In just four days, New York City’s early‑voting tally has surged by roughly 70% compared with the 2022 gubernatorial cycle.
Key points
- Early voting in NYC is up roughly 70% compared with the 2022 gubernatorial election.
- The Bronx has nearly doubled its early‑voting count since 2022, leading the city‑wide surge.
- Democratic candidates currently enjoy double‑digit leads in statewide polls.
- Early voting continues through Sunday, with Election Day voting hours set from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
City Board of Elections data show that 294,604 New Yorkers have cast early ballots between Saturday and Wednesday, a rise of about 72% from the same point in the 2022 gubernatorial election and just 3,000 shy of the record set in last year’s mayoral race.
The Bronx is at the forefront of the surge, logging roughly 30,000 early votes—almost double the 16,000 recorded at the same stage in 2022. Manhattan and Brooklyn have each contributed over 80,000 early votes (82,000 and 86,000 respectively), while Staten Island and Queens each added about 2,000 more voters than they did during the previous mayoral election.
Early voting numbers surge
The heightened turnout is being read as a potential advantage for Democratic candidates in a city that leans heavily blue. Statewide registration figures show about 6 million Democrats, 3.4 million unaffiliated voters and 2.8 million Republicans, underscoring the party‑registration gap.
In the current 2026 midterm contests, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul leads Republican Bruce Blakeman by 14 points in a Siena University poll, and Attorney General Letitia James holds a 15‑point edge over Republican Saritha Komatireddy. A separate Marist poll narrows Hochul’s lead to 11 points and indicates Blakeman is ahead among independent voters.
Borough breakdown
Early voting will remain open through Sunday, and polls on Election Day (Nov. 3) are scheduled from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., giving voters ample opportunity to cast their ballots after this early‑voting boom.
Reader questions
How many early votes have been cast in NYC so far?
According to the city Board of Elections, 294,604 early ballots were cast between Saturday and Wednesday.
Which borough has seen the biggest increase in early voting?
The Bronx, with about 30,000 early votes, nearly double the 16,000 recorded at the same point in 2022.
Source: nypost.com
