NYC Early Voting Opens Saturday, With Stickers, a Governor's Race and Five Ballot Questions

NYC Early Voting Opens Saturday, With Stickers, a Governor's Race and Five Ballot Questions

Nine days of early voting, ending November 1

Early in-person voting in New York City runs from Saturday, October 24 through Sunday, November 1, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. All registered city voters will see the races for governor, state comptroller and state attorney general on their ballots, along with members of Congress and state legislators — plus five proposed city charter amendments printed on the back of the ballot that need only a simple majority to pass.

A Halloween sticker and a first-ever Marathon Sunday sticker

The city's Board of Elections is using two limited-edition "I Voted" stickers to lure voters to the polls on specific days. Those who vote in person on October 31 get an orange Halloween sticker decorated with cobwebs and ghouls, an update of the board's classic Halloween design. Those who vote on November 1, Marathon Sunday, receive a first-ever New York City Marathon-themed sticker. PIX11 reports the board previewed the designs with Deputy Executive Director Vinnie Ignizio, and that a "future voter" sticker will also be handed out to children who accompany their parents to poll sites.

Governor's race polls disagree: a 4-point gap or 14

The marquee contest is the governor's race between Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive. A GOP internal survey reported by the New York Post puts Hochul ahead by just 4.4 points, 50.3% to 45.9%. But a Quinnipiac University poll released October 21 and reported by JNS gives Hochul a 14-point lead, 55% to 41%, powered by women voters who back her 60% to 35%, while men split almost evenly at 49% to 48%. Campaign cash is lopsided: Hochul and the state Democratic Party reported $22 million on hand, well ahead of Blakeman's camp, according to VINnews.

Five charter amendments take aim at red tape

All five ballot proposals come from the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), convened by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in May 2026. Epicenter NYC reports the commission held 10 public hearings over the summer, drawing more than 1,200 attendees, 264 live witnesses and over 600 written comments. The proposals would streamline approvals for outdoor dining and major street projects, let the Transportation Department start work while notifications go out, set a 12% of tax revenues target for the city's rainy-day reserve, and create a centralized construction-permitting hub. The mayor's office estimates the outdoor dining process would shrink to two months, roughly a 75% cut.

Hours shift day to day, and there is no voting November 2

Early voting hours vary by day, NBC New York and amNewYork report: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 24, 25, 26, 30 and 31 and November 1; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 27 and 28; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on October 29. There is no early voting on Monday, November 2. On Election Day, polls are open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters must use their assigned early voting site, one of 157 citywide, and should check the schedule before going.

Registration and online mail-ballot requests both end October 24

Saturday is a triple deadline: new voter registration and online or mailed requests for mail ballots all close October 24. Voters who miss it can still apply in person at their borough Board of Elections office through November 2, and voted mail ballots must be postmarked by November 3 and received by November 10. Attorney General Letitia James issued guidance reminding New Yorkers of their right to vote free of intimidation or interference.