UPDATE: New York City has just recorded a historic 735,000 early ballots cast ahead of Tuesday’s mayoral election, marking the highest turnout for a nonpresidential election in the city’s history. This surge in participation, especially among younger voters, indicates a significant shift in voter engagement.
On the final day of early voting, Sunday, approximately 151,000 voters took to the polls, making it the busiest day since voting began. Notably, more voters under 35 participated on this day than during the entire first weekend combined, according to data from the New York City Board of Elections. The median age of early in-person voters has dropped to 50, showing a clear trend towards younger engagement.
Earlier in the week, turnout among younger voters lagged, with only about 80,000 individuals under 35 casting ballots from Sunday to Thursday. However, that number skyrocketed from Friday to Sunday, with over 100,000 young voters casting their votes, including more than 45,000 on Sunday alone. This dramatic increase highlights the growing mobilization of younger demographics ahead of this crucial election.
The current mayoral race, featuring Zohran Mamdani as the Democratic nominee against rivals Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, is drawing significant attention. Early voting turnout in this election has outpaced the 2021 mayoral race, which saw only 170,000 early votes cast. That election lacked competitiveness, with Mayor Eric Adams winning by a substantial margin.
While the early voting numbers this year are not as high as last year’s presidential election—when over a million New Yorkers voted early—the trend of younger voters is noteworthy. Typically, early voters skew older; however, this election’s dynamics are breaking that mold.
Furthermore, this year’s early voting figures surpass the 2022 midterm elections, where approximately 433,000 early ballots were cast. In those elections, most early voters were over 55, demonstrating a stark contrast to the current younger turnout.
The implications of this surge in early voting are significant. With the election just days away, the heightened participation among younger voters could reshape not only this race but also future elections in New York City. As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on the final voter turnout and the potential impact of this new wave of engagement.
Stay tuned as the election approaches, and watch for the final turnout numbers that could redefine the political landscape in New York City.
