Sunday marks the final opportunity for voters in New York City and New Jersey to participate in early voting for the upcoming elections. In New York, in-person early voting ends today, a critical moment as the city prepares for the mayoral race that has garnered significant attention. According to the NYC Board of Elections, over 584,000 residents have already cast their votes, with Brooklyn leading the boroughs in turnout at nearly 190,000 ballots.
Polling locations in New York City will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Notably, prominent figures have been actively campaigning, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who hosted Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani at the National Action Network. While Sharpton has not endorsed Mamdani, the candidate is receiving support from New York Attorney General Letitia James. Mamdani stated that the campaign boasts over 100,000 volunteers striving to break a state record for door-knocking in a single day.
In a pointed remark regarding the Independent mayoral candidate, Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani highlighted the distinction of his political beliefs, asserting that Cuomo does not align with the Democratic Party despite securing the Democratic primary.
Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has consistently dismissed calls to withdraw from the race, focusing instead on galvanizing his supporters. “You can talk about the polls all you want, we know it’s a ‘get out the vote’ effort,” Sliwa pointed out.
In New Jersey, early voting also concludes on Sunday for the gubernatorial race, with polls open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Candidates Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli will be actively campaigning. Sherrill plans appearances in Hudson, Camden, and Burlington counties, while Ciattarelli will focus on Monmouth and Ocean counties. Sherrill recently joined former President Barack Obama in Newark, energizing her supporters with a passionate appeal about New Jersey’s resilience.
Ciattarelli responded to Obama’s endorsement by downplaying its impact, stating that the elections ultimately come down to the candidates. Current polling data from Atlas Intel indicates a tight race, with Sherrill leading Ciattarelli by a narrow margin of 50% to 49%, underscoring the competitive nature of the contest.
With the closing hours of early voting upon us, both states are witnessing a flurry of last-minute campaigning, reflecting the importance of voter engagement as residents prepare to make their voices heard in crucial races.