Brooklyn leads city in early vote turnout as polls open for 2026 election

Voters in Brooklyn have access to their polling places until 9 p.m. Tuesday for the 2026 general election. The citywide early voting period just concluded with high participation numbers.

According to Board of Elections data, approximately 690,526 New Yorkers cast ballots during the nine days of early voting. This figure represents a 60 percent increase over the 2022 midterm elections.

Brooklyn accounted for nearly one-third of those early ballots. The borough recorded 219,536 early voters, leading the five boroughs in total turnout. Manhattan followed with 188,434 voters, and Queens recorded 162,914. The Bronx had 67,630 early voters, while Staten Island trailed with 52,012.

Statewide polls show incumbent Democrats holding leads over their Republican challengers. A Siena College poll conducted on October 28 indicates that Governor Kathy Hochul maintains a double-digit lead over Republican Bruce Blakeman. Attorney General Letitia James and State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli are also polling well ahead of their opponents.

Democrats are targeting four state legislative seats in Brooklyn that Republicans currently hold. These include Assembly Districts 45, 46, and 49, as well as State Senate District 17. They are also contesting New York's 11th congressional district, the only Republican-held congressional seat in the city.

Southern Brooklyn serves as a key battleground for these contests. Many races in the borough's Democratic strongholds were settled during the June primary. However, the Kings County Democratic Committee is currently involved in a leadership dispute. This internal fight has drawn scrutiny regarding the party's support for candidates in the general election.

Residents can check NYC Votes to find their specific polling location by entering their home address. The Brooklyn Paper has published a voter's guide that breaks down the candidates and ballot proposals on the 2026 ticket.