By Gus Saltonstall
Once more, an election is upon us on the Upper West Side.
Election Day in New York City is on Tuesday, November 3, but early voting starts this Saturday.
Here is who is on the ballot, where you can vote, what to know about the ballot proposals, and more.
Voting Schedule
Early Voting will run from Saturday, October 24, through Sunday, November 1. There will be no voting on Monday, November 2, and then Election Day takes place on Tuesday, November 3.
Depending on the day, there are slight differences in the times that early voting polling sites are open.
- Saturday, October 24: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, October 25: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, October 26: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 27: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 28: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 29: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday, October 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
On Election Day, polling sites are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
How to Find Your Polling Site
Your Early Voting polling site is almost always different than your Election Day polling site.
The New York City Board of Elections has a tool where you can type in your address and it will tell you your polling places. For example, someone who lives on West 93rd Street and West End Avenue will have West Side High School at 140 West 102nd Street as their Early Voting site, but P.S. 75 at 735 West End Avenue as their Election Day site.
You can find your polling places — HERE.
Who is on the Ballot
The majority of Upper West Siders will see the Congressional race for New York’s 12th District on their ballot.
- Micah Lasher (D) – Read West Side Rag’s interview with Lasher
- Caroline Shinkle: (R) – Read West Side Rag’s interview with Shinkle
- Wilneida Negron (I) – See Negron’s candidate website
- Karen Ortiz (I) – Read West Side Rag’s interview with Ortiz
However, if you live in certain northern portions of the Upper West Side, or in Morningside Heights, you will be voting in New York’s 13th Congressional District. The candidates on the General Election ballot are as follows.
- Darializa Avila Chevalier (D) – See Chevalier’s candidate website
- Jomo Williams (R) – See Williams’ candidate website
The one other contested neighborhood race is in State Senate District 47, which stretches from around 14th to 103rd streets along the west side of Manhattan. In that contest, Democratic incumbent Erik Bottcher, who won a special election in January after the seat was vacated by now Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, is up against Republican Charlotte Friedman.
Then there are a pair of uncontested Upper West Side Assembly races.
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal is running unopposed in the 67th District, which stretches from around West 42nd Street up into the 80s. Then there is Assembly District 69, which is the district directly to the north of Rosenthal’s on the west side, where Eli Northrup is the only candidate on the General Election ballot, after defeating Stephanie Ruskay in the Democratic Primary in June.
There are also some major statewide races in this year’s election. The statewide races appear on the ballots of every New York City resident.
Chiefly, the race for governor, where Gov. Kathy Hochul is looking to defend her seat against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.
In the race for New York Attorney General, incumbent Attorney General Letitia James is facing a challenge from Republican Saritha Komatireddy, and in the New York State Comptroller contest, Republican Joseph Hernandez is challenging Democratic incumbent Thomas DiNapoli.
Ballot Proposals
Remember to flip your ballots over!
New Yorker City residents will vote on five proposals in this year’s ballot.
The questions range from topics related to how outdoor space is used in the city, the building permitting process, and street safety projects.
As is the case with each New York City election, The City Reporter has put together a stellar guide on what to know before casting your vote on the five ballot proposals. You can check it out — HERE.
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Darializa Avila Chevalier – omg…
A completely unhinged woman openly advocating for the dismantling of law and order in NYC. Or whatever remains of it.
Wasn’t she endorsed by Mamdani at some point?
Unfortunately the guy running against her is awful and has no chance.
I wish a decent Dem had taken her on as an independent. I should have moved to the district and run. She is scary. And it is people like her who motivate people in more purple areas of the country to vote Republican – they make people think all Democrats agree with her.
Darializa makes things worse for Democrats for parts of NYC that are not gentrified or gentrifying. But then again urbanists in NYC that support things like congestion pricing who are not as loony as Darializa, but are condescending, paternalistic, tone deaf and arrogant also do a good job of doing it. Manhattan Democrats driving their own cars or taking a chartered bus chartered by Manhattan Democratic officials rather than using NJ Transit or any of the buses at Port Authority to go canvass for Cait Conley in NY-17 also shows how out of touch Democrats are. Private exclusive vehicle for me but congestion pricing and garbage transit for thee!
Not just her. People who cheer on the ultra-left are just as scary. Look at UWS Dad’s comments. You don’t even have to go far to see that mentality in action.
Yes please refer to my extremely scary ultra left comments like *checks notes* ‘vote for Hochul’ ‘cut red tape’ & ‘build more housing’ really spooky stuff folks…
She will win because people reflexively vote for party.
Yep. When you have a one-party area sadly the party extremists who run the primaries dominate.
This is very sad.
Nice to see the government efficiency ballot proposals the Mamdani administration has proposed. And vote for Hochul obviously!
That’s Mamdani cult talking – always feeling superior to force unwanted advice down our throats.
Why are you telling us what to do? What makes you an expert?
Urbanists think they are the experts at everything and have done such a good job at regulatory capture of institutions whether it is schools, government agencies, private businesses to get their way.
I think you meant to say “And vote, obviously!”
No, he didn’t. In democratic socialism, we get told what to do, for our “own good,” by people “smarter”, more “progressive” than us, in the name of “liberalism.”
Why all the outrage over voting for the moderate incumbent governor?
Always strange to me that a blog dedicated to the UWS has such a following of rabid republicans in the comments…
If you believe that anyone with a different opinion is a rabid Republican, then you are thinking like a cult member.
You ever questioned who comes across as rabid and intolerant?
Is there anyone you disagree with that you haven’t insulted? Calling people “rabid Republicans” just because they question a Democratic governor proves Peter’s point about your arrogance and your belief that you’re somehow smarter and more progressive than everyone else.
The urbanist types are a cancer on the Democratic party. Its this smugness and arrogance that convinced Democrats in eastern Queens and parts of Long Island to vote for someone like George Santos in 2022. But its easy for faux progressives in trendy communities to do this when they can have their cake and eat it too!
How are these government efficiency measures different than a power grab? Doing whatever he wants with no unpit from the people
Absolutely agree. Especially on Proposal 3. Vote no.
Vote no on the ballot propositions which are just another power grab for Mamdani and his cult of socialists! Don’t let us end up like Italy, Spain, France, England and Michigan!
“no input from the people”
These ballot proposals are literally being voted on by… the people…
You know, eventually there will be a mayor you disagree with. Wont you want public input then?
That mayor that UWS Dad disagrees with certainly will be in office once Trump is not president anymore.
For example, proposal 3. Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Disposition of Unused City Property, Office Leasing
Currently, before implementing major transportation projects, such as adding or removing bike and bus lanes, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must notify local elected officials and Community Boards and consult with the Police Department, Fire Department, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, and the Department of Small Business Services. In limited cases where public safety concerns require immediate action, this proposal would clarify existing law that DOT can start work prior to notifying elected officials and community boards, when DOT finds that the project is necessary based on safety data. Additionally, technical errors or missed consultations would not be a valid reason to stop a project.
https://www.nycvotes.org/whats-on-the-ballot/2026-ballot-proposals/
I suppose in the sense that people are voting to relinquish their say on specifics and give more power to the current administration, then yes. I’m all for streamlining things like application procedures for individuals or small businesses, but I’m not necessarily in favor of streamlining procedures for the mayor that allows he (or she) to bypass current checks and balances.
Great summary and information, thank you! Also, I hope all who can vote, WILL vote. This is such an important (and well fought for) civic duty!
(PS always fascinating to see how the early voting locations scatter – for example, your example of 93rd Street directed to 102nd St; while 95th Street is going to 84th St. – Go figure! But, hey, as long as we vote!- Oh, and I hear we have ‘collectible’ stickers this time)
I am voting against the ballot proposals. I am against giving Mamdani more leeway at the expense of neighborhoods and City Council.
I am voting for the ballot proposals! The status quo is absolutely not working. I’ve engaged at least 10 people to vote this way as well.
You actually engaged all of bike and YIMBY X who already agree with you!
Smart decision! I’m with you 100%!
Always important to read opinions on ballot initiatives from media sources you trust. For example, the first initiative sounds great, but it also eliminates some public and legislative oversight. A definite tradeoff we should be cautious about.
The League of Women Voters has an excellent analysis of, pros and cons on the 5 proposals. Please inform yourself and don’t be swayed by snarky remarks.
In my opinion – as a born-and-bred 65+-year-old NYer who has lived on the UWS his entire life and voted in every single election held since I was 18 – I just wanted to say that I have watched as the voice of the average citizen has slowly but surely lost its power vis-a-vis City government.
In this regard, all five ballot proposals would cause us to lose even more of whatever voice we still have left. So I strongly urge a “no” vote on all of them.
That is, of course, simply the opinion of one man. But you should absolutely read the proposals and see if my assessment (that we would lose even more of our “power” over what happens in this City) is correct.
Completely agree.
Agreed. Vote NO on the ballot proposals.
I can’t wait to vote straight Republican ticket to save this city! I will be voting NO on every ballot proposition.
I don’t understand the connection. I will vote a straight Democratic line and still vote NO on all the proposals. I just don’t see it as a partisan issue.
Make sure to look over the ballot proposals, I plan to vote NO