Early voting in NY starts this week. What to know about who's running, where to vote

With a Republican surge expected across the country and New York’s slate of revamped Congressional and state Senate districts, the midterm elections will be anything but boring in the Empire State.

The most visible race in New York is the one for the top seat in the state administration. Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, barely a year into office after being thrust into the role following her predecessor’s resignation, faces a stiff challenge from Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Long Island congressman who planted his platform on crime and economic issues.

Hochul has touted her record on gun control, after a pair of high-profile mass shootings in the spring, and her support for abortion and reproductive rights following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down Roe. v. Wade this summer.

Other high profile New York races include:

• A clash of the political newcomers in Central New York, where two veterans, Francis Conole and Brandon Williams, are vying for control of the newly formed 22nd Congressional District.

• A Hudson Valley race that pits longtime Democratic political figure Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who is running in a redrawn district that contains portions of the district he currently holds, against Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler in a race that Cook Political Report has called “a toss-up.”

The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8, but early voting starts this week.

Here’s what you need to know about who’s running, and how and when to vote in New York.

Am I eligible to vote in New York?

Here are the qualifications to vote in New York:

• You must be a U.S. citizen;

• Be 18 or older;

• Not be in prison for a felony conviction;

• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere;

• And not found to be incompetent by a court.

Where is my polling place?

You can look up where you are registered to vote, and which polling place you can attend, at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

When are polls open?

Polls are open for early voting starting on Saturday, Oct. 29. Early voting ends on Nov. 6.

Polling hours during the early voting period may vary - look up your local polling site for more information.

Polls are open for regular voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Zeldin's platform issues:Praised as tireless worker, Lee Zeldin zooms in on bail reform, crime, economy

Hochul makes case for first elected termKathy Hochul's personal touch lauded as she runs on abortion rights, gun control platforms

Can I vote by absentee ballot?

In order to vote by absentee ballot in this election, you must have requested an absentee ballot online or by mail prior to Monday, Oct. 24, or request one in person at your county Board of Elections Office by Nov. 7.

You can mail in your absentee ballot if you ensure it has a postmark no later than Nov. 8. You can also deliver it in person to your county Board of Elections office or a polling site in your county by Nov. 8.

Note that if you applied for an absentee ballot but then decide to vote in-person on the machine at your polling location, you will have to fill out an affidavit ballot, according to a recent New York law.

You can apply to vote by absentee ballot next year, starting on Jan. 1, 2023.

To qualify, you must meet one or more of these criteria:

• You are absent from your county or, if a resident of New York City absent from the five boroughs, on Election Day.

• You’re unable to appear because you are the primary caregiver of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.

• You’re a resident or patient of a Veterans Health Administration Hospital.

• You’re in jail or prison for any reason other than a felony conviction. This includes anyone who is awaiting grand jury action, awaiting trial, or serving a sentence for a misdemeanor.

To apply for an absentee ballot, go to Elections.ny.gov.

Who's running in the general election in NY?

Governor 

Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Long Island Republican congressman, veteran and Trump supporter, will face incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who has been in office just over a year after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.

Attorney General 

Incumbent Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat who has been in office since 2019, faces a challenge from New York City attorney Michael Henry, a Republican.

New York State Comptroller 

Paul Rodriguez, a Republican investor, is challenging incumbent Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the Long Island Democrat who was first elected to the role by a bipartisan majority of the state Legislature in 2007.

Congressional races 

Aside from the major statewide races, candidates are facing off in multiple revamped congressional districts, out of 26 total districts in New York (The state used to have 27, but one seat was cut due to lack of population growth between the 2010 and 2020 census.)

Here are a few high profile match-ups to watch across the Hudson Valley, Southern Tier, Central New York and Western New York.

16th District

Incumbent Democrat Rep. Jamaal Bowman will face Republican newcomer and doctor Miriam Levitt Flisser.

17th District

In the Hudson Valley, this hotly contested race features Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, who currently represents the 18th District, against Assemblyman Mike Lawler, R-Pearl River.

18th District

Democrat Pat Ryan, the former Ulster County Executive who is serving the remainder of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado’s congressional term in the 19th District, will face Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, R-New Windsor, for a full term in the 18th District, starting in January.

19th District

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Tivoli Republican, will take on attorney Josh Riley, an Ithaca Democrat, former aide to Rep. Maurice Hinchey and U.S. Sen. Al Franken.

20th District

In the 20th, Republican Liz Joy will challenge incumbent Rep. Paul D. Tonko, D-Amsterdam.

21st District

In this North Country district, Democrat Matt Castelli, who worked with the CIA and in counterterrorism under the Obama Administration, will take on Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House Republican conference chair.

22nd District

Two veterans and political newcomers will face off in this newly formed Central New York District − Democrat Francis Conole and Republican Brandon Williams. Parts of the district were represented by Rep. John Katko, D-Camillus, who is not running for reelection.

23rd District

Democrat Max Della Pia will face Nick Langworthy, New York’s Republican Party chairman, in this Southern Tier district, which stretches along the western edge of New York’s southern border. Rep. Joseph Sempolinski, R-Canisteo, is currently serving out the remainder of former Rep. Tom Reed's term in the current district, after Reed resigned earlier this year.

24th District

Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford, currently represents the former 22nd District that covers parts of Central New York and the Southern Tier. She's running against Democrat Steven Holden, a veteran and businessman, in the newly reformed 24th District, comprising a horseshoe-shaped swath of Northern New York, the Finger Lakes and Western New York.

25th District

Veteran politician and incumbent Rep. Joe Morelle, D-Irondequoit, will face a challenge from La'Ron Singletary, a newly minted Republican and former Rochester Police Chief.

State Senate

A number of state Senate seats are also up for grabs in the general election. To see who is running in your area, go to Vote411.org, where you can look up your ballot based on your address.

Where can I find election results?

The unofficial results of the August primary elections will be available after 9 p.m. on Nov. 8 at nyenr.elections.ny.gov.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: NY Elections: What to know about who's running, and how to vote early