New York Early Voting Jumps Nearly 70% Ahead of Election Day

New York recorded 1,965,043 early votes during the nine days ending November 1, compared with 1,178,676 in 2022, according to the unofficial statewide tally. New York City’s total rose 60%, to 690,526. Upstate and suburban counties together saw an increase of about 70%, to 1,274,717 votes.

The increase was especially marked in four counties in the 21st Congressional District, where early voting more than doubled. Republican Anthony Constantino and Democrat Blake Gendebien are competing to succeed retiring Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. Vice President JD Vance campaigned with Constantino on November 2. Turnout also climbed in the Hudson Valley’s 17th District race, where Republican Rep. Mike Lawler faces Democrat Cait Conley; Rockland County’s early vote rose 81% from 2022.

Brooklyn had the most early voters among New York City’s five boroughs, with 219,536. Around 81% of those who voted early in the borough were Democrats by registration, while 7.6% were registered Republicans, though party registration does not establish how people voted. Democrats are seeking gains in several southern Brooklyn legislative districts and the city’s sole Republican-held congressional district.

State Democratic Party chair Jay Jacobs said early returns looked promising for his party. Republican chair Ed Cox said Republicans had also turned out in large numbers. Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James and state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, all Democrats, face Republican challengers. On November 3, polling places will operate from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Early Voting Surge Gives New York Democrats a Strong Opening

New York Democrats enter Election Day with a striking turnout advantage in the early vote: statewide ballots cast rose nearly 67% from 2022, and Brooklyn recorded 219,536 early voters. In the borough, 81% of early voters were registered Democrats, compared with 7.6% registered Republicans—a signal of the energy Democrats are bringing to races across the state.

The numbers could matter in southern Brooklyn, where Democrats are trying to flip three Republican-held Assembly seats and a state Senate district, as well as New York’s sole Republican-held congressional district. More registered Democrats than Republicans voted early in each contested southern Brooklyn district. In Assembly District 45, about 4,700 registered Democrats had voted early, compared with 2,100 Republicans; in District 46, the totals were more than 5,500 and 2,504.

Upstate, early voting was over twice as high in four counties in the race to replace retiring Rep. Elise Stefanik. In the Hudson Valley, turnout also climbed sharply in the contest between Republican Mike Lawler and Democrat Cait Conley. Democratic state chair Jay Jacobs called the early returns promising. Republicans may point to their own turnout, but the scale of Democratic participation gives the party a real chance to press its advantage. On November 3, polling places operate from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Early Vote Totals Don’t Decide New York’s Close Races

New York’s early voting surge is being presented as a Democratic wave, but early totals are not election results. The statewide count rose nearly 67% from 2022, and Brooklyn’s early voters were mostly registered Democrats. Yet registration does not show how anyone actually voted, and most city voters are expected to cast ballots on Election Day.

Republican state chair Ed Cox said Republicans had been encouraged to vote early and were turning out in large numbers. The stakes are clear in races such as the contest for the 21st Congressional District, where Republican Anthony Constantino faces Democrat Blake Gendebien, and the 17th District, where Rep. Mike Lawler is challenged by Cait Conley. Vice President JD Vance campaigned with Constantino on November 2, as Republicans sought to rally support.

Democrats are emphasizing their early-vote advantage in Brooklyn, including in districts where they hope to unseat Republican lawmakers. But the borough’s early totals alone cannot settle those contests, and New York’s citywide early-vote numbers do not guarantee a Democratic result. Voters still have Election Day to make their choices. On November 3, polling places will operate from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.