Low Early Voting in NYC Primaries Despite Last-minute Efforts

WHO:

ABC News - Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted a rally with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders to support his slate of congressional candidates.

Gothamist - Mayor Mamdani held a get out the vote event.

THE CITY - New Yorkers who registered after the 2024 general election are referred to as new voters.

THE CITY - The New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is backing candidates in high-profile congressional primaries.

WHAT:

THE CITY - Only 11,573 ballots were cast by new voters, representing 6.7% of the early voting total.

THE CITY - Early voting peaked on June 21, with a high of 35,843 ballots cast across the city.

THE CITY - 22,857 voters cast their ballots on June 19, and 21,658 ballots were cast on June 20, marking the highest turnout stretch since early voting began on June 13.

THE CITY - In the 12th Congressional District, 38,340 voters cast their ballots early.

THE CITY - In the 10th Congressional District, 27,466 people voted early.

THE CITY - In NY’s 13th Congressional District, 21,216 voters cast their ballots early.

THE CITY - In the 7th Congressional District, 19,582 people voted early.

THE CITY - The 27th state Senate district saw the highest early turnout with 8,762 voters.

THE CITY - The 25th state Senate district had 8,127 early voters.

THE CITY - The 12th district in Queens had 6,350 early voters.

ABC News - New York's congressional candidates will deliver closing arguments ahead of primary elections on Tuesday.

ABC News - Mamdani stated, “The party of the past will not be what leads us into the future. We need a Democratic Party with backbone.”

THE CITY - Early voting peaked on Sunday, June 21, with a high of 35,843 ballots cast across the city.

THE CITY - The lowest recorded day of early voting was Monday, June 15, with 12,655 New Yorkers voting.

THE CITY - In the 10th Congressional District, 27,466 people voted early.

THE CITY - In NY’s 13th Congressional District, 21,216 voters cast their ballots early.

THE CITY - In the 7th Congressional District, 19,582 people voted early.

THE CITY - The 25th state Senate district in Brooklyn had 8,127 early voters.

THE CITY - The 12th district in Queens had 6,350 early voters.

ABC News - Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, is campaigning for a congressional seat in Manhattan, facing opposition from Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, both state Assembly members.

ABC News - In the 12th Congressional District, five candidates are competing to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler, with early voting turnout reaching 38,340 voters.

THE CITY - Only 172,743 New Yorkers cast ballots during the nine-day early voting period.

THE CITY - Only 11,573 ballots were cast by new voters, representing 6.7% of the early voting total.

THE CITY - Early voting peaked with 35,843 ballots cast on a single day.

THE CITY - Early voting for the previous year's mayoral primary attracted 735,317 New Yorkers, nearly 14% of registered voters.

THE CITY - This year's early voting saw a 76.5% drop in participation from 2025.

THE CITY - Early voting numbers are still double the approximately 80,000 votes cast in the last mid-term primary in 2022.

THE CITY - 67,355 voters cast ballots in Manhattan, accounting for 39% of early voting turnout.

THE CITY - 54,236 early voters were in Brooklyn, making up 31% of the total.

THE CITY - 33,138 voters cast their ballots in Queens, representing 19% of early voters.

THE CITY - The 12th Congressional District saw the highest early turnout with 38,340 voters.

THE CITY - In the 10th Congressional District, 27,466 people voted early.

THE CITY - In NY’s 13th Congressional District, 21,216 voters cast their ballots early.

THE CITY - 19,582 people voted early in the 7th Congressional District.

THE CITY - The highest early turnout in state Senate races was 8,762 voters in the 27th district.

WHERE:

Gothamist - The get out the vote event was held at Kings Theater.

THE CITY - The 12th Congressional District is located on Manhattan’s Upper East and Upper West sides.

THE CITY - The 10th Congressional District covers Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

THE CITY - NY’s 13th Congressional District includes Upper Manhattan and the western Bronx.

THE CITY - The 7th Congressional District is in Brooklyn.

THE CITY - The 27th state Senate district includes parts of the Financial District, Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side, and Chinatown.

WHEN:

THE CITY - Early voting ended on a Sunday.

THE CITY - Election Day is on Tuesday.

THE CITY - Early voting began on June 13.

WHY:

THE CITY - Low early voting turnout among younger voters has raised concerns for the DSA, prompting an “emergency meeting” to address the issue.

ABC News - The races are seen as a test of Mayor Mamdani's political influence and the potential reshaping of the city's congressional delegation by the progressive left.

THE CITY - Low early voting turnout among younger voters has raised concerns for the DSA.

THE CITY - The lack of a marquee race contributed to the drop in participation compared to the previous year.

HOW:

ABC News - Schlossberg's campaign includes a closing stretch rally with David Letterman and a campaign ad featuring his mother, Caroline Kennedy.

THE CITY - The Board of Elections provided data on early voting turnout.

(UPDATED June 23, 2026 23:21 UTC)

Early voting has seen a significant turnout, peaking with a remarkable 35,843 ballots cast on June 21. Overall, 11,573 ballots were submitted by new voters, making up 6.7% of the early voting total, while the 12th Congressional District led with 38,340 early votes. Other notable early voting numbers include 27,466 ballots in the 10th Congressional District and 8,762 in the 27th state Senate district, showcasing strong engagement across the city.

(UPDATED June 23, 2026 13:51 UTC)

New York's congressional candidates are set to deliver their closing arguments ahead of the primary elections on Tuesday, with Mamdani emphasizing the need for a Democratic Party with backbone. Early voting saw a peak of 35,843 ballots cast on June 21, while concerns about low turnout among younger voters have led the Democratic Socialists of America to hold an emergency meeting. Schlossberg's campaign is ramping up with a closing stretch rally featuring David Letterman and a campaign ad that highlights his mother, Caroline Kennedy.

(UPDATED June 23, 2026 04:21 UTC)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted a rally alongside U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders to support his slate of congressional candidates, highlighting the progressive push in the city. Among the candidates is Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, who is vying for a congressional seat in Manhattan against state Assembly members Alex Bores and Micah Lasher, while five candidates compete to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler in the 12th Congressional District, where early voting has seen 38,340 participants. Schlossberg's campaign is ramping up with a closing stretch rally featuring David Letterman and a campaign ad that showcases his mother, Caroline Kennedy.

(UPDATED June 23, 2026 01:43 UTC)

Mayor Mamdani recently held a get out the vote event at Kings Theater, as New Yorkers prepare for the upcoming elections. Early voting saw only 172,743 ballots cast, a significant drop of 76.5% from the previous year, with just 11,573 of those votes coming from new voters. The Democratic Socialists of America are backing candidates in high-profile congressional primaries, and concerns are growing about low turnout among younger voters, especially with Election Day approaching this Tuesday.