Electoral Process Overview

How NYC Elects a Mayor

Every four years, New York City residents elect a new mayor. The process starts with a primary election, where each political party—like the Democratic, Republican, and others—selects its nominee. Then, the general election decides who becomes the next mayor.

But here’s the twist: NYC uses ranked-choice voting (RCV) in the primaries, a system that gives voters more voice and more choice.

Let’s break it all down.

Important Dates for the 2025 Election

Here are the key dates to mark on your calendar:

Primary Election

• Registration deadline: June 14, 2025

• Early in-person voting begins: June 14, 2025

• Primary Election Day: June 24, 2025

General Election

• Registration deadline: October 25, 2025

• Early in-person voting begins: October 25, 2025

• General Election Day: November 4, 2025

Don’t wait until the last minute—make sure you’re registered to vote before the deadlines. You can check your registration status and find more info at nass.org/can-I-vote.

How and Where to Vote

Once you’re registered, voting is easy and accessible. You can cast your vote:

• At your assigned local polling place—often located in schools, libraries, or community centers

• During early voting periods or on Election Day

You can also vote by mail, but make sure to request your absentee ballot early to avoid delays. (We have a whole entry on how to do this!)

Primary vs. General Election

These two elections serve very different purposes:

Primary Election:

This is where each political party selects one candidate to run in the general election. In NYC, ranked-choice voting is used in primaries, allowing you to rank candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one.

General Election:

This is the final vote where all New Yorkers choose from the top candidates selected during the primaries. The winner of this election becomes the mayor of New York City.

Understanding Ranked-Choice Voting

Ranked-choice voting (RCV) might sound complicated, but it’s designed to make elections more fair and representative.

Here’s how it works:

1. You rank up to five candidates in order of preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, etc.).

2. If no one gets a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.

3. Votes for the eliminated candidate go to voters’ next preferred candidate.

4. This process repeats in multiple rounds until one candidate gets a majority.

RCV vs. Traditional Voting:

• In traditional voting, you choose just one candidate. If your pick doesn’t win, that’s the end of your say.

• In ranked-choice voting, your voice still counts even if your top choice doesn’t win, because your other ranked candidates could still help decide the outcome.

It’s all about giving voters more power and promoting candidates who appeal to a broader range of people.