Historic Voter Turnout in NYC Mayoral Race, Highest Since 1969

By Y.M. Lowy

Williamsburg showed up in impressive numbers Tuesday, but the citywide turnout was just as surprising, with results that reflect the high stakes of this year’s mayoral race. 

New York City saw the biggest voter turnout in decades, at levels not seen since 1969, when Mayor John Lindsay won re-election. While the city has grown and the number of registered voters has increased from roughly 3 million then to about 5 million now, this year’s enthusiasm still stands out. Throughout the 1950s and 60s, elections regularly saw over 2 million voters, but turnout dropped to around 1 million in more recent decades.

While final borough-by-borough results haven’t been officially released, data from election day shows nearly 572,000 ballots cast in Brooklyn and 444,000 in Manhattan. Queens trailed with 421,000, the Bronx tallied 187,000, and Staten Island reached 124,000, including early voting.

This election is a reminder that New Yorkers, from every neighborhood, understand the importance of their voice