UPDATE: Low voter turnout early Tuesday as polls open in Queens for primary elections

Now that early voting is closed for the June primaries, Queens polling locations are gearing up for borough residents to vote on Tuesday, June 28.

Those who did not vote early or submit an absentee ballot will get the chance to vote for candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, state Assembly and judge of the civil circuit.

The primaries for congressional and state Senate races were delayed to Aug. 23 due to the New York State of Appeals striking down the proposed district maps earlier this year.

Here is what voters need to know before heading to the polls.

Where to vote

The Board of Elections website allows users to look up their poll site and a sample ballot by address. The site also tells voters their election/assembly district, judicial district, congressional district, senatorial district, council district, municipal court district and assembly district. Visit findmypollsite.vote.nyc for more information.

Voting is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and polling sites will not turn voters away as long as they are in line by 9 p.m.

Low voter turnout early in western Queens

While a steady stream of voters were heading to P.S. 11 in Woodside, the polling site had only 60 ballots as of 8:15 a.m.

Meanwhile, the polling site at P.S./I.S. 78Q in Long Island City had about two dozen ballots as of 9:20 a.m.

Voters headed to P.S. 11 in Woodside to cast their ballots for the 2022 primary elections on Tuesday, June 28. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

A poll worker helps a voter at P.S./I.S. 78Q in Long Island City on Tuesday, June 28. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

Stephanie Chauncey, a Queensbridge resident and coordinator at the P.S. 78 voting site, said that she was alarmed by the lack of early voting.

“This is your community. Have a voice,” Chauncey said. “Have a voice for your children, [and] for the seniors if you feel some type of way. We need to be out here — our lives depend on it.”

Chauncey mentioned gun violence as one of the many issues that concern her locally.

Stephanie Chauncey, a Queensbridge resident and coordinator at the P.S. 78 voting site, said that she was alarmed by the lack of early voting. (Photo by Julia Moro)

“It’s summertime and I know the seniors want to be outside,” Chauncey said. “[Shootings] can happen during the day when everybody’s out. This is the condition of our city, our state [and] our world.”

Chauncey said that state Assembly District 37 candidate Brent O’Leary to be her preferred choice to win the Democratic primary.

“[O’Leary] does extraordinary work in the community and not just the waterfront communities, in all of District 37,” Chauncey said. “I want to see people come into office that are really going to do the work.”

Assembly candidate Brent O’Leary campaigns outside P.S./I.S. 78Q in Long Island City. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

O’Leary started his day campaigning outside P.S./I.S. 78Q and while turnout seemed low this morning, he said he was “expecting a lot of people to come out tonight.”

“I’m feeling very good,” O’Leary told QNS. “We have a good message. We have a great team. I think it’s resonated with the people of this district, so we’re looking forward to the results tonight.”

Poll workers help a voter during the Democratic Primary election at Queens Public Library at Elmhurst on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

Meanwhile, at around 12 p.m. at PS 11, Elizabeth Morales, a District 37 voter, said she voted for every woman on her ballot. After the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, she felt it was necessary to put more women in positions of power.

“We need women in power, men do anything they want and they don’t know anything,” Morales said. “We have to do something for our lives. I never vote in the primary, but now I’m always going to vote because we have to choose the right candidates. We deserve to have the right to do whatever we want with our bodies.”

Maria Ribas said she voted for State Assembly candidate Ramón Cando, but besides that, also prioritized voting for women.

“We need more women representing us,” Ribas said.

Voters take to the polls for the Democratic Primary election at P.S. 69 in Jackson Heights on Tuesday, June 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

Matt, another D37 voter, said he would be voting for Juan Ardila, since he liked his endorsements and involvement in the community. Matt lives near 54th and Roosevelt Avenue and said he’s most concerned about gentrification and rising rents.

“Between 54th and Roosevelt I’m noticing a lot of development and luxury apartments going up,” Matt said. “I’ve been here for about three years, before that I lived in Astoria and just couldn’t afford it anymore.”

Who’s on the ballot?

Governor: Kathy Hochul (D), Julianne Williams (D), Thomas Suozzi (D), Paul Nichols (D); Lee Zeldin (R), Rob Astorino (R), Derrick Gibson (R), Andrew Giuliani (R), Harry Wilson (R)

Lieutenant Governor: Antonio Delgado (D), Ana Maria Archila (D), David Englert (D), Diana Reyna (D); Alison Esposito (R)