Early voting in New York skyrocketed nearly 70% compared to four years ago — and more than doubled in some crucial upstate counties, data released Monday shows.
Overall, the nine days of early voting totals increased from 1,178,676 in 2022 to 1,965,043 between Oct. 24-Nov. 1, according to the unofficial tally from the State Board of Elections.
The number of early votes in New York City jumped from 432,634 in 2022 to 690,526 this year, a 60% increase.
In the suburbs and rural upstate counties, early voting increased 70%, from 746,042 votes to 1,274,717.
The most competitive races for Congress are in swing suburban and upstate districts, while statewide ballots will include elections for governor, attorney general and comptroller.
The race to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik in the red-leaning 21st House District in North Country has become such a competitive contest that Vice President JD Vance was stumping there Monday with Republican pro-Trump candidate Anthony Constantino to rally the base.
Constantino, who owns a sticker and decal printing company, faces Democrat Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer.
Early voting turnout more than doubled in four counties in the 21st District compared to 2022: Clinton (from 3,930 to 7,323), Essex (from 1,457 to 3,460), Oneida (from 8,682 to 17,363), and St.. Lawrence (from 2,681 to 6,375).
Early voting is also up substantially in the heated race for the 17th House District in the lower Hudson Valley, where two-term Republican Rep. Mike Lawler faces a tough challenge from Democrat Cait Conley, an Army vet.
In Rockland County, for example, early voting increased 81% from four years ago — up 24,355 votes to 44,184.
Early voting was relatively new in 2022 and those statewide races followed the COVID-19 outbreak, likely discouraging in-person early voting. Still, the size of the increase was noteworthy.
State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs was bullish based on the early returns.
“It looks promising for the Democrats. I’d rather be us than them,” Jacobs said, referring to Republicans.
But state Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox said not so fast.
“We have been urging early voting. Republicans have been coming out in great numbers,” Cox said.
At the top of the ticket, Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul faces Republican Bruce Blakeman, the current Nassau County executive, in the race for governor.
In the race for attorney general, Republican Saritha Komatireddy is challenging two-term Democratic incumbent Letitia James.
In the race for comptroller, Republican Joseph Hernandez is running against four-term Democratic incumbent Tom DiNapoli.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Election Day.
