New York City voters can begin casting their ballots early starting Saturday, Oct. 26, with early voting continuing through Sunday, Nov. 3.
While the presidential race headlines this election, several significant city- and state-level decisions await voters. New Yorkers must know about the election timeline, voting requirements, and key ballot proposals.
Key Dates
Saturday, Oct. 26
– Early voting opens citywide through Nov. 3.
– Deadline for voter registration applications to reach the Board of Elections (BOE) by mail, in person, or online.
– Deadline for the BOE to receive requests for early mail or absentee ballots via email, fax, mail or the online portal (in-person deadline: Nov. 4).
Sunday, Nov. 3
– Last day of early voting.
Monday, Nov. 4
– Last day to apply in person for an early mail or absentee ballot.
Tuesday, Nov. 5
– Election Day— polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (voters in line by 9 p.m. can still vote).
– Last day to postmark early mail or absentee ballots and deliver in person at BOE offices or poll sites.
Polling Hours
For early voting, polls are open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, with extended hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) on weekdays. On Election Day, Nov. 5, polls operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Who Can Vote
To vote in New York City, residents must be U.S. citizens, residents of the city for at least 30 days, and at least 18 years old by Nov. 5. Those ruled mentally incompetent by a court or currently incarcerated for a felony are ineligible to vote.
Voter Registration
New York City residents can check their voter registration status online or by calling 1-866-868-3692.
New Yorkers can register to vote online, by mail or in person. You can also register online here or through TurboVote and the DMV.
Where to Vote
You can search for your polling place, check accessible entrances and look up what districts you are in here. Note: your polling site for early voting may be different than the one for Election Day.
What’s on the Ballot
Alongside the presidential vote, New Yorkers will elect state representatives, including a Senate seat held by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Additionally, voters will consider six ballot proposals, one statewide and five specific to New York City.
You can look up a sample ballot on the city BOE’s website or on Ballotpedia.
Ballot Proposals
New York City voters will encounter six ballot proposals on the back of the ballot addressing issues ranging from anti-discrimination protections to city budget processes and public safety measures. Here is a short guide on the proposals and what a “Yes” or “No” vote means for each one.
Proposal 1: Expanding Anti-Discrimination Protections
Would add protections against discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, sex and more to the State Bill of Rights, including protections related to reproductive healthcare.
Yes: Adds protections to the State Constitution’s Bill of Rights to prevent discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, sex and reproductive healthcare.
No: Leaves existing anti-discrimination laws unchanged in the State Constitution.
Proposal 2: Cleaning Public Property
Grants the Department of Sanitation increased authority over city-owned properties, including parks and highways, and allows regulation of garbage collection practices and vendor compliance.
Yes: Increases the Department of Sanitation’s authority to maintain city property, regulate trash disposal and enforce vendor rules.
No: Keeps the Department of Sanitation’s current authority as is, without the expanded powers for city property upkeep.
Proposal 3: Fiscal Estimates and Budget Deadlines
Requires cost estimates for proposed laws from both the City Council and the Mayor’s Office before votes, along with revised deadlines for budget reports during new mayoral administrations.
Yes: Requires cost estimates from both the City Council and the Mayor’s Office for proposed laws, along with new budget report deadlines.
No: Maintains current budget processes, leaving the existing cost estimation and budget deadlines unchanged.
Proposal 4: Public Safety Legislation Notice
Mandates a 30-day notice period before votes on laws affecting public safety departments, giving the Mayor and agencies time for additional hearings and public input.
Yes: Imposes a 30-day notice before voting on public safety-related laws, allowing additional time for public hearings.
No: Leaves current notice and voting timelines for public safety legislation unchanged.
Proposal 5: Capital Planning
Ensures that city facilities and infrastructure maintenance costs are assessed and publicly reported in capital planning documents.
Yes: Requires the city to assess maintenance costs for facilities and infrastructure in capital planning reports.
No: Keeps the current capital planning process, without the requirement for detailed maintenance assessments.
Proposal 6: MWBE Support, Film Permits, and Archive Boards
Proposes the creation of a Chief Business Diversity Officer to support MWBEs, gives the Mayor authority to designate film permit issuers and combines two boards managing city records.
Yes: Establishes a Chief Business Diversity Officer, shifts film permit issuance to the Mayor’s discretion, and merges two city archive boards.
No: Retains the current structures for MWBE oversight, film permit authority and separate archive boards.
The public can view arguments for and against each proposal in the online Voter Guide.
