What You Need to Know About the November 3 New York General Election

It’s time to gear up for the general election in New York! On Nov. 3, New Yorkers will head to the polls to vote for candidates running for local, state, and federal offices. Among the offices on the ballot are governor and lieutenant Governor, state senator, state comptroller, attorney general, U.S. House representative, and more, depending on where you live.

As Election Day nears, we want to ensure our neighbors stay updated on everything from early voting, which runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 1, to local polling locations. Bookmark this Columbia Neighbors-curated guide of voting resources.

What will be on the ballot on Nov. 3?

• Governor and lieutenant governor
• State comptroller
• Attorney general
• U.S. House representative
• State senator
• Assembly member
• City council member (District 3)
• State Supreme Court justice
• Civil Court judge
• Surrogate
• Ballot proposals on the use of public space, city contracting, safer streets initiatives, city-owned property and office space, building permits, and the city’s financial reserves.

You can get a sample ballot, which lists the offices and candidates on your ballot on voting day, at the Board of Elections website. You can also find a sample ballot at vote411.org.

For more information about the candidates 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 voters are encouraged to research candidates on their own as well.

What dates do I need to know for the Nov. 3 election?

These are the important dates you need to know to get ready for Nov. 3, including information on early voting, voter registration, absentee ballots, and polling places.  

• OCT. 19: Last day for the Board of Elections to receive voter registration change-of-address requests.
• OCT. 24: Last day for the Board of Elections to receive voter registration applications. It is also the last day to apply for an early mail ballot or absentee ballot online, by mail, by email, or by phone (1-866-868-3692). Learn more about ways to vote on NYC Votes. 
• OCT. 24 to NOV. 1: Early voting. Find your early voting poll site here. It may differ from your regular voting site.
• NOV. 2: Last day to apply in person at the Board of Elections to vote by mail.
• NOV. 3: Election Day! Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. You must vote at your assigned polling site. Early mail and absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and recieved by the Board of Elections by Nov. 10. Ballots can also be delivered in person to the Board of Elections or your local polling site by 9 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Can I vote in the Nov. 3 general election?

In the general election, you can vote for any candidate from any party as long as you are registered to vote. Even if you did not vote in the primary elections, you can still cast a ballot this time around. Check whether you are already registered at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

Columbia University also contracts with TurboVote, an online platform that helps residents from all 50 states register to vote, request a mail-in ballot, and sign up for election reminders. 

Where can Upper Manhattan residents go to vote on Nov. 3 and during early voting? 

Early voting sites

If you're planning to vote early, 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 W.125th St.

Election Day polling sites

To vote on Nov. 3, enter your address at findmypollsite.vote.nyc. All polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

What changed about absentee and early mail-in voting?

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

Any registered voter can use an early mail ballot. The difference between an early mail ballot and an 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.