Your Guide to the 2026 NYC Elections: How to be Prepared

With election season around the corner, it’s never too early to start thinking about the issues that will shape the future of our communities, city, and country.

Know Your Voting Options in NYC

There are multiple ways to vote in New York City so that your schedule doesn’t get in the way of your civic duty:

Vote Early: Take advantage of the early voting period to cast your ballot in person ahead of Election Day, avoiding the lines and picking a time that works best for you.

Vote by Mail: Apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot if you will be away or prefer voting from home.

Vote on Election Day: Head to your designated poll site on election day to participate right in your neighborhood.

How You Can Prepare Now:

Before heading out to vote, here are a few tips to help you avoid any hiccups at your polling site.

Get Registered & Check Your Status: Make sure your voter registration is up to date. You can check your status or register to vote by clicking here.

Locate Polling Sites: Find your assigned early voting locations or Election Day polling sites using the NYC Poll Site Finder.

A Breakdown of the 2026 NYC Ballot Proposals

This fall, New York City voters will see five proposed amendments to the New York City Charter on the back of the ballot. Here is a quick, plain-language guide to what each one means:

Speed Up Process for Granting a Revocable Consent to Use Public Space
- What it does: Simplifies the process for using public spaces (like ramps, planters, and sidewalk cafes) by making public hearings optional and removing the City Council’s authority to veto sidewalk cafe permits, while still maintaining community and Council input notifications.
- Vote Impact: A Yes vote speeds up the process while preserving community input; a No vote keeps the longer, mandatory public hearing and Council review process.
Reduce City Contractor Paperwork & Require Regular Procurement Board Meetings
- What it does: Reduces administrative burdens for city contractors by empowering the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) to simplify contractor questionnaires, allows the Mayor to delegate certain contract approvals, and mandates that the PPB meet at least once every three months.
- Vote Impact: A Yes vote amends PPB authority to streamline paperwork and delegate approvals; a No vote leaves the current, lengthier questionnaire requirements in place.
Speed Up Street Safety Projects, Unused Property Sales, and Office Leasing
- What it does: Fast-tracks major transportation and street safety projects (allowing emergency work to start prior to local notifications in urgent public safety situations), creates an expedited review process for selling or leasing smaller/unused city properties, and removes City Council review and hearing requirements when the city leases office space for its workforce.
- Vote Impact: A Yes vote simplifies street projects, property sales, and office leasing; a No vote maintains the current, more complex multi-agency review and approval steps.
Simplify Building Permitting and Move Waterfront Permitting to DOB
- What it does: Authorizes the Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner to appoint more officials to sign off on construction documents, requires the creation of a single centralized digital construction permitting hub by 2030, and transfers waterfront construction permitting from the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) to the DOB.
- Vote Impact: A Yes vote authorizes a centralized permitting hub and shifts waterfront permits to DOB; a No vote leaves the current multi-agency permitting structure unchanged.
Set Contribution Targets for Rainy Day Fund
- What it does: Establishes a savings target for the city’s Rainy Day Fund (aiming to hold a minimum balance equal to at least 12% of the previous year’s tax revenue) and requires the Office of Management and Budget to publish a clear plan detailing how deposits will be calculated and made.
- Vote Impact: A Yes vote requires a formal methodology and savings targets for future financial reserves (subject to annual budget approval); a No vote leaves the laws unchanged with no specific reserve targets.

You can find more information about the general election and the ballot proposals at www.nycvotes.org