If you’re a registered voter in New York City, finding and visiting one of the NYC early voting locations is one of the smartest steps you can take this election season. Early voting in the city opens Saturday, October 25, 2025, and runs through Sunday, November 2 — ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 4. This window gives New Yorkers more flexibility and helps take the pressure off on Election Day itself.
What is Early Voting in NYC?
Early voting allows eligible voters to cast their ballots in person during a specified multi-day period before the traditional Election Day. For the 2025 general election in New York City, the early voting span is nine days long — from October 25 through November 2. During that time, voters can go to their assigned early voting site to cast their vote, rather than waiting for November 4.
Here are key points:
- You must vote at your designated early voting site — it may differ from your regular Election Day location.
- The process is in-person. You sign in at your site, receive your ballot, vote, and leave — no mail-in steps needed for early voting.
- Early voting helps relieve Election Day crowds and gives voters more convenience.
Early Voting Schedule & Hours
Here’s the official early voting schedule for NYC’s 2025 general election:
| Date | Hours |
|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 25 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Sun, Oct 26 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Mon, Oct 27 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Tue, Oct 28 | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Wed, Oct 29 | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
| Thu, Oct 30 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Fri, Oct 31 | 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov 1 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Sun, Nov 2 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
Election Day on Tuesday, November 4 has polls open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. — but the benefit of early voting is that you can choose a day and time that fits your schedule.
How to Locate Your Early Voting Site
Finding your exact early voting location is easy:
- Visit the “Find My Poll Site” tool — enter your home address and ZIP code to get your assigned location.
- Check the “Early Voting Services List” and the city’s interactive map of early voting sites — these confirm your site and show if it differs from your Election Day poll.
- Note that your early voting site may be different from your Election Day site. Schools and other public facilities sometimes serve one but not the other.
It’s wise to look up your site ahead of time so you’re not scrambling on the day you plan to vote.
Why Use One of the NYC Early Voting Locations?
There are a few compelling advantages:
- Flexibility & convenience: You aren’t stuck only on Election Day. If you know you’ll be busy on November 4, early voting gives you many more options.
- Shorter lines / less stress: Especially in a large city like New York, spreading turnout across several days helps reduce wait times.
- Avoiding Election Day congestion: By voting early, you sidestep whatever traffic, parking, or scheduling headaches may arise on a busy mid-week Election Day.
- Ensuring your voice is heard: If you’re motivated to vote in a key race, early voting ensures you don’t miss out if some unforeseen event prevents you from reaching the polls on Election Day.
Rules, Deadlines & What You Should Bring
To vote at one of the NYC early voting locations, keep these essentials in mind:
- Be a registered voter in New York City. Check your registration status ahead of time.
- The voter registration deadline for the November 4 general election is Saturday, October 25, 2025. Changes of address must typically be finalized by a slightly earlier date.
- When you show up at your early voting site, bring something that shows your address if required — though most voters don’t need to show photo ID if they provided acceptable identification when registering.
- If you requested a mail (absentee) ballot but decide instead to vote in person, you must use an affidavit ballot at the polling place — you cannot simply machine-vote in that case.
- Because your polling site may differ, confirm your site and hours the morning you plan to vote. Some locations may have different hours or address changes.
What’s on the Ballot at the Early Voting Sites?
At these NYC early voting locations in 2025, voters will be casting ballots in some of the most significant local races in recent memory:
- The mayoral race, involving high-profile candidates across major parties.
- Citywide offices such as City Comptroller and Public Advocate.
- Borough-level positions like Borough President and District Attorney.
- City Council seats and a variety of ballot proposals, including issues around housing, election timing and more.
When you visit an early voting site, you’ll likely see the same ballot you’d get on Election Day — so your early vote has full weight.
Tips for a Smooth Early Voting Experience
Here are some quick suggestions to make your visit to a NYC early voting location easy and efficient:
- Check your assigned site the night before you go. Confirm address and hours.
- Go during off‐peak hours if you can (weekday mornings often mean fewer people).
- Bring proof of address if needed, and bring identification if you didn’t provide it when registering.
- Arrive early enough to allow for check-in, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the site.
- If you’re driving, allow extra travel and parking time — many sites are in busy areas.
- Ask staff or volunteers where the “early voting” station is, as layouts may differ from typical Election Day setups.
- After voting, keep your “I Voted” sticker (if given) and remind friends or family who haven’t voted yet that early voting is underway.
Key Take-aways
For New York City voters, heading to one of the NYC early voting locations offers a major advantage: more time, less stress, and full participation in the 2025 general election. The window from October 25 through November 2 gives you ample chance to fit voting into your life. By taking the step now to find your site, plan your trip, and bring the essentials, you’ll be ready when one of those early voting days arrives.
If you’d like a detailed list of early voting sites by borough, I can pull that together for you—feel free to let me know.
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We’d love to hear your experiences at early voting — drop a comment below or stay tuned for more updates and helpful guides!
