How and when to vote early in New York and New Jersey
NEW YORK -- Early voting kicked off Saturday in New York and New Jersey for the 2024 presidential election.
It was also the last day to register to vote in New York ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Both states have nine days of early voting through Nov. 3. There is no voting on Nov. 4.
Early voting started last week in Connecticut for the state's first time in a general election.
Polls will reopen at 6 a.m. on Election Day and stay open until at 8 p.m. in Connecticut and New Jersey and until 9 p.m. in New York. Reminder, early voting locations may be different from those on Election Day.
Early voting in New York
New York City voters are assigned a specific early voting poll site, but voters outside the city can choose any of the Early Voting centers in their county. Click here to find your early voting hours and location.
Here are the Early Voting dates and times for New York City:
- Saturday, October 26 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday, October 28 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 31 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 1 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Early Voting dates and times for Nassau County:
- Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, October 28 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Thursday, October 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday, November 1 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Early Voting dates and times for Suffolk County:
- Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Thursday, October 31 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 1 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Early Voting dates and times for Westchester County:
- Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, October 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, October 31 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Early voting in New Jersey
New Jersey counties have designated early voting sites open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Click here to find your early voting hours and location.
Early voting dates and times for New Jersey
- Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Monday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 31 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Friday, November 1 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
New York, New Jersey residents cross voting off their to-do list
Some polling sites saw long lines Saturday, while others were a breeze for those casting their vote.
The New York City Board of Elections said the city had the highest ever day one turnout, with about 140,000 New Yorkers casting their votes.
New Yorkers have been able to vote early since 2020, and it's now become the preferred method for many.
"The benefit of early voting is we're done now, our votes count, and we don't have to rush," Washington Heights resident Paul Kochman said.
Brandon Abad, from Washington Heights, just turned 18 last year, and Saturday was his first time voting. His mom, Norma Abad, just became a naturalized United States citizen two years ago, so it was her first time voting, too.
"I have my son, he was born here, and I want good things for him, for all the new generation is coming," Norma Abad said.
"I was a bit nervous, but everything was organized, everything was quick. I thought the lines were gonna be longer, but it was pretty quick and easy," Brandon Abad said.
Lines were longer in White Plains and other parts of the city. New Yorkers who spoke to CBS News New York were happy to get it done ahead of Election Day.
"You never know what your day is gonna look like that day. You don't know if your dog is gonna get sick, you know? Get it out of the way when you can," Washington Heights resident Matthew Janisse said.
Officials in Suffolk County, Long Island unveiled a new early voting and training center Friday. Some 5,000 poll inspectors will be trained there, and any registered Suffolk County resident can vote early there. Officials said voting early is helpful for alleviating lines on Election Day.
Early voting was officially signed into law in New Jersey in 2021, just after the last presidential election. The line was down the block Saturday at the Jack Alter Community Center in Fort Lee, but voters said it was worth the wait.
"This is the first time in our lives that we voted early. I really enjoyed it," Fort Lee resident Arthur Jensen said.
"I believe this election is so incredibly important that I would stand here as long as it takes to vote," Edgewater resident George Rey said.
Watch CBS News New York's latest political coverage leading up to Election Day, and don't miss "The Point with Marcia Kramer" on Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m.
