Here’s a nonpartisan voter guide, created with information from NYC Votes, to help you feel confident, informed, and ready to take part in New York City’s upcoming general election.
Important voting dates and deadlines
- October 25, 2025: Voter registration deadline
- October 25 to November 2, 2025: Early voting days
- November 4, 2025: Election day
NYC voter registration
To register to vote in New York City, you must be a U.S. citizen, a city resident for at least 30 days, and at least 16 years old (you can vote at 18).
You can register online, by mail, or in person at your local Board of Elections office. The registration deadline for this election is October 25, 2025. If you’re registering by mail, your form must be received by the Board of Elections by that date.
You can also check or update your registration — for example, if you’ve moved or changed your name — using the State Board of Elections’ voter lookup tool. Your change of address must be received by the Board of Elections by October 25, 2025.
You do not need to register with a political party to vote in this election.
If you’re on probation or parole, you still have the right to register to vote in New York. Having a misdemeanor or violation conviction does not take away your voting rights. If you were convicted of a felony and have been released from prison, you’re also eligible to vote after you register.
Find your poll site and voting hours
In NYC, you have to vote at a specific poll site that has been assigned to you based on your address. You cannot walk into just any poll site. Furthermore, your early voting poll site is likely different from your Election Day poll site. Check what your poll sites and sample ballots are here.
Early voting hours vary by day, so be sure to check your poll site location and hours before you go. On Election Day, November 4, 2025, all poll sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Note that if you’re in line by 9 p.m., you have the right to vote, so stay in line!
Language access
If you need help understanding or completing your ballot, you have the right to bring your own interpreter — whether that’s a friend, family member, or anyone you trust — to assist you at the poll site.
By law, New York City provides ballots and other voting materials in Bengali, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Korean, and Spanish at select poll sites, based on local Census data. You can ask the poll site worker if your location offers a ballot in your language when you get there. If you need an interpreter, just ask.
The NYC Board of Elections provides interpretation services in several boroughs:
- Manhattan: Spanish, Chinese
- Brooklyn: Spanish, Chinese
- Queens: Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Bengali, Hindi, and Punjabi
- Bronx: Spanish
- Staten Island: Spanish
In addition, some polling locations have interpreters from the NYC Civic Engagement Commission’s Voter Language Assistance Program (VLA) available to assist voters in other languages — including Arabic, Haitian Creole, Russian, Yiddish and more.
These interpreters are available on Election Day and only certain days of early voting. Check the Early Voting Services Map or Election Day Services Map to see if your polling location offers VLA interpreters.
Understanding the ballot
Your ballot will include several citywide offices, including Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. If you live in Manhattan or Brooklyn, you’ll also see the race for District Attorney.
Depending on your district, your ballot may include additional local offices such as District Leader, Judge, or County Committee Member.
In addition to these candidate races, you’ll also have the opportunity to vote on 6 ballot proposals, which may include city charter revisions or other policy questions that affect how local government operates.
You can preview a sample of your ballot from the Board of Elections.
Also Read: The 6 Ballot Questions New Yorkers Will See This November
Frequently asked questions about NYC voting
The following questions were gathered by NYC Votes through emails and social media. You can view the full list of questions here. We’ve highlighted a few that also commonly arise during our community engagements with our immigrant readers.
Do I need my ID to vote?
You do not need to show an ID unless you are a first-time voter.
Will NYC use Ranked Choice Voting in this election?
No! Ranked Choice Voting is only used in primary and special elections. This November, voters will select one candidate for each office on the ballot, and the candidate who gets the most votes in their race wins the election.
Why do some candidates run on multiple party lines?
New York State uses a system called “fusion voting,” which permits candidates to run in the general election on more than one party line. Your vote counts for that candidate no matter what party line you mark on your ballot.
Do I have a right to take time off work to vote?
Yes! You have the right to take two paid hours off from work at the beginning or end of your shift if polls are open for less than 4 hours before your shift starts and after it ends. That means on Election Day, you can take paid time off if you are scheduled to start work before 10 a.m. and end work after 5 p.m. You must notify your employer at least two days before you plan to vote.
Who should I call if there’s an issue at my poll site?
You can call the NYC Board of Elections about any issues at your poll site. Call 1-866-Vote-NYC (1-866-868-3692).
Who can I contact if my rights, or someone else’s, are being violated?
You can contact the Election Protection hotline to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer and get free legal support. Call 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
