What You Need to Know About the June 24 New York Primary

This June, New Yorkers will head to the polls once again to vote in a New York Primary, which takes place on June 24, with early voting running from June 14 to June 22.

This election is an important chance to make your voice heard on a local level, as the offices of Mayor, City Comptroller, Public Advocate, Borough President, and City Council will appear on your ballot. 

Two important things to note for this election:

1. New York is a closed primary state, meaning you must be registered with a specific political party to participate in the primary election.
2. Primary and special elections for city offices use ranked-choice voting, which means you can rank up to five candidates in order of your preference for a specific office (more on this below).

Here, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions about the upcoming primary, including voting locations and an explainer on ranked-choice voting.

Who will be on the ballot on June 24?

Citywide offices appearing on the ballot are:

• Mayor 
• City Comptroller 
• Public Advocate  
• Borough Presidents
• City Council

Other offices that might appear on the ballot: Delegate to Judicial Convention, Alternate Delegate to Judicial Convention, District Attorney (for Manhattan), Judge of Civil Court, Surrogate, Male District Leader, and Female District Leader. 

You can receive a sample ballot, which includes the offices and candidates that will be on your ballot on voting day, at the Board of Elections website. You can also find a sample ballot at vote411.org.

If you would like more information about the candidates that will be on your ballot, NYC Votes offers a "What's on the Ballot?" resource. Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs also offers a candidate overview at whosontheballot.org. Both of these resources are normally updated as election day approaches, but individual research on candidates is encouraged.

What are the dates that I need to know for the June 24 election? 

These are the important dates you need to know to get ready for June 24, including information on early voting, voter registration, absentee ballots, and polling places.  

• JUNE 9: This is the day voter registration change of address must be received by the Board of Elections.
• JUNE 14: This is the last day to submit an application to the Board of Elections to receive an early mail ballot, absentee ballot, and voter registration form. You can submit these forms online, by email, or by phone. Learn more about ways to vote on NYC Votes. 
• JUNE 14-22: Early voting. Find your early voting poll site here (it may be different than your regular voting site).
• JUNE 23: Last day to apply to register to vote in person at the Board of Elections. 
• JUNE 24: Deadline to return early voting ballot and absentee ballot. You can deliver your ballot in person at the Board of Elections or your local poll site by 9 p.m.
• JUNE 24: Primary election day! Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. You must vote at your assigned poll site.

How do I know if I can vote in the June 24 primary?

Only voters who are already registered with a political party can vote on June 24. See if you are already registered and with which political party at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/.

If I am an Upper Manhattan resident, where do I go to vote?

Early Voting Locations

If you're planning to vote early in this election, enter your address at findmypollsite.vote.nyc to find your assigned early voting location. For Manhattanville residents, early voting will once again take place at The Lee C. Bollinger Forum, 605 West 125th Street.

June 24 Polling Locations

If you plan to vote on June 24, enter your address at findmypollsite.vote.nyc. A reminder that all polls are open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on June 25.

How does ranked-choice voting work?

In a 2019 ballot measure, New Yorkers chose to use ranked-choice voting for primary and special elections for certain city offices, including Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, and City Council. 

In ranked-choice voting, voters rank five candidates in order of preference. If a candidate receives over 50% of the first-choice votes, they win. Then, according to the New York City Board of Elections: 

"If no candidate earns more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, then counting will continue in rounds. At the end of each round, the last-place candidate is eliminated and voters who chose that candidate now have their vote counted for their next choice.

"Your vote is counted for your second choice only if your first choice is eliminated. If both your first and second choices are eliminated, your vote is counted for your next choice, and so on. This process continues until there are two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes wins."

Here's a video that explains how it works:

What changed about absentee and early mail-in voting?

The New York Early Mail Voter Act took effect on January 1, 2024, applying to all elections moving forward, and established an additional method of voting New York: voting early by mail. 

Any registered voter can use an early mail ballot. The difference between an early mail ballot and absentee ballot is that absentee ballots require a "valid reason" for being unable to vote in person, such as being out of town or illness/injury. You can still vote absentee, but now all registered voters in New York can use early mail-in voting without needing to provide a reason.

Learn more here and in the video below.