Voters are gearing up for the Nov. 3 general election, and Brooklyn is home to some of the city’s most interesting races.
Though most of the borough’s incumbents are safe in their seats — those most at risk were toppled by challengers from within their own party in the June primary — Democrats are trying to take back some of the borough’s Republican districts in southern Brooklyn.
Democrat Mike DeCillis is challenging incumbent Nicole Malliotakis in NY-11, the city’s only Republican congressional district. Elsewhere, Democrats are hoping to win back recently-flipped state Senate and Assembly seats.
Brooklyn is filled with competitive and much-watched races this fall. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Incumbent Republican Michael Novahkov and Democrat Joey Cohen-Saban are set for a rematch in AD-45, where Cohen-Saban came within 200 votes of victory in 2024; while Chris McCreight is challenging Alec Brook-Krasny in AD46.
Brooklynites will also vote on a number of state and citywide positions, judgeships, and a series of five ballot proposals meant to fast-track certain government actions.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to register, where to vote, and who’s on the ballot!
How can I vote in Brooklyn?
First, make sure you’re registered to vote. If you’re not, you can register online, in-person or by mail up until Oct. 24. More details and instructions about checking your registration on the Board of Elections website.
Any voter can vote early by mail, and voters who live in Brooklyn but can’t make it to the polls this year can vote absentee. You can apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot online by mail through Oct. 24, or apply in-person at the local BOE office until Nov. 3. Mail-in and absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3, or can be dropped off-in person at your early voting or regular poll site during regular hours.
When is early voting?
Early voting starts on Saturday, Oct. 24 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 1. Poll sites are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, and Nov. 1; 10 a.m.-8 a.m. on Oct. 27 and 28; and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Your early voting site may be different from your regular polling place, and may be different from past years. If you’re unsure, use the BOE’s poll site locator to find your early voting location, election day poll site, and a sample ballot!
Early voting begins Oct. 24, and runs through Nov. 1. File photo courtesy of REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Voting on Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and polls are open that day from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. If you’re in line before 9 p.m. and the polls close while you’re waiting, stay in line!
You have to vote at your designating polling place on Election Day. Use the BOE poll site locator to find it, or email your home address to vote@boe.nyc.ny.us with your borough in the subject line.
Who’s on the ballot?
There are several statewide races all Brooklynites will see on their ballots, as well as a few county judgeships and the five ballot proposals. Which congressional, state Senate and state Assembly races you’ll take part in depends on which districts you live in.
We’ve broken down a full list of candidates below, with links to their websites (if they have them) so you can learn more. Check out the BOE’s sample ballot online to find out exactly who you’ll be voting for on Nov. 3!
Many candidates are running on multiple party lines, as New York uses a “fusion voting” system. For example, Gov. Kathy Hochul is running on both the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, and her opponent Bruce Blakeman will appear on the Republican and Conservative party lines. Which party line you select will not impact your vote!
STATEWIDE RACES
GOVERNOR & LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
STATE COMPTROLLER:
Democrat: Thomas P. DiNapoli (incumbent)
Republican: Joseph Hernandez
ATTORNEY GENERAL:
CONGRESSIONAL RACES:
NY-7 – Bushwick, Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, East New York, Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Greenpoint and parts of Queens
Claire Valdez, the Democratic nominee in NY-7, after winning the primary this summer. File photo by Shane O’Brien
NY-8: Parts of Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Bed-Stuy, Brownsville, East New York, Canarsie, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Gerritsen Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Sea Gate
NY-9: Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts-Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Kensington, Sheepshead Bay
NY-10: Dumbo, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Gowanus, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Sunset Park, parts of Borough Park and Bay Ridge and lower Manhattan
NY-11: Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach, Bensonhurst and Staten Island
Democrat Mike DeCillis (left) is challenging incumbent Republican Nicole Malliotakis in NY-11. File photo courtesy of Mike DeCillis/File photo by Paul Frangipane
STATE SENATE:
SD-17: Sunset Park, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend
SD-18: Williamsburg, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, and East New York
SD-19: Canarsie, Cypress Hills, East New York, Brownsville, Lindenwood, Ocean Hill, Starrett City
SD-20: Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens and Windsor Terrace.
Brooklynites will vote in statewide elections, as well as for local representation and judgeships. File photo by Ethan Stark-Miller
SD-21: Flatbush, East Flatbush, Flatlands, Georgetown, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin and East Midwood
SD-22: Midwood, Borough Park, Madison, Homecrest, Gravesend, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park
SD-23: Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, Brighton Beach, Coney Island and Sea Gate
SD-25: Downtown Brooklyn, Clinton Hill, Fort Green, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville
SD-26: Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights
SD-59: Greenpoint and Williamsburg
STATE ASSEMBLY
AD-41: Flatlands, Flatbush, Sheepshead Bay, Midwood and Canarsie
Democrat: Kalman Yeger (incumbent)
Yeger will also appear on the Republican and Conservative party lines
AD-42: Ditmas Park, Flatbush, East Flatbush and Midwood
AD-43: Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, and Flatbush
AD-44: Prospect Heights, Park Slope, South Slope, Windsor Terrace, Ditmas Park, Borough Park, Kensington
AD-45: Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend, and Brighton Beach.
AD-46: Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Fort Hamilton, Bath Beach, Sea Gate, Coney Island, Brighton Beach
Chris McCreight (left) will face off against incumbent Republican Alec Brook-Krasny in November. File photos by Gabriele Holtermann
AD-47: Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and Midwood
AD-48: Borough Park, Kensington, and Midwood
AD-49: Sunset Park, Dyker Heights, Borough Park and Bensonhurst
AD-50: Greenpoint and Williamsburg
AD-51: Red Hook, Sunset Park and Bay Ridge
AD-52: Brooklyn Navy Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights
AD-53: Williamsburg and Bushwick
AD-54: Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York
AD-55: Brownsville, Ocean Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and East New York
AD-56: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights
AD-57: Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights
AD-58: East Flatbush, Canarsie, Brownsville and Crown Heights
AD-59: Canarsie, Flatlands, Georgetown, Mill Basin, Marine Park, Bergen Beach and Gerrittsen Beach
AD-60: East New York, Starrett City and Brownsville
AD-64: Part of Bay Ridge, Staten Island
JUDICIAL ELECTIONS
STATE SUPREME COURT
All Brooklyn voters will vote for new state Supreme Court Justices and for countywide Civil Court positions; some voters will also vote in municipal civil court elections.
Despite its title, the state Supreme Court is not the state’s highest court. It’s a trial court that oversees both criminal and civil matters including divorce, civil lawsuits with damages over $25,000, election law issues, and certain felonies.
This year, there are four seats open on Brooklyn Supreme Court. File photo courtesy of Ajay Suresh/Wikimedia Commons
Supreme Court nominees are selected by the county party. This year, there are four open slots on the bench and five candidates. Four candidates, selected by the Democratic party, are running on three party lines, one additional candidate will appear on the Conservative party line only.
Justice of Supreme Court:
Choose 4 candidates for four open seats.
Democrat:
Betsey Jean Jacques
Hemalee J. Patel
Sherveal Mimes
Lola Waterman
Republican:
Betsey Jean Jacques
Hemalee J. Patel
Sherveal Mimes
Lola Waterman
Conservative:
Betsey Jean Jacques
Hemalee J. Patel
Sherveal Mimes
Lola Waterman
William D. Spain Jr
JUDGE OF THE CIVIL COURT
The Civil Court includes three parts: General Civil, Small Claims, and Housing, though Housing Court judges are appointed separately. It decides on lawsuits claiming damages of up to $50,000, small claims, and other non-criminal lawsuits. Civil Court judges are elected to ten-year terms, and some are elected countywide while others are elected by municipal districts. The judges’ authority and jobs are the same, whether they are elected countywide or in a district.
Judge of the Civil Court, County:
Choose four candidates for four open seats.
Judge of the Civil Court, Municipal Districts:
2nd Municipal District
Choose one candidate for one open seat
3rd Municipal District
Choose one candidate for one open seat
4th Municipal District
Choose two candidates for two open seats
6th Municipal District
Choose two candidates for two open seats
7th Municipal District
Choose one candidate for one open seat
Democrat: Bridget Hamblin
8th Municipal District
Choose one candidate for one open seat
BALLOT PROPOSALS:
This year, all New Yorkers will vote on five ballot proposals, or potential amendments to the City Charter. They are proposed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency.
Mamdani has said the proposals give New Yorkers a way to vote on “how fast our government runs.” They would change rules for approval of outdoor dining and other uses of public space, overhaul city contracting procedures, expedite some street-safety projects, and more.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency has proposed five changes to the City Charter. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann
The City Council has raised concerns about the proposals, with some members worried they could impact oversight, transparency and public accountability, while others have said the proposals don’t go far enough. Below are the proposals as they will appear on the ballot, per the BOE website.
1. Proposed Charter Amendment: Speed Up Process for Granting a Revocable Consent to Use Public Space
Simplify process to use public space for uses such as ramps, planters and cafes, by removing mandatory hearings and Council disapproval of sidewalk cafes, while maintaining community and Council input. “Yes” speeds up process to use public space while maintaining community input . “No” maintains longer process with mandatory public hearing to use public space and Council review of sidewalk cafes.
2. Proposed Charter Amendment: Reduce City Contractor Paperwork; Require Regular Meetings of Procurement Policy Board
Reduce paperwork for City contractors by authorizing Procurement Policy Board to simplify contractor questionnaire. Require quarterly meetings of the Procurement Policy Board. Remove mandatory hearing for required client services report. “Yes” amends Procurement Policy Board authority, including to simplify contractor questionnaire; authorizes Mayor to delegate certain contract approvals. “No” leaves laws unchanged, with Mayor and Comptroller maintaining longer questionnaire.
3. Proposed Charter Amendment: Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing
Simplify review of street safety projects to reduce construction timelines. Fast track disposition of unused City property with approval from City Planning Commission. Expedite leasing offices used for City workforce. “Yes” simplifies street project approval, City property disposition and office leasing. “No” maintains intra-agency consultation for road projects, Council approval for City property dispositions and Council disapproval of office leases.
4. Proposed Charter Amendment: Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to Department of Buildings
Create centralized construction permits hub to simplify permitting. Move waterfront permitting from Department of Small Business Services to Department of Buildings. Allow construction approval by additional Department of Buildings officials . “Yes” simplifies permitting by authorizing a centralized permitting hub, moving waterfront permitting to Department of Buildings, and allowing additional Department of Buildings officials to issue approvals . “No” leaves laws unchanged.
5. Proposed Charter Amendment: Set Contribution Targets for Rainy Day Fund to Promote Sufficient Budgetary Reserves
Set target amount of money to hold in reserve funds, including rainy day fund, to address unexpected financial hardships in future years, and require development of methodology to calculate contributions. “Yes” requires Mayor to develop methodology for calculating deposits to rainy day fund , with deposits subject to approval in the City budget. “No” leaves laws unchanged, with no reserves target.