Calling all New Yorkers: It’s time to choose your Congress members, governor and state legislators — and decide the fate of five ballot proposals backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Whom you can vote for and where you can vote depends on where you live. All registered voters in New York City will have the gubernatorial, state comptroller and state attorney general races on their ballots, as well as the five proposed city charter amendments. Early voting kicks off Saturday, Oct. 24, with Election Day on Nov. 3.
Voters who head to the polls on Oct. 31 or Nov. 1 can get special edition “I Voted” stickers, according to the city Board of Elections.
One is a spooky sticker — orange and decked out in cobwebs and ghouls —for those who vote in person on Halloween. The other is a sporty sticker for those who trek to their poll sites on the day of the New York City Marathon.
Whether you plan to vote early, on Election Day, in person or by mail, here’s what you need to know for the general election.
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When Is Election Day 2026?
Election Day is Nov. 3, but early voting begins Saturday morning on Oct. 24 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 1. During early voting, polls will mostly be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — except on Oct. 27 and 28, during which they’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Oct. 29, they’ll be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Early voting will not take place on Nov. 2, the Monday immediately prior to Election Day.
Where Do I Vote?
Find your poll site here. But double-check the location before heading over, as your early voting site may not be the same as your Election Day voting site.
When Can I Vote on Election Day?
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Public schools, which are often used as poll sites, will hold classes via remote learning.
Who’s on the Ballot?
It depends on where in the city you live, but a few races on the ballot are statewide.
All New Yorkers will vote for governor. Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, is facing off against Republican Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County’s executive. To learn more about the candidates, tune into their debate from earlier this month.
Other statewide races include comptroller — where incumbent Democrat Thomas DiNapoli is running against Republican Joseph Hernandez — and attorney general, where incumbent Letitia James, a Democrat, is going up against Republican Saritha Komatireddy.
New York City voters will elect their congressional representatives, state senators and state Assembly members.
To know exactly what races you’ll be voting on, and who the candidates are, enter your address here to view your sample ballot.
What’s on the Ballot?
Five proposed amendments to the city charter are on ballots citywide. These ballot questions were crafted and approved by Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency earlier this year and need a simple majority to pass.
They’re mostly part of the mayor’s initiative to cut red tape for infrastructure projects and small businesses. The first four proposals seek to speed up the approval processes for outdoor dining permits, city contracting, bike and bus lanes and more. The fifth sets a goal for how much money should be kept in the city’s financial reserves: at least 12% of the previous year’s tax revenue.
City Hall ads encouraging New Yorkers to vote on the proposals — and arguably suggesting they vote yes on them — caught some flack this week for potential “electioneering,” or using public funds to encourage voters to take a stance on a particular politician or proposal.
Local good-government nonprofit Citizens Union said it’s hard to tell whether the ads count as electioneering because, while the city charter prohibits that practice, no one has been given the authority to enforce it.
“The law bars using government funds for communications designed to urge the public to support or oppose a referendum question, but whether a given ad meets that test is a judgment call — and no one in New York City is assigned to make it,” Citizens Union Executive Director Grace Rauh said.
The Mamdani administration said the digital and TV ads are part of a “public education campaign” about the ballot questions.
For more information on the proposals, read our guide here.
How Do I Register To Vote or Find Out if I’m Already Registered?
You can check if you’re registered to vote through the city Board of Elections’ registered voter search. If you’re a U.S. citizen, a New York City resident of 30 or more days, and will be 18 or older on Election Day, you can register to vote here. The form to register by mail is available here.
The last day to register to vote in person or by mail is Saturday, Oct. 24.
Can I Mail in a Ballot?
To request an early mail, absentee or accessible ballot, apply here. You can also find more information on military voting and track your ballot request there.
While the last day to apply online is Oct. 24, you can apply in person at your county board of elections until Nov. 2.
What Do I Do if There’s a Disruption at my Poll Site?
“Don’t leave without voting,” Rauh said. “Ask a poll worker for help first.”
If you’re in line when the polls close, you should be able to cast your ballot.
You have the right to cast an affidavit ballot if your name isn’t on the poll book. You can also call the city Board of Elections at 1-866-VOTE-NYC with any questions.
How Can I Check the Results?
The city’s election board will post unofficial results on its website after the polls close on Election Night. And stay tuned for The City Reporter’s analysis and follow-up reporting.
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