Early Voting Turnout in NYC Mayoral Election Doubles from 2021

A Gothamist analysis of data from the Board of Elections reveals that 131,434 people cast ballots at their poll sites in the first four days of early voting this year, more than double the number of voters at that point in the 2021 mayoral race. Experts attribute the surge in early voting to a possible shift in New York City's electorate, with younger voters and white voters in brownstone Brooklyn leading the turnout. The strong early voting performance, particularly among young voters, could signal a transformative shift in the city's politics, according to Laura Tamman, a political scientist at Pace University.

Key Takeaways:

• Early voting turnout in the Democratic primary election for mayor has doubled compared to four years ago, with 131,434 people casting ballots in the first four days of early voting.
• Younger voters, particularly those aged 25-34, accounted for nearly a quarter of the early voting turnout, which is the single largest share of the early voting turnout by any age group so far.
• The highest early voting turnout so far is in Brooklyn's 52nd Assembly District, where more than 6,000 people voted early, making it the location with the highest percentage of voter turnout.
• Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a leading candidate among young, liberal white voters, is benefiting from the high early voting turnout, with a new Marist College poll showing him ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo by 34 points among voters under age 45.
• Campaigns that successfully drive young voters to the polls in odd-year municipal elections are accomplishing a humongous task, as turnout typically drops in these elections compared to even-year federal elections.
• The Gothamist analysis highlights the importance of early voting as a key indicator of voter enthusiasm and potential support for candidates, with 55% of voters under 45pledging to vote early or absentee in the 2021 election.

Statistics:

• 131,434 people cast ballots in the first four days of early voting in the 2023 mayoral election.
• The number of early voters in the first four days of early voting in 2023 is more than double the number of voters at that point in the 2021 mayoral race.
• Nearly a quarter (24.1%) of early voters were between the ages of 25-34.
• 6,000+ people voted early in Brooklyn's 52nd Assembly District.
• 55% of voters under 45 pledged to vote early or absentee in the 2021 election.

Sources:

• Gothamist analysis of data from the Board of Elections.
• Marist College poll.
• Laura Tamman, a political scientist at Pace University.
• Jerry Skurnik, a longtime expert in voter turnout in New York City elections.
• Joan Millman, a former state assemblymember and member of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats club in the 52nd Assembly District.
• Andrew Lum, a 33-year-old healthcare worker who voted early in the 2023 mayoral election.