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Early voting for special election of New York’s third congressional district starts Feb. 3

special election
File photo by Paul Frangipane

Early voting for the special election for New York’s third congressional district will begin Saturday, Feb. 3 and will run through Feb. 11.

Voters in the district, which covers eastern Queens and the northern section of Long Island, will have several voting sites to choose from as they cast their ballots for either Democrat Tom Suozzi or Republican Mazi Pilip. Those interested in voting early can search for their nearest polling locations at https://findmypollsite.vote.nyc/.

CD3 candidates: Former Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) and Nassau County Legislator Mazi Melesa Pilip (R-Great Neck)

This special election will decide who will take over as the district’s representative following the expulsion of George Santos from Congress on Dec. 1.

Suozzi was the representative for the district prior to Santos, serving in that role from 2017 through Jan. 3, 2023. He decided not to seek reelection in 2022 in order to run to be governor, but lost to Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary. Now, he hopes to reclaim his position representing the district.

Pilip was elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2021 to represent Long Island’s 10th District, which is just east of Queens. By defeating four-term Democratic incumbent Ellen Birnbaum, Pilip became the first Republican from Great Neck to be elected as a Nassau County Legislator.

Among the Queens neighborhoods within New York’s third congressional district are Little Neck, Whitestone, Glen Oaks, Floral Park and Queens Village.

The deadline to request early mail and absentee ballots is Feb. 12, while the deadline to return these ballots is Feb. 13. The special election day is Feb. 13, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.