Polls opened at 6 a.m. at voting locations in Queens and across New York City for the 2025 election, and residents are heading out to cast their ballots across the borough.
Residents have until 9 p.m. to visit their polling locations and cast their ballots. In order to find your polling location where you can vote, go to findmypollsite.vote.nyc and enter your address and ZIP Code.
Queens residents can vote in the mayoral, public advocate, and city comptroller races, as well as the local contests in the borough.
QNS will be at polling sites across the borough speaking to voters throughout the day. Stay tuned for more updates.
Mamdani votes in Queens, receives support from local voters
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani cast his ballot at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School early Tuesday morning alongside his wife Rama Duwaji.
The Queens Assembly Member has been the clear frontrunner in the election ever since winning the Democratic primary in June, when he beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo by 12 percentage points. Mamdani leads most election polls by a double-digit margin but has consistently warned against the risk of complacency. He echoed that sentiment Tuesday morning, stating that the campaign only ends at 9 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Mamdani had previously refused to commit on a number of divisive ballot proposals that would reshape how the city approves certain housing developments, transferring power from the City Council to the City Hall in a bid to stimulate developments in districts that lag far behind the city average.Mamdani was asked if he was concerned that the proposals would place too much power in the hands of the Mayor.
“That is a power like all mayoral power, this must be used to deliver for New Yorkers,” Mamdani said after voting Tuesday. “I am looking forward to working alongside the City Council in delivering the kind of investments that so often communities have been denied, to finally ensure that we understand the strength of this city be measured by the neighborhoods furthest from City Hall.”
In Mamdani’s assembly district, voters unsurprisingly broke for the Democratic nominee.
Sunny Ryoo, speaking at PS 85 the Judge Charles J. Vallone School, said she voted for Mamdani because he “feels the daily struggles” of people living in the city.”
“I think he’s the right candidate to really help New Yorkers live their best lives here,” Ryoo said.
Ryoo, a mother of a young toddler, touted Mamdani’s universal childcare as a key reason for voting for him.
“There’s a new set of struggles that I’m going through. So the fact that he is really aiming for at least affordable childcare was a really big one for me.”
Fiona Wozniak, who voted at the nearby Frank Sinatra School for the Arts High School, said she also voted for Mamdani because the assemblymember was “invested” in the community.
“He’s around town. He listens to people,” Wozniak said.
David McWilliams and Dana Devlieger, a couple who voted at the same location, said Mamdani’s campaign had offered a blue print for future Democratic campaigns.
“I know a lot of people who probably couldn’t name candidates from last time and are certainly more excited about it this time,” McWilliams said.
But there were others who expressed concerns about a potential Mamdani administration, including Bessie Rasnis, who voted for Cuomo at PS 85 due to fears over Mamdani’s public safety policies.
Mamdani has outlined ambitions to create a Department of Community Safety that would see mental health professionals respond to certain emergencies. Cuomo and Sliwa have stated that they will hire 5,000 and 7,000 new cops, respectively.
“My biggest concern is safety,” Rasnis said. “I felt that that’s not his primary concern, and I’m concerned about what may happen in terms of just feeling safe in the city. I’ve grown up here, spent my entire life and the past several years, I feel unsafe. I feel unsafe for myself, for my kids.”
Another voter at the Frank Sinatra High School, who wished to remain anonymous, said he voted for Cuomo as the “lesser of two evils,” adding that he would have voted for Sliwa if the Republican nominee was closer in the polls.
But many voters are preparing to celebrate a victory for their local community if an Astoria Assembly Member ends up in City Hall.
“I don’t know if we’re gonna have parades or anything, but that could be cute,” Wozniak said.
Voters head to the polls in District 30
At PS 88 in the heart of Ridgewood, around 300 people have already voted as of 10 a.m. Poll site workers report there’s been a steady stream of voters since the doors first opened.
One voter, Joseph Vega, has lived in Ridgewood for 50 years now, since his family moved when he was a child. Vega didn’t vote when he was younger, but has made an effort to come out and vote in each election since 2008. Vega said he voted for Mamdani because his biggest issue was the cost of living and believes Mamdani’s platform could bring the most change, even if not everything he promised is possible.
“The way I see it, the federal government is leaning one way and we need to fight it from the other side,” Vega said.
Vega also voted for Phil Wong in the District 30 City Council race, as he believes in supporting democrats down the ballot. Vega said he hopes Wong will stay true to democratic values.
Ridgewood resident Spencer Zarou visited PS 88 late in the morning and said he only voted for the mayor, as he didn’t feel informed enough to make decisions on the rest of the ballot. Zarou also voted for Mamdani, as he was impressed by idea of free childcare and freezing the rent.
“If you’re looking out for the kids, your heads in the right place, Zarou said. “I want kids one day. I didn’t grow up poor, so I don’t want my kids to grow up poor… and go through things I didn’t even have to.”
Originally from New Rochelle in the Bronx, Zarou moved to a rent controlled apartment in Ridgewood about five years ago. After some trouble with the housing, Zarou said he was unable to find another apartment in the area at the same price for he and his girlfriend.”
Rent is a crazy expense, and because we live in New York we think it’s just built in to being here, but it’s not,” Zarou said.
Cristina Amanas, who moved to Ridgewood a few years ago after growing up in Manhattan on the Upper East Side, said she was “not really a fan of either” candidate in the District 30 race.
“I feel that Phil Wong is just a Republican under the Democrat name,” Amanas said. “I believe in making the city more affordable and if billionaires are against something, that’s probably what we should support.”
Amanas believes the issues in Queens are the same as the entire city and just wants the streets to be clean and walkable for kids. But Amanas main issue is affordability, and wants New Yorkers to be able to “plant their roots” and not move from neighborhood to neighborhood based on the cost of rent.
Meanwhile, the polling site Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Academy has been heavily trafficked by voters. Poll site employees say that well over 200 people stopped by to cast their ballots.
One of the voters who spoke with QNS is an active service member in the military and must remain anonymous when discussing politics. Born and raised in Middle Village, the soldier said his biggest concern was crime and public safety, which is why he voted for Curtis Sliwa.
“He’s a true New Yorker,” he said. “People aren’t safe walking down the block anymore. Sliwa’s been around for a long time and he’s proven he can take this city and actually do what you got to do.”
The anonymous service member voted for Alicia Vaichunas for District 30 City Council, and would like her to focus on helping enforce traffic safety, as he’s noticed dangerous drivers driving the wrong way down one-way roads.
Another two voters exited the site together: John Amen and his mother, Nancy. John has lived in Middle Village his whole life, currently working as an electrician in the city, and is the son-in-law of Queens Community Board 5 Managing Director Gary Giordano. Both Nancy and John voted for Curtis Sliwa.
“A foreigner should not hold office in one of the most important cities in the world,” John Amen said. “It’s not about race or color, we need someone who was born here and understands [the city].”
John doubts Mamdani can deliver on his promises, and says they are “smoke and mirrors.” Nancy agreed after she spent over 50 years of her life living in Middle Village.
The pair said their biggest issue was public safety. Nancy believes Vaichunas can best “take care of the community” in terms of schooling and safety.
“I grew up here on 75th on the dead end road,” Nancy said. “There’s children in this neighborhood, and now there are speeding cars and scooters everywhere. If theyre going to install speed cameras, they need to chase down those on unlicensed bikes.”
Around the borough
At PS 94 in Douglaston, more than 300 residents have cast their votes as of 11:30 a.m.John Kuzmyak, who lives in the neighborhood, said he is tired of the status quo and voted for Curtis Sliwa in what he called a “divisive” mayoral race. He said he views him as an outsider — something he says is a positive thing.“I mean, obviously he’s not a career politician, but, you know, he loves the city,” Kuzmyak said of Sliwa.Among his top issues is crime, which he said he believes has risen since the 1970s. He said there’s been a general decline in quality of life in the city since he was growing up over 50 years ago.While statistics show crime is on a decline, he said he still doesn’t feel safe, especially as he gets older and is starting to walk slower.“People don’t feel safe, so it doesn’t matter what your statistics are,” he said.Kuzmyak said he thinks Mamdani is too young and inexperienced for the position, and he said former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, despite being an experienced administrator, should have dropped out of the mayoral race once he lost the primary.While he went for the Republican candidate, Kuzmyak said feels the current Republicans in office haven’t done enough for the city.“I actually sent out emails to them in the Republican Party,” Kuzmyak said. “Like, ‘You don’t do anything for NYC.’ I know you’re not going to win, but you don’t even show up… You have to play the game.”He said he hopes whoever ends up winning can tackle issues like crime and “gotcha” regulations, such as speed cameras and red light cameras, which he views as a way of generating revenue.
At the Renaissance Charter School in Jackson Heights, a neighborhood that saw several electoral districts flip blue to red during the 2024 presidential election, voters appeared split between two candidates: Mamdani and Sliwa.
Sarah Louis said she voted for Mamdani because of his consistent messaging addressing the affordability crisis in the city.
“He’s speaking towards all New Yorkers,” Louis said. “He’s speaking towards a more hopeful vision of New York, and I think we need a lot more of that from our leaders and politicians.”
Louis said there was a “misunderstanding” of the success of Mamdani’s campaign, with many people pointing toward his use of social media. However, she believes it was the messaging behind that social media campaign and Mamdani’s willingness to meet voters where they are at that has left him as the clear frontrunner.
“He was in every community. I don’t know how he was doing it, but he was everywhere.”
She added that she believed that “being genuine” was a core part of Mamdani’s campaign.
Islam Shanidul also touted Mamdani’s consistent messaging on affordability.
“He keeps saying everything is going to be affordable,” Shanidul said.
While several people have raised concerns about Mamdani’s lack of experience, Shanidul believes it is actually an advantage.
“Politicians always say something and change their mind. But this guy is new, so let’s see what happens.”
Alex Kennedy similarly believes that Mamdani holds an advantage in the race by not being a household name when he announced his candidacy last year.
“I think that having someone more like youthful who’s not a name that’s been around forever… It’s really nice.”
Chester Hicks, on the other hand, said he voted for Sliwa due to his stance on public safety.
Hicks, a retired NYPD officer, said he did not trust either Cuomo or Mamdani to deliver on safety.
“Sliwa has been active trying to keep New York City safe,” Hicks said.
He said he did not believe that Mamdani’s Department of Community Safety would have a positive impact on safety in the city.
“Who do you call when you have an urgent problem. Whether you’re getting robbed mogged during a car accident, you call the police.”
Marcia Castena said she voted for Sliwa because of his conservative policies and because she did not like Mamdani.
“We’re not communists,” Castena said.
At PS 20 in Bayside over 500 residents cast their ballots as of 1 p.m.
Tamara Bedic, a poll worker and resident of Bayside since 2007, said animal rights were among her her top issues. She said she voted for Curtis Sliwa and Vickie Paladino for their pro-animal rights positions.
Bedic said this is the first year she’s voted for Paladino, citing the council member’s sponsorship of a bill that bans carriage horses and horse-drawn cabs as a motivating factor for her decision.
“Ryder’s Law is going to ban horse-drawn carriages, and that’s important to me,” she said. “In fact, Vickie Paladino has gotten a couple of phone calls from me urging her to co-sponsor that piece of legislation.”
As for Sliwa, she said his character is what motivated her to vote for him.
“He’s a blue-collar guy, and he lives with 17 cats he rescued,” Bedic said. “His wife, Nancy, is an attorney like me. I have a lot of respect for people who walk the walk.”
Viola Francis, a resident of Bayside for 51 years, said her top issues were quality of life and safety. While she did not disclose who she voted for, she said she’s a Democrat.
“I try to stick to my beliefs,” she said of her party.
One of her main concerns is the sidewalk in front of her home in Bayside, which she said has been uprooted by a city tree. She said she’s been trying to get the issue resolved since 2016.
Calling 311 didn’t help, she said, so she reached out to Paladino’s office and the councilwoman told her she’s “on a list” to have the issue resolved.
“I’m still waiting,” she said. “I’m just gonna keep sending more pictures.”
While she waits for her sidewalk to get fixed, she noted work being done on Bell Boulevard that she was not aware of. She said she hopes whoever wins the election is more transparent about those things so she doesn’t feel out of the loop.
“Whatever improvements or changes they make, we should know,” Francis said. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
Below are the races taking place across Queens:
Mayor: Zohran Kwame Mamdani (Democrat/Working Families), Curtis A. Sliwa (Republican/Protect Animals), Andrew M. Cuomo (Fight and Deliver), Irene Estrada (Conservative), Jim Walden (Integrity), Joseph Hernandez (Quality of Life) and Eric L. Adams (Safe and Affordable/End Antisemitism).
Public Advocate: Jumaane D. Williams (Democrat/Working Families), Gonzalo Duran (Republican/Conservative/United Alliance) and Marty Dolan (The Unity).
City Comptroller: Mark D. Levine (Democrat), Peter Kefalas (Republican/Conservative) and Ismael Malave Perez (The Unity).
Borough President: Donovan J. Richards Jr. (Democrat) and Henry P. Ikezi (Republican/United Alliance).
Justices of the Supreme Court – 11th Judicial Circuit (Vote for any five): Sandra Perez (Democrat), Gary Muraca (Republican/Conservative), Ira R. Greenberg (Democrat), Richard Felix (Republican), Gary F. Miret (Democrat), Frances Y. Wang (Democrat) and Soma S. Syed (Democrat).
Queens County Civil Court Judge (Vote for any three): Sheridan C. Chu (Democrat), William David Shanahan (Republican/Conservative), Indira D. Khan (Democrat), Susan M. Silverman (Republican/Conservative), Oma D. Phillips (Democrat) and Thomas D. Barra (Republican/Conservative).
New York City Council
19th District: Benjamin Chou (Democrat) and Vickie Paladino (Republican/Conservative).
20th District: Sandra Ung (Democrat), Allen Haolun Wang (Conservative), Joseph J. Chou (Asians United/F.A.F.O.) and Steven Wang (Patriot Party).
21st District: Shanel Thomas-Henry (Democrat/Working Families) and Giovanni Enrique-Franco (Republican/United Alliance).
22nd District: Tiffany L. Caban (Democrat/Working Families).
23rd District: Linda Lee (Democrat) and Bernard Chow (Conservative).
24th District: James F. Gennaro (Democrat).
25th District: Shekar Krishnan (Democrat/Working Families), Ramses S. Frias (Republican/Conservative), Ricardo Pacheco (Safe and Affordable/Stop the Casino) and Shah S. Haque (Asians United).
26th District: Julie Won (Democrat) and John Patrick Healy (Republican/Conservative).
27th District: Nantasha M. Williams (Democrat).
28th District: Ty Hankerson (Democrat/Working Families).
29th District: Lynn Schulman (Democrat) and Jonathan Rinaldi (Republican).
30th District: Phil Wong (Democrat) and Alicia B. Vaichunas (Republican/Conservative).
31st District: Selvena N. Brooks-Powers (Democrat).
32nd District: Joann Ariola (Republican/Conservative).
34th District: Jennifer Gutierrez (Democrat/Working Families).
Judge of the Civil Court
First Municipal Court District: Juliette-Noor Haji (Democrat).
Second Municipal Court District (Vote for any two): Thomas G. Wright-Fernandez (Democrat), Stephen C. Dachtera (Republican/Conservative) and Eve Cho Guillergan (Democrat).
Fourth Municipal Court District (Vote for any two): Gail A. Adams (Democrat), Mary-Ann E. Maloney (Republican/Conservative) and Fania Jean (Democrat).
Fifth Municipal Court District: Jennifer A. Tubridy (Democrat/Republican)
In addition to voting for the candidates, Queens residents will be asked to vote on whether or not to approve six different proposals.
The first proposal is for an amendment that would allow for skiing and related trail facilities to be made on state forest preserve land. Under this amendment, the 1,039-acre site in Adirondack Park would add 2,500 acres of ski trails and related facilities.
The second proposal asks for the approval of the fast-tracking of publicly financed affordable housing in New York City. While still subject to community board review, this would significantly reduce the review time.
The third proposal calls for a simplified review when it comes to limited land-use changes, like modest amounts of additional housing and minor infrastructure projects, in an effort to further reduce the time it takes for community boards to review these plans. The final decision on whether or not to approve these projects would fall on the City Planning Commission.
The fourth proposal is for the creation of an Affordable Housing Appeals Board, consisting of the Council Speaker, the local Borough President and the Mayor. This board would review actions taken by local community councils in rejecting or changing applications for the creation of affordable housing.
The fifth proposal asks for the creation of a digital city map at the Department of City Planning in an effort to modernize operations. The current city map is paper and spans across five offices.
The sixth and last proposal calls for New York City’s primary and general election dates to be moved so that they occur in the same years as presidential elections. The purpose of this proposal is to try and increase voter participation.
