In Brooklyn, the incumbent district attorney, Eric Gonzalez, is running unopposed.
In some areas, voters will also be asked to vote for judicial seats.
Races will vary based on where you live. You can enter your address here to find out which candidates will be on your ballot.
Are there any ballot measures to vote on?
There are six! The first, a statewide measure, would effectively amend the state constitution to allow the expansion of a winter-sports complex in Lake Placid. If approved, the measure would also require the state to buy at least 2,500 acres to add to protected land in Adirondack Park, where the facility is located.
The next three measures all pertain to housing in New York City, and they have been at the center of a showdown between the City Council and City Hall. On their face, the proposals, which were written by a Charter Revision Commission created by Mayor Adams, are meant to make it easier to build affordable housing. But the Council has argued that they are intended to curb council members’ influence over new developments in their districts.
The fifth question would consolidate the official city map. Currently, each borough maintains its own sets of maps.
The final question would clear the way for city elections to move to even-numbered years, putting them on the same schedule as presidential elections. They are currently held in odd-numbered years.
Michael Gold covers Congress for The Times, with a focus on immigration policy and congressional oversight.
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