Over 140,000 New York City voters flocked to the polls on the first day of early voting—a staggering increase of nearly 50,000 compared to the initial day of early voting during the 2020 presidential election. The data was shared by the New York City Board of Elections via social media shortly after the polls closed.
Brooklyn led the way with the highest number of voters, tallying 40,289, followed closely by Manhattan with 38,237. Queens recorded 31,671, the Bronx had 16,462, and Staten Island contributed 13,486 to the overall turnout.
The turnout reflects a strong desire for civic participation, evidenced by the long lines at some of the busiest polling stations. At the Rochdale Village Community Center in Queens, voters reported waiting up to 50 minutes to cast their ballots.
Behind the mobilization of 140,145 voters lies a tapestry of motivations. Mike Shannon, a 65-year-old retired police lieutenant, emphasized to Gothamist the importance of voting regardless of the election: “I try to always vote early and it doesn’t matter what the election is. I know that a lot of people sacrifice for our privilege of voting.” He indicated his support for Kamala Harris, believing she to be more qualified than Donald Trump.
Conversations among voters frequently touch on women’s health and reproductive rights. Kersana Ward, a 36-year-old social worker, expressed her intent to vote to protect women’s healthcare. “She is not only an educated woman, but she is a woman for the people,” she noted.
Tricia Haynes, a teacher from Springfield Gardens, shared her perspective with her son, Trison. While they chose not to disclose their candidate preferences, Trison highlighted foreign policy as a key differentiator between candidates, while Haynes emphasized the need to safeguard women’s rights, particularly to ensure her teenage daughter can make autonomous decisions about her body.
Polls will reopen Sunday at 8:00 AM and close at 5:00 PM. Historically, New York State—especially New York City—has been a Democratic stronghold, overwhelmingly supporting progressive candidates in the last nine elections. The last Republican to win the state was Ronald Reagan in 1984.
