New York City voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4 to make their choices in competitive races for major seats, including mayor.

Here’s everything you need to know before you cast your ballot.

When is the deadline for a new voter to register?

The last day to register to vote in person is Oct. 25. Applications to register by mail must be received by that date as well.

How do I find my polling place?

If you’re a New York City voter, you can enter your address at https://vote.nyc/page/find-your-poll-site to find your early voting and Election Day polling place. Note that your early voting polling place could be different from your Election Day polling place.

The New York City Board of Elections recommends double-checking your polling place.

When can I vote early in the election?

Early voting starts Saturday, Oct. 25 and ends Sunday, Nov. 2. Here’s what you need to know about voting early and voting by mail.

What’s on my ballot?

There’s already a competitive list of candidates running for mayor. Those vying for the position include Queens state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate; Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate; and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent.

Mamdani won a crowded Democratic primary in June in what was seen as an upset victory over Cuomo. Sliwa did not have a Republican primary opponent.

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams ended his reelection campaign in late September. He plans to serve the rest of his term, which ends at the end of the year.

Independent candidate Jim Walden also dropped out of the mayor’s race. Adams and Walden will remain on the general election ballot.

In the race for Public Advocate, the incumbent, Jumaane Williams, faces a challenge from Gonzalo Duran, a Republican.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, a Democrat, is going head-to-head with Republican Peter Kefalas in the race for city comptroller.

There are also elections for many City Council seats, four borough president seats and for Manhattan district attorney, as well as elections in all five boroughs for some civil court judgeships.

Aside from electing local officials into office, voters will also weigh in on five proposed changes to the city’s charter.

If you are registered to vote and provided ID when you registered, you do not need ID or any other documentation when you go to vote, according to New York state law. If you did not provide an ID when you first registered, you can still vote at a polling location with an affidavit ballot. 

Can I register to vote online?

Yes. New York City residents who do not have a driver’s license, permit or non-driver ID can now register to vote online through the city Board of Elections website. You can register to vote online at https://e-register.vote.nyc/. The online application allows residents to register to vote for the first time, change the name or address on their voter registration, become a member of a political party and/or change party membership.

If you have a valid New York state driver’s license, permit or non-driver ID, you will be directed to use the New York state DMV’s Electronic Voter Registration Application to either register to vote or update your voter registration. Non-New York City residents will be directed to the state Board of Elections website.

To register, you must be 18 years old by the end of this year, not be in prison for a felony conviction, not claim the right to vote anywhere else and not be found to be “incompetent” by the court. According to the state, a person convicted of a felony is allowed to vote once released, even if they are on parole or have a term of post-release supervision.

The deadline to register for the November general election is Oct. 25. Applications must be received no later than that date to be eligible to vote in the general election.

Can I take time off work to vote?

New York state law mandates that voters with certain schedules that conflict with polling location hours get two hours of paid time off if they do not have “sufficient time to vote.”

“Sufficient time to vote” is defined by the state Board of Elections as four hours before or after your work shift. 

The example the state provides is that a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. employee whose polling location is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. would not be eligible for mandatory paid time off because they would have four hours after their shift to vote. However, if the shift in that scenario went from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., employers would be required to provide paid time off because the employee would only have three hours before and after their shift. 

Employees are required to give their employers two working days’ notice if they need to take paid time off to vote. Employers cannot require employees to use any of their personal time or other earned leave time to vote.

If employers refuse or fail to provide an employee with paid time off in circumstances where it is required, the state recommends speaking with a private attorney or contacting the following agencies: 

For Wage Payment Purposes:

New York State Department of Labor
Division of Labor Standards
Bldg. 12, Rm. 185C,
State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12240
Tel. 888-4-NYSDOL (469-7365)

OR

New York State Attorney General’s Office Labor Bureau
28 Liberty St.
New York, NY 10005
Tel. (212) 416-8700 

For election law purposes, the state advises voters to contact their county Board of Elections.

Voting early by mail

Registered voters are now allowed to obtain early mail voting ballots by applying to the city Board of Elections, thanks to the New York Early Mail Voter Act.

All registered voters are eligible to apply for an early mail ballot.

There are several ways to apply for the early voting ballot: Use the online Ballot Request Application portal, go in person to your local county Board of Elections, or allow another person to deliver the application in person to the local county Board of Elections. For voters with a print disability, apply by using the online Accessible Ballot Application.

Applications submitted by mail need to be received by your county Board of Elections no later than 10 days before the election in order for a voter to be eligible to vote in the November general election.   

To apply virtually, voters can go to the online Ballot Request Application. The last day to apply online is also Oct. 25. The day before the general election — Monday, Nov. 3 — is the last day in-person applications can be submitted.

The last day to mail an early mail ballot or to submit in-person by your designated representative is Tuesday, Nov. 4. If mailed, it must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received Tuesday, Nov. 11.

How do I apply for an absentee ballot?

The last day to apply for an absentee ballot online or by mail is Oct. 25. The last day to apply in person at your county Board of Elections is Nov. 3.

To find the New York state absentee ballot applications for English and Spanish, visit the city’s website or the state’s website.

To apply virtually, voters can go to the online Ballot Request Application.

Applications submitted by mail need to be received by your county Board of Elections no later than 10 days before the general election in order for a voter to be eligible to vote in the election. 

In-person applications can be submitted up to the day before the general election.

General election day, Nov. 4, is the last day for an absentee ballot to be mailed or submitted in person by a designated representative. 

Who qualifies for an absentee ballot?

According to the city and state Board of Elections, the following groups of registered voters qualify:

  • Absent from New York City on election days
  • Unable to go to the polls due to illness or disability, or because they are the primary caregiver of someone who is ill or physically disabled
  • A resident or patient at a VA hospital
  • In jail or prison for any reason, unless they were convicted of a felony

I’m a military service member, merchant marine, a military or merchant marine family member living away from their voting district, or a citizen living outside the United States and I need an absentee ballot, but I’m not registered to vote.

Oct. 25 is the last day for unregistered voters who qualify for an absentee ballot to apply.

How do I vote with an absentee ballot or an early mail ballot?

Fill out your ballot like you would any ballot, following the instructions included. Make sure you sign and date the security envelope before returning your ballot.

Both ballots can be mailed back, dropped off at either an early voting or election day poll site during those poll sites’ operating hours, or dropped off at a local Board of Elections office before or on Election Day. If you are mailing it, the ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and received by Nov. 11.

What if I requested an early mail or absentee ballot but want to vote at the polls?

You can, but you will be given an affidavit ballot instead of being able to use a polling machine so the Board of Elections can first determine if you are an eligible voter. This was a change adopted in New York state in 2021 after chaotic ballot counting in a 2020 upstate congressional race delayed the race being called for months.

What happens if I’m turned away at the poll?

There are a few reasons you could arrive at your polling place and be told you can’t vote.

First, double-check you’re at the right polling place by visiting https://vote.nyc/page/understanding-ballot. If you are and are still being turned away, it is possible you may not have registered in time or, if you recently moved, you haven’t changed your registration to your current address.

Ask poll workers to check if you are registered to vote in another borough. If poll workers cannot help, contact or visit your local elections office, which can be found here.

It is also possible you have been marked an inactive voter, either in error by the Board of Elections or because you have not voted in two consecutive federal elections over the course of five years. 

If you are still being told you are not on the voter rolls, you can request an affidavit ballot from a poll worker. Filling out this ballot will allow you to attest you are eligible to vote and participate in the election. The city’s Board of Elections will then verify whether you are eligible or not. If you are, your vote will be counted. If not, they will contact you with a notice you are not eligible and paperwork for you to register for future elections.

Who can I call if poll workers or others are obstructing me from voting?

If you face issues at the polls that cannot be solved by calmly and clearly communicating with poll workers on the ground, you have several options.

Government agencies that can help you exercise your right to vote:

  • New York Election Hotline: (866) 390-2992
  • The U.S. Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline: 1-800-253-3931

A coalition of civil rights groups have also put together a series of multilingual hotlines that can help with each step of the voting process:

Does my vote matter?

Yes. Voter turnout in New York is notoriously low, adding extra weight to the votes of New Yorkers who do show up to the polls.

If you’re a first-time voter or unsure how the process works, voting in person may be easier because poll workers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. 

Can I check poll wait times online?

No. The city and the state do not currently offer the ability to check poll wait times online.

Can I bring my dog or cat to a polling station?

Pet owners are generally discouraged from bringing their pet or any animal to the polls, unless they help with accessibility.