From Staten Island to Manhattan, a smattering of New Yorkers headed to the polls on the second day of early voting on Sunday. 

On Staten Island’s North Shore, voter turnout was light. But some voters came in after attending church services, and agreed that early voting beat fighting the crowds on Election Day.


What You Need To Know

  • A polling site on Staten Island saw just a handful of people take advantage of early voting 

  • Manhattan Democrats held a big Get-Out-The-Vote rally on the Upper West Side 

  • Both Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James attended the rally. James is mulling a run for governor against Hochul next year 

“No, I don’t wait until Election Day. I don’t like lines," voter Daryl Robinson told NY1. "I don’t want to stand in line for long periods of time, so if there is early voting, I am going to take advantage of it. Most definitely."

Still, there wasn’t quite the same enthusiasm that people saw in the June primaries, or in last fall’s presidential election.

“It’s unfortunate. There was nobody in there. And I don’t know if it’s mostly because it’s a Democratic race, or people just don’t vote on Sundays ," voter Cedric Davis said. "But there was no one there. It’s kind of disheartening.”

Meanwhile, on Manhattan’s voter-rich Upper West Side, a big Get-Out-The-Vote rally took place in front of the 72nd Street subway stop. Gov. Kathy Hochul is courting the base as she gears up to run for a full term next year.

“Every time I’ve been running, or helping other people run, we stand out here. And it’s so fun to campaign here with people coming off the subway, and they are always so happy to see politicians hand them literature!" Hochul joked. "You just get this sense of, 'They are so happy — we made their day,' right? Yeah, I know. I’m just kidding you.”

Not to be outdone, New York Attorney General Letitia James also showed up at the rally. Neither she nor Hochul are on the ballot this year, but James is mulling a challenge to Hochul in the race for governor. Her speech focused on labor, New York state and its challenges, as well as national politics.

“Donald Trump and the Republican Party represent an existential threat to all that we believe in," James said. "Our values. Our institutions. Our principles. They stand between us and progress.”

James is also up for re-election as attorney general next year, unless she runs for governor.

New Yorkers will be able to vote early through Sunday, Oct. 31. Polls will be closed for the day on Monday, Nov. 1, before reopening on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2.