NYC Early Voting Suspended Amid Winter Storm: What Voters Should Know

Early Voting Suspended in NYC Special Elections Amid Winter Storm: What Voters Need to Know

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Key takeaways

• Early voting is suspended on Sunday and Monday due to an incoming winter storm, per the NYC Board of Elections.
• The February 3 special elections will fill seats vacated by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the 36th Assembly District (Queens); Manhattan Senate seat held by Brad Hoylman-Sigal in the 47th Senate District; and City Councilmember Harvey Epstein in Assembly District 74 in Manhattan.
• The New York State Board of Elections plans to add hours to make up for lost voting time, Hochul said.
• The Buffalo-based 61st Senate District special election will continue without impact; weather is not expected to affect that race as severely.

Table of Contents

Overview

Early voting for New York City’s Feb. 3 special elections will be suspended on Sunday and Monday due to an incoming winter storm, the city Board of Elections said Friday. The elections will fill seats vacated by Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the 36th Assembly District in Queens; Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal in the 47th Senate District in Manhattan; and City Councilmember Harvey Epstein in Assembly District 74 in Manhattan. “There is also a special election in Buffalo, but I don’t believe the weather will be severe enough to affect this early voting on Sunday in Buffalo,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. The New York State Board of Elections plans to add additional hours to make up for lost voting time, Hochul said.

What’s happening

The winter weather is prompting officials to pause early voting and later extend hours to compensate. The 47th Senate District includes Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen, the Upper West Side and part of Central Park. The 36th Assembly District covers western and central Astoria, Ditmars, Astoria Heights and northern Long Island City. The 74th Assembly District includes parts of Gramercy Park, Murray Hill, Union Square and the Lower East Side. A separate special election to fill the 61st Senate District seat in western New York, vacated by former state Sen. Sean Ryan, will continue without impact.

Affected districts

The districts impacted by the suspended early voting include the 36th Assembly District (Astoria area in Queens), the 47th Senate District (Manhattan and nearby areas), and the 74th Assembly District (Manhattan’s eastern neighborhoods). These races are part of a broader effort to replace three city and state offices in the February cycle, as noted above.

Implications for voters

With Sunday and Monday voting paused, turnout dynamics could shift for the Feb. 3 elections. The NYSBOE intends to add hours to recover lost time, but voters should expect schedule changes and monitor official updates closely. Buffalo’s 61st Senate District is not expected to be disrupted by city weather, according to Hochul, though residents should still verify local information.

How to stay informed

Voters should check the NYC Board of Elections and NYSBOE websites for the latest schedules and any rescheduling. Local outlets, including Spectrum News, may offer ongoing coverage. Rely on official notices from your local board for the most accurate guidance and plan accordingly around winter conditions.

Next steps

While NYC pauses certain voting activities, the calendar remains focused on Feb. 3, with updates issued as weather forecasts evolve. Officials will announce new hours to make up for lost time, and voters are encouraged to stay engaged through credible sources and official channels.