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New York City is about to pick its next mayor—and this one’s not a sleepy civics quiz. After a noisy primary season and a final debate that seems to have actually moved a few needles, the race heads to the finish line with early voting starting tomorrow, October 25, and Election Day on November 4.
Your ballot won’t just feature the headline bout for City Hall, a toss-up between Zohran Mamdani, Andrew M. Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa: you’ll also weigh in on public advocate, comptroller, borough presidents, City Council seats and a handful of ballot proposals that shape how the city runs.
If you’re feeling a little “Wait, where do I go and when does it open?,” you’re not alone. Polling sites can shift between early voting and Election Day, with varying hours as well. Yes, you can still register and vote by mail under specific deadlines.
Below, we’ve broken down the essentials: when to vote, how early voting works, where to find your site, what’s on the ballot and when results are likely to land, so you can spend less time doomscrolling and more time making it count.
When do I vote?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and city poll sites are typically open from 6am to 9pm.
How does early voting work?
New York City offers nine days of early voting from Saturday, October 25, through Sunday, November 2, with hours that vary by day (think 9am–5pm most days, late nights on October 28–29 and an earlier close on October 31). Your early site may be different from your Election Day site—check before you go.
Can I still register to vote?
Yes, but the clock is ticking. The registration deadline for the general election is tomorrow, October 25. You can register online, by mail or in person.
Unsure of your status? You can actually look it up.
Where is my polling place?
Use the city’s official Poll Site finder to see your early-voting location, your Election Day site and a sample ballot for your address. Double-check, as locations can change between elections.
Can I vote by mail?
You’ve got options. To receive a ballot by mail, the last day to apply online or by mail is October 25; you can still apply in person through Monday, November 3. Return it by mail with a postmark no later than November 4 or drop it off at any NYC poll site (during early voting or on Election Day) or at your borough BOE office by 9pm on November 4.
What’s on the ballot?
The marquee race is for mayor, plus citywide offices like public advocate and comptroller, borough presidents, City Council seats and several ballot proposals. You can preview your exact ballot via NYC Votes.
Is the general election ranked-choice?
No. NYC uses ranked-choice voting for primary and special elections for local offices—not the general. That means the highest vote-getter on November 4 wins.
When will we know the results?
Expect unofficial results on Election Night once precincts report; final certified results come after canvassing and counting all eligible mail, affidavit and military ballots. (Mail ballots postmarked by November 4 can still arrive after Election Day and be counted.) Translation: We’ll likely know a winner overnight, but the official stamp will come later.
And because we love a tidy summary, here’s the main takeaway: you can vote early starting tomorrow, October 25, through Sunday, November 2, or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4.
Happy voting, NYC.