NYC Early Voting Drops 13% as Young Turnout Falls

Early voting in New York City fell by roughly 13 percent compared to 2025. The decline stems from a sharp drop in participation among voters aged 18 to 24, with 15,000 fewer young people casting ballots during the early voting period. This marks a reversal from the previous year, when a record number of New Yorkers voted early, driven largely by the momentum of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign.

The shift in turnout is visible across different neighborhoods. Assembly District 53, which covers East Williamsburg and Bushwick, experienced a 34 percent decrease in early voter participation. Christina Greer, a political scientist at Fordham University, noted that voters often turn out for Mamdani specifically due to his populist appeal. She stated, “No one is Mamdani. He has a certain level of populism, like a Donald Trump, that people come out for the individual.”

Conversely, districts with high Black populations saw substantial increases in early voting. Assembly District 58 in Central Brooklyn recorded the largest gain, with a 60 percent rise in turnout compared to 2025. The district, which includes East Flatbush, Canarsie, and Brownsville, is nearly 80 percent Black according to CUNY Mapping Service data. Lupe Todd-Medina, a Brooklyn-based Democratic strategist, said Black voters remain a core support base for the Democratic Party, even as the party’s coalition expands.

Todd-Medina said she is not surprised to see strong turnout in these areas, noting that some voters may still wait until Election Day. She added that Black voters are energized by candidates such as state Attorney General Letitia James and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Jeffries could become the first Black Speaker of the House if Democrats secure a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Similar gains appeared in Southeast Queens, a region with a high concentration of Black and Democratic voters. Assembly District 29, covering Jamaica, Hollis, and Springfield Gardens, saw early voting increase by over 47 percent. The neighboring Assembly District 31, which includes Far Rockaway, South Ozone Park, and Rosedale, recorded a 40 percent increase.

Older voters also contributed to the numbers. Turnout among those aged 55 and older rose by 14 percent, while voters 75 and older saw a 23 percent increase. Statewide, early voting participation grew from 1.2 million in 2022 to two million in 2025. In the city, the count rose from more than 432,600 to 690,000, reflecting a gradual adjustment to the early voting system first introduced in 2019.

Democratic candidates have historically voted early at higher rates than Republicans. While early turnout among Democrats fell by 3 percent from 2025, it dropped by 15 percent among Republicans. Gov. Kathy Hochul campaigned across the five boroughs during the nine-day early voting window, often appearing alongside Mayor Mamdani. Greer observed that motivating left-leaning voters who view Hochul as moderate may be more challenging than supporting her in the primary.