NYC Elections 2019: How To Vote, What's At Stake

NEW YORK — Some New Yorkers may be suffering from political fatigue between last year's midterm elections and the already heated 2020 presidential race. But voters still have a civic duty to do this week with three local offices and several changes to the City Charter on the ballot.

A public advocate and Brooklyn City Council member will be chosen to serve two more years. And Queens voters will choose a new district attorney for the first time in nearly three decades.

Thousands of New Yorkers have already cast their ballots, as this election was the first to feature early voting under a state law signed in January. But the polls will be open bright and early Tuesday morning for anyone who didn't get to vote early.

Here's what you need to know about the city's 2019 elections.

What's On The Ballot?

Public Advocate

Democratic Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is defending the seat he won in a February special election to replace Letitia James, who became the state attorney general. The self-described activist elected official is facing Joe Borelli, a Republican council member, and Devin Balkind, a Libertarian technologist.

Williams, who ran for lieutenant governor last year, is the likely favorite given his strong name recognition. But Borelli has cast himself as a foil to Mayor Bill de Blasio and won some support from law-enforcement unions.

The winner will serve out the remaining two years of James's term. The seat will be up for grabs again in 2021.

Queens District Attorney

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz is the heavy favorite to be Queens's top prosecutor after her nail-biting, 16-vote Democratic primary win over the public defender Tiffany Cabán. Katz's opponent is Joe Murray, a defense lawyer and former cop.

Katz has pledged to be a progressive, reform-minded prosecutor while Murray has reportedly run on a tougher public safety platform. The winner will be the permanent replacement for former DA Richard Brown, who died in May after nearly 28 years in office. John Ryan has since served as acting DA.

45th City Council District

Council Member Farah Louis is looking to win her third race this year for her seat, which Williams left to become public advocate. After winning a special election in May and a primary in June, the Democrat will have to fend off the community organizer Anthony Beckford and the Libertarian candidate David Fite.

City Charter Amendments

Voters will also decide the fate of five sets of changes to the city's governing document. They include a proposal to implement ranked-choice voting, which would let New Yorkers pick up to five candidates for mayor and other offices in order of preference.

Read more about the ballot questions here.

How Do I Vote?

If you didn't vote early, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. Registered voters can find their polling site by logging their address into this city website.