New York City early vote jumps 60% in Hochul-Blakeman race
Over 690,000 residents cast ballots early, driven by sharp increases in Queens and the Bronx, though turnout remains below last year's mayoral election levels.
By Layla Fontaine ·
New York City recorded 690,526 early voters in the current gubernatorial election, a 59.6% increase from the 432,634 who voted ahead of time in 2022. The nine-day early voting period concluded on Sunday, setting the stage for Tuesday's contest between Governor Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Unofficial figures from the city Board of Elections confirm the surge in participation compared to the last race against Lee Zeldin.
Queens led the city in growth, with early voting jumping 83.4% to reach 162,914 voters. The Bronx followed with a 73.1% increase, rising from 39,069 in 2022 to 67,630 this year. Brooklyn maintained its status as the highest-volume borough with 219,536 early voters, a 62.3% rise from the previous cycle. Staten Island saw a 45% increase, while Manhattan recorded a 41% jump.
Registered Democrats made up 75.8% of the early electorate, while registered Republicans accounted for 10.6%. Unaffiliated voters comprised 11.4% of the total, and 2.2% belonged to other parties. These figures reflect party enrollment records rather than the specific candidate each voter supported. The data comes from an analysis of Board of Elections records.
Voters aged 50 and older represented 60.6% of those who voted early, a group that constitutes only 46.6% of registered voters in the five boroughs. Individuals aged 65 and older accounted for 34% of early ballots, while those between 50 and 64 made up 26.5%. Voters aged 35 to 49 represented 20.8% of the early turnout, and those between 18 and 34 accounted for 18.6%. Staten Island had the highest share of voters over 65 at 43%, and it was the only borough where registered Democrats and Republicans voted early in nearly equal numbers.
Despite the strong growth from 2022, citywide early voting fell short of the 2025 mayoral election, when 735,317 New Yorkers cast ballots ahead of time. This year's total represents a 6.1% decline compared to that benchmark. The Bronx was the only borough to exceed its 2025 early voting numbers, with a 15.3% increase. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens all saw decreases relative to last year's turnout.
The final day of early voting contributed heavily to the gap with 2025. On the final Sunday, 117,740 people voted early, compared to 151,212 on the last day of the 2025 cycle. Through the first eight days, citywide check-ins were only 1.9% below the pace set last year. The numbers represent in-person check-ins and do not include mail ballots or votes cast on Election Day.
Polling data indicates that affordability remains the primary concern for voters. A Quinnipiac University survey from October 21 found that 22% of likely statewide voters named the cost of living as their top issue. A Marist poll released October 28 showed that 45% of likely voters said their family finances had worsened over the past year. Hochul holds a double-digit lead in recent surveys, with a Siena poll from October 28 placing her at 54% against Blakeman's 40% statewide.
Hochul campaigned across New York City and Long Island during the final weekend, including a stop at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal on Friday. She joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at a Buffalo Bills watch party in Astoria, Queens, on Sunday. Blakeman campaigned in Harlem on Thursday and traveled to Long Island and upstate New York on Sunday. President Donald Trump held a telephone rally for New York Republican candidates on Saturday, urging supporters to vote for Blakeman.
