Tuesday marks the last chance for New York City voters to cast their ballots in the primary elections, including the Democratic race for mayor. Today’s Democratic primary will help determine who carries the party’s banner in the November general election for several high-stakes local offices, including mayor, city comptroller, public advocate, borough presidents, and City Council members.
The ongoing race between Andrew Cuomo, a former governor and son of a former mayor offering establishment experience, and Zohran Mamdani, a young Democratic Socialist state assembly member focused on cost-of-living issues, highlights the ongoing debate about the Democratic Party’s future in New York and elsewhere.
What is Different This Year?
One thing that makes this year’s primary especially interesting is that Eric Adams, the current mayor, is running as an independent in the general election. That means the Democratic field for mayor is wide open, and there are some big names in the mix, like former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, among others.
How do I vote?
Step 1: Visit the official New York State voter lookup website – voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.- To find your polling site, as it may have changed since the last election.
Step 2: Make sure to reach the voting site at the designated polling hours. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 24, 2025.
Step 3: At the Polling Site, you do not need to show ID unless you did not provide it when you registered. If your name is not mentioned on the voter roll, you can request an affidavit ballot.
Step 4: You can track the status of your mail-in ballot or confirm your vote was counted using the same voter lookup tool.
What is on the Ballot?
You will be choosing candidates for mayor, city comptroller, public advocate, borough president, and City Council, among other offices.
How does ranking-based voting work?
For City Council seats, eligible Democratic voters can rank up to five candidates in their order of preference. If your first choice does not have enough support, your vote can still count for your next choice. This system is meant to make sure the winner has broad support and to give voters more say in the outcome.
When will the results be announced?
Unofficial first-choice vote results will be available shortly after polls close at 9 p.m. on election night. These results, provided by the city board of Elections, will encompass votes from early voting and election day polling sites. The board will further release an additional unofficial result on July 1, with official results anticipated around July 14.