Polls are officially open across Brooklyn as voters head to the ballot box on Primary Election Day.
Under New York’s closed primary system, only registered party members are eligible to vote. Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the New York City Board of Elections (BOE), and anyone in line by 9 p.m. will still be permitted to cast a ballot.
Election officials also remind voters that absentee ballots must be postmarked by June 23 or returned in person to an early voting site, polling place, or BOE office before polls close. Voters can check their assigned polling location here.
The primary follows an early voting period that ran from June 13 through June 21 and features several closely watched local and congressional races across Kings County.
Races to watch
Much of the attention in Brooklyn is focused on a handful of competitive congressional primaries.
In NY-7 — covering Williamsburg, Bushwick, Greenpoint and Fort Greene — four candidates are vying to replace Rep. Nydia Velázquez: Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Assembly Member Claire Valdez, Council Member Julie Won and Vichal Kumar. The race has highlighted divides in local Democratic politics, with Velázquez backing Reynoso and Mayor Zohran Mamdani supporting Valdez.
In NY-10, which includes Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Red Hook and parts of Downtown Brooklyn, Rep. Dan Goldman is facing a challenge from former Comptroller Brad Lander. Goldman has backing from Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, while Lander is supported by Mamdani and the Working Families Party.
Several Assembly contests are also drawing attention across Kings County.
In AD-46, which includes Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Coney Island, Chris McCreight and Joseph Santangelo are competing to face incumbent Republican Alec Brook-Krasny in November. In AD-56, covering Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, incumbent Stefani L. Zinerman faces challenger Eon Huntley, while in AD-59, which includes Canarsie and Marine Park, incumbent Jaime Williams is being challenged by Jibreel Jalloh.
Other notable races include AD-50 in Greenpoint and Williamsburg, where Emily Gallagher faces Andrew Bodiford, and AD-52 in Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights, where Jo Anne Simon is running against Lydia Bella Green.
(Check out Brooklyn Paper’s full Primary Election Voters Guide here.)
Early voting snapshot
Early voting totals were down compared to last summer’s primary, where high turnout was driven by the mayoral election, but were still higher than early voting in primaries in 2023 and 2024.
A total of 172,743 people cast their ballots during the nine-day early voting period, BOE data show. Brooklyn once again turned out in force, and 54,277 Brooklynites voted early — second only to Manhattan, where 67,369 people voted early.
Turnout among younger and newly-registered voters declined significantly, according to The City Reporter, sparking concern for DSA candidates endorsed by Mamdani, including Valdez in NY-7.
The mayor on Monday urged New Yorkers to vote on Election Day, and said other events — like the Knicks championship win and parade last week and the World Cup – have pulled attention from the election.
Check back for more updates throughout the day. Notice long lines, equipment issues, or anything else unusual at your polling site? We want to hear from you. Reach out to our newsroom via email or on socials and share what you’re seeing.
With reporting by Kirstyn Brendlen & Meaghan McGoldrick O’Neil