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Early voting in NYC begins Saturday. Here's what you need to know.
By
Brigid Bergin
and
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 25, 2025
Modified Oct 25, 2025
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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
By
Brigid Bergin
and
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 25, 2025
Modified Oct 25, 2025
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The polls open at 9 a.m. across the city on Saturday, giving New Yorkers their first opportunity to cast a ballot in person for mayor and other offices. Here’s what you need to know.
How long does early voting last?
There are nine days of early voting running through Sunday, Nov. 2. But the hours vary by day so be sure to check the hours before you go to vote.
Can I go to any early voting site?
Not in New York City. In the five boroughs, each voter is assigned to one early voting site. It is likely different from where you vote on Election Day. So it’s a good idea to check before you go vote.
It’s also a good idea to check out your sample ballot so there are no surprises. Want info on who and what is on the ballot? Check our voter guide.
Can I still register to vote?
Yes, Saturday is the last day to register to vote. It is also the only opportunity to register and vote on the same day. Voting rights boosters call it a 'Golden Day.'
Who is eligible to register and vote?
You must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old, not claim the right to vote somewhere else and be a city resident for at least 30 days. You also can not be in prison for a felony conviction.
How's it going?
The Brooklyn Museum is always buzzing with some of the city's most eager voters during early voting and Saturday was no exception.
Sandie Green, 54, of Crown Heights, said she'd done a lot of research for her mayoral vote and still found it a very daunting choice. An ardent critic of President Donald Trump, Green said she hopes the next mayor will protect the city from whatever the White House brings.
"It's a big half-and-half for me," said Green, declining to say who won her vote. "I'm just praying to God that whoever I voted for, that they do help us in a way — even though they can't, you know, get rid of Trump — I hope they're able to keep us secure and safe and to help fight him off."
Lizzie Leong, also of Crown Heights, said it was her first time voting in a municipal election because she was excited by Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
" I think Zohran has really energized a lot of the public and people who don't — haven't participated in local elections in previous years until now — myself included," said Leong, 40. "I've never actually voted for a mayor before."
Beyond the mayor's race, what else is on the ballot?
New Yorkers will be asked to vote for city comptroller, public advocate, borough president, City Council, district attorney in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and some judicial contests, depending where you live.
On top of that, there are six ballot questions. One statewide ballot question relates to state forest land. The next four are related to city housing development. The final question is about shifting the city’s election cycle to even years to correspond with the presidential election.
In most places the ballot is multiple pages, so remember those ballot questions will be on the back of your ballots. Don’t forget to flip your ballot over to vote on those questions.
This story has been updated with comments from voters.
Tagged
Politics
new york city
Brigid Bergin
Brigid Bergin is an award-winning senior reporter on the People and Power desk. She is fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy. In 2022, she hosted a live, ten-week call-in politics show ahead of the midterm elections called The People's Guide to Power. Brigid's reporting in 2017 included some of the first coverage of a political newcomer now known as AOC. In 2016, she broke the news of a voter purge in Brooklyn just days before New York’s presidential primary, triggering city, state and federal investigations. Brigid also guest hosts The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. She graduated from the University at Albany and the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-723-4719.
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Ryan Kost
Ryan Kost is a reporter on the day-of news desk, where he covers breaking news and writes enterprise stories about jails, courts, prosecutors and government accountability. His work focuses on the public institutions that shape life in New York. Before joining the newsroom, he lead a multi-part investigation with Columbia Journalism Investigations and New York Focus into how New York prosecutors handle wrongful conviction claims. He's also been a staff writer at The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press and The Oregonian. Got a tip? Signal: ryankost.20
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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