The New York City primary vote is a huge moment, politically speaking, every year, and is one of the moments where eyes from across the country focus on this international city, as New Yorkers cast votes, and take their civic duty to participate in shaping the future of America’s largest city.
This year of 2025 will be a big deal with the closely watched mayoral race, ranked-choice voting for the first time, and its implications for polling, early voting participation has also been a recent uptick.
Here is everything you need to know about where, when, and who can vote in this year’s primary.
Where to Cast your Vote in the New York City Primary
On June 24, 2025, registered voters in New York City will be able to cast their vote at polling sites throughout the five boroughs: Manhattan (New York County), Bronx, Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, and Staten Island (Richmond County). A voter must vote at their assigned polling location on Election Day, which could be different than their early voting location.
To find your polling location, go to the New York City Board of Elections website and enter your home address. It is important to search for your polling location as sometimes polling locations are changed by the Board of Elections from one election to the next.
Voters who have requested absentee ballots can drop off their ballots at any Board of Elections office or at their assigned Election Day voting site, but they must do so before 9 p.m. on June 24.
When to Vote
The New York City primary vote: Voters have a choice of ways to vote. Early voting was June 14–22, 2025. Times varied by day and by location, but most sites were open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
The polls for Election Day will be open Tuesday, June 24, 2025 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Anyone who is in line at 9 p.m. will be able to vote.
Absentee ballots may be returned by mail (with a postmark no later than June 24) or dropped off at a Board of Elections office or at a polling site by Election Day at 9 p.m. You do not need to put postage if you drop off your ballot.
Eligible Voters
In order to vote in the New York City primary, you must be:
- A U.S. citizen.
- A resident of New York City for at least 30 days before the election.
- At least 18 years of age by Election Day (you may pre-register at 16 or 17, but you must be 18 to vote).
- Not currently incarcerated with a felony conviction.
- Not declared mentally incompetent by a court.
- Not voting in another jurisdiction outside of New York City.
In addition, only registered members of a political party can vote in that party’s primary election. For example, a registered Democrat may vote in the Democratic primary, while a registered Republican may vote in the Republican primary. The major party primaries do not permit participation from independent or other party voters.
Candidates and What’s at Stake
This year’s New York City primary vote has an exciting and visible race for mayor, with former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, progressive State Assemblymember Zoh Mamd, and Islat Choudhary among the front-runners. The winner of the Democratic primary is reasonably assured to be the front-runner in the general election this November. New York City is heavily Democratic, and the incumbent Mayor Eric Adams is running as an Independent.
The primary ballot has additional races for city controller, public advocate, borough president, and City Council races too. Voters will be utilizing ranked-choice voting in this election, allowing them to rank a total of five candidates in an order that reflects their preferences. Ranking candidates supports a winner being one that broader support from the electorate.
A Collaborative Initiative
The New York City primary vote is beyond just a vote—it’s about community and civic engagement. Local organizations, advocacy groups, and volunteers are working hard to ensure that all eligible voters have the information and opportunities they need to vote in this election and this year’s early voting has more than doubled the numbers in 2021 with significant turnout, showing that New Yorkers are invested in their city’s future.
Above all else, the New York City primary vote is central to local democracy and provides residents with the avenue to move their city forward in the direction they envision. When voters are equipped with knowing where, when, and who can vote, every New Yorker eligible to vote can take action and influence the future of New York City.
