New York Governor Suspends Early Voting Due to Winter Storm
By: Joseph T. Burns
Early voting in New York for the special elections to fill the vacancies in office in Assembly Districts 36 and 74 as well as Senate District 47 was suspended for January 25 and 26 due to the incoming winter storm. Gov. Kathy Hocul issued an Executive Order using her emergency powers to suspend the sections of the Election Law that require early voting on January 25 and 26 for the February 3, 2026, special elections in these districts.
Gov. Hochul’s Executive Order also allows the New York City Board of Elections to extend early voting hours on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday prior to the day of the special election.
In addition to these three special elections in New York City on February 3, there is one special election in Western New York on the ballot as well. That election, for the 61st State Senate District, is to fill the vacancy in office created by Sean Ryan’s election as Mayor of Buffalo. Hochul did not suspend early voting for that special election in her Executive Order.
Because the state constitution states that the Senate and Assembly shall “be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members,” the winners of these special elections may take office prior to any Board of Elections certification of the election. Winners of these special elections, however, will only serve for the remainder of the current state legislative term, which ends on December 31, 2026.
These seats will again appear on a ballot at the 2026 General Election. Those contests will be for a full term commencing on January 1, 2027.
We will continue to monitor developments in the contests for these state legislative seats and provide updates when appropriate.
