Primary elections may not get the spotlight that general elections do, but they’re equally consequential. This is where voters decide who will actually make it onto the ballot in November.
New York runs primary elections following a process that mirrors a general election: you show up at your polling place, cast a private ballot, and you’re done. With the June 23 primary election fast approaching, here’s what to know.
Who Can Vote
New York is one of the stricter states when it comes to primary participation. The state uses a closed primary system, meaning that to vote in a party’s primary, you must already be registered with that party. Registered Democrats vote in the Democratic primary, and registered Republicans vote in the Republican primary, and so on.
If you wanted to switch parties before this primary, you would have needed to do so by Feb. 14. That window has now closed. Any enrollment changes made now will not take effect until June 30, a week after the primary has concluded. But that’s still plenty of time to register for the general.
If you’re not affiliated with any party, sometimes called “unaffiliated” or a “blank,” you won’t be eligible to participate in the primaries. Your next chance to vote would be the Nov. 3 general election, which is open to all registered voters.
What’s on the Ballot
Every voter enrolled in a major party will see statewide offices on their June 23 ballot: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and comptroller. Voters will also see races for US House, state senate, and state assembly—provided there is a contested primary in their specific district.
How Winners Are Decided
This is where things get more complicated and your location within the state matters.
Across most of the state, including all statewide and federal offices, New York uses a simple plurality system, meaning whoever gets the most votes wins. The winner doesn’t need to reach a majority (50% or more). In a crowded primary with five or six candidates, someone could conceivably prevail with just a quarter of the vote.
The system, though straightforward, can produce winners most voters didn’t prefer—as in the 2022 Democratic primary for New York’s 10th Congressional District, where Dan Goldman secured the nomination with just 26% of the vote while his three closest competitors collectively captured nearly 59%.
New York City operates differently for its city-level seats. It uses Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) for offices like mayor and city council—however, those offices were last on the ballot in 2025 and are not up for election in June 2026.
For the races that are on the ballot this June, like governor, Congress, and state legislature, New York State uses a simple plurality system across the board, including within the five boroughs.
Key Deadlines
The voter registration deadline is June 13, though if you’ve recently moved, note that the address change deadline is slightly earlier: June 8. Your county Board of Elections must receive that change by that date to ensure you are assigned to the correct polling place.
Ways to Vote
New York offers three ways to cast a ballot.
Early voting runs from June 13 through June 21. If you plan to vote early, be sure to confirm your polling site ahead of time—early voting locations are often different from your regular Election Day polling place.
If you’d rather vote from home, any registered voter can request an early mail ballot with no excuse required. You can request one online or by mail through June 13, or in person at your county Board of Elections through June 22. However, mail ballots must be postmarked by June 23.
And if you prefer to vote in person on Election Day, polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 23.For registration information and polling place lookup, visit elections.ny.gov. New York City voters can also use NYC Votes at nycvotes.org.
