Early voting starts Saturday. Here's what you need to know

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Voters stand in line to cast their ballots in 2018. Under new state law, New York residents can begin voting at designated polling places ten days before the Nov. 5 general election. Eagle file photo by Sara Bosworth.

Voters stand in line to cast their ballots in 2018. Under new state law, New York residents can begin voting at designated polling places ten days before the Nov. 5 general election. Eagle file photo by Sara Bosworth.

By Jonathan Sperling

Early voting begins in New York for the first time ever starting this week. There are more than 60 early voting sites throughout the city and 14 in Queens — though advocates say that’s still not enough. 

It’s a big deal in Queens, where the District Attorney contest is the most impactful elections in the city. There’s also a citywide race for public advocate. 

Here’s what you need to know in order to cast your ballot ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

Before you step foot in the voting booth, make sure you are already registered to vote. To check if you’re registered, visit the voting.nyc website. If you haven’t already registered by now, the deadline for the 2019 General Election has passed, but you can still register for future elections online, in-person or by mail.

The Board of Elections should have notified every registered voter which early voting site they are assigned to. The Queens locations are York College, the Rockaway YMCA, the Cross Island YMCA, Al Oerter Recreation Center, First Baptist Church of Corona, Korean Community Services, Museum of the Moving Image, Rochdale Village Community Center, Queens Voting Machine Annex, Resorts World Casino NYC, Holy Trinity Parish Church LaGuardia Community College and Queens Borough Hall.

The first day of early voting is Saturday, Oct. 26 and the early polls are open for nine consecutive days, until Sunday, Nov. 3. early voting poll site hours vary by day:

  • Oct. 26: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Oct. 27: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Oct. 28: 9a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Oct. 29: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Oct. 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Nov. 1: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • Nov. 2: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Nov. 3: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Now that you’ve decided what day you’re going to vote, it’s time to figure out which poll site to use. 

If you haven’t received your early voting poll site by mail, you can find both your early voting poll site and Election Day poll site by visiting nyc.pollsitelocator.com or calling the NYC Board of Elections at 1-866-868-3692.

Rather not take advantage of early voting? No problem. You can still vote on Election Day, Nov. 5, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Just note that your Election Day poll site will be at a different location than your early voting poll site.

Voting rights advocates have championed early voting for years as a way to ensure voter engagement and increase turnout on Election Day, especially among marginalized communities. The polling places could also help alleviate issues like ballot machine breakdowns and long lines that have plagued New York City in recent elections.