NYC Sees Record-Breaking Early Voting on Day One of 2025 General Election
Over 79,000 New Yorkers flocked to the polls Saturday to cast their votes in the city's first day of early voting for the 2025 general election, shattering previous records set four years ago. The sheer turnout is a testament to increased voter enthusiasm and engagement, with Brooklyn and Manhattan leading the charge.
In comparison to the first day of early voting in 2021, when just 15,418 people participated, Saturday's numbers are nothing short of remarkable. In Manhattan alone, over 24,000 voters cast their ballots, while Brooklyn and Queens tallied nearly 22,000 and 19,000 respectively. The Bronx trailed behind with 7,793 early voters, followed by Staten Island with 6,420.
The high turnout is reflective of a more involved electorate, with many New Yorkers casting their votes for the city's next mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and borough presidents, as well as some judges depending on where they live. The Brooklyn and Manhattan district attorneys are also up for grabs in the election.
Residents from Crown Heights weighed in on the importance of voting, citing the energetic campaign of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani as a driving force behind their participation. "I've never actually voted for a mayor before," said Lizzie Leong, a Crown Heights resident who cast her ballot at the Brooklyn Museum. "But I think [Mamdani] has really energized a lot of the public and people who don't have participated in local elections in previous years."
However, not all voters were as clear-cut in their support. Sandie Green, another Crown Heights resident, expressed hesitation about voting for one particular candidate, hoping that whoever wins will be able to protect the city from President Donald Trump's attacks.
Voters also had the opportunity to weigh in on six ballot questions, including ones related to state forest land, housing development, and moving the election cycle to even-numbered years. Jeffrey Stein, a Prospect Heights resident who cast his ballot Saturday, expressed concerns about curbing the authority of city lawmakers.
With the nine-day early voting period now underway, New Yorkers have until Sunday, November 2, to exercise their right to vote. For those looking for more information on the ballot or where to cast their vote, Gothamist's voter guide is a valuable resource.
Over 79,000 New Yorkers flocked to the polls Saturday to cast their votes in the city's first day of early voting for the 2025 general election, shattering previous records set four years ago. The sheer turnout is a testament to increased voter enthusiasm and engagement, with Brooklyn and Manhattan leading the charge.
In comparison to the first day of early voting in 2021, when just 15,418 people participated, Saturday's numbers are nothing short of remarkable. In Manhattan alone, over 24,000 voters cast their ballots, while Brooklyn and Queens tallied nearly 22,000 and 19,000 respectively. The Bronx trailed behind with 7,793 early voters, followed by Staten Island with 6,420.
The high turnout is reflective of a more involved electorate, with many New Yorkers casting their votes for the city's next mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and borough presidents, as well as some judges depending on where they live. The Brooklyn and Manhattan district attorneys are also up for grabs in the election.
Residents from Crown Heights weighed in on the importance of voting, citing the energetic campaign of Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani as a driving force behind their participation. "I've never actually voted for a mayor before," said Lizzie Leong, a Crown Heights resident who cast her ballot at the Brooklyn Museum. "But I think [Mamdani] has really energized a lot of the public and people who don't have participated in local elections in previous years."
However, not all voters were as clear-cut in their support. Sandie Green, another Crown Heights resident, expressed hesitation about voting for one particular candidate, hoping that whoever wins will be able to protect the city from President Donald Trump's attacks.
Voters also had the opportunity to weigh in on six ballot questions, including ones related to state forest land, housing development, and moving the election cycle to even-numbered years. Jeffrey Stein, a Prospect Heights resident who cast his ballot Saturday, expressed concerns about curbing the authority of city lawmakers.
With the nine-day early voting period now underway, New Yorkers have until Sunday, November 2, to exercise their right to vote. For those looking for more information on the ballot or where to cast their vote, Gothamist's voter guide is a valuable resource.
i mean 79k people in one day is crazy imagine if we did that for every election id be living my best life meanwhile some ppl are just over here thinking about what they wanna say on those ballot questions btw who needs six of them anyway
I'm also glad to see so many New Yorkers turning out for the local elections, including the mayoral and comptroller positions. It's going to be interesting to see how all these candidates compare to each other once the votes are counted. And can we talk about how important it is to protect our city from President Trump's attacks? 
As for those ballot questions, I'm a bit divided myself - not sure if curbing city lawmakers' power is a good idea or not... 
. I think it's awesome that Brooklyn and Manhattan are leading the charge, showing everyone what a real city turnout looks like 
. And I have to say, I'm intrigued by all the ballot questions – state forest land? That's some deep stuff for a local election 
. Can't wait to see how this whole thing plays out 
. Speaking of which, I was reading another article yesterday that said voter turnout has been increasing over the past few years... I wonder if we're seeing some kind of pattern here 
?
79k people going to vote in one day? that's crazy 
! On the other hand, some people seem a bit unsure about who to vote for, but at least they're thinking critically about the issues 
... seriously though, it's a great sign that ppl are engaged and care about making their voices heard. and it's awesome to see diverse perspectives like sandie's concerns about trump's attacks 
. it just goes to show that every vote matters, no matter who you're voting for 
. I'm definitely gonna check out that voter guide tho 
i swear, every time i try to give a coherent thought in here, it gets flagged as spam and i have to rephrase myself. can't they just chill on the moderation for one sec? 
Anyway, it's great to see all these people showing up to cast their votes. It just goes to show that voting is still important and can make a difference. Keep 'em coming, NYC! 
Can we talk about how crazy it is that 79k people went out and voted in like an hour? Like, I get excited about trying new restaurants, but this is on another level... 
! I mean, 79k New Yorkers showin' up for early voting on the first day? That's straight fire 
! And it's not just about gettin' the right person in office, it's also about shapin' the future of our city. I'm all for people bein' involved and makin' their voices heard 
.
it's crazy to see so many people turning out to make their voices heard 