The New York City mayoral election is witnessing a historic surge in voter participation, with more than 1.45 million residents checking in to vote so far. According to the New York City Board of Elections, as of 3:00 PM on Election Day, a total of 1,451,942 individuals had either cast their ballots or checked in for advance voting.
This unprecedented level of engagement marks the highest voter check-in total recorded for a citywide general election since 2001. The record for votes cast in a modern mayoral race was set in 2001 with 1,480,000, a figure this year’s election appears poised to challenge.
Voter turnout has been strong across all five boroughs. Brooklyn leads with 478,909 check-ins, followed by Manhattan with 383,467. Queens has reported 342,882 check-ins, while the Bronx and Staten Island recorded 145,591 and 101,093 check-ins, respectively.
This remarkable participation has already shattered recent records. By early Tuesday afternoon, the total number of checked-in voters had surpassed the overall turnout of the 2005 general election. For comparison, previous general election totals were 1,289,935 in 2005, 1,154,802 in 2009, 1,087,710 in 2013, 1,166,314 in 2017, and 1,125,258 in 2021.
New Yorkers began heading to the polls early in the morning, with voting sites open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The highly contested mayoral race features leading candidates Zohran Mamdani (Democratic nominee), Andrew Cuomo (Independent), and Curtis Sliwa (Republican). In addition to the mayoral contest, voters are electing City Council members, the Public Advocate, and the Manhattan District Attorney, as well as deciding on several key ballot proposals.
The election has energized the city’s diverse communities, including the Nepali American population, thousands of whom are eligible to vote. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more than 95,000 people of Nepali origin have acquired U.S. citizenship through naturalization. When including second-generation Nepali Americans born in the United States, the total number of eligible Nepali American voters is estimated to exceed 125,000 nationwide.
Data from the Asian American Research Center further show that as of last year, there were approximately 91,909 registered Nepali American voters across the country—24,561 in the Northeast, 16,645 in the Midwest, 31,953 in the South, and 18,750 in the West. That number has risen this year as more Nepalis have obtained U.S. citizenship.
Between 2015 and 2023, over 56,000 Nepalis became U.S. citizens, in addition to more than 20,000 before 2014. Including 2024 and 2025 figures, that total now approaches 75,000, pushing the cumulative count beyond 95,000. During fiscal year 2023 alone, 9,300 Nepalis received U.S. citizenship—4,830 women, 4,440 men, and 20 others. Among them, 6,580 were married, 2,410 unmarried, 280 listed as other, and 40 as unknown. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recorded 9,408 new Nepali citizens in 2022 and 7,232 in 2021, showing a steady annual average of around 10,000 new citizens in recent years.
According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, approximately 225,000 people identified as Nepali in the United States in 2023. A Pew Research Center analysis of the same data found that 46% have lived in the United States for more than a decade, and 47% hold U.S. citizenship—aligning closely with Homeland Security’s estimates of around 105,000 Nepali-origin citizens nationwide.
Bashu Phulara, a Nepali American lawyer and long-time Queens resident, described casting his ballot as “a simple yet meaningful way to contribute to the future of this city.”
The importance of civic participation was further emphasized by Maryland State Delegate Harry Bhandari, who urged Nepali Americans in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia to celebrate democracy by making sure their votes are counted.
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Kishor Panthi
View More PostsKishor Panthi is the founder and editor-in-chief of Khasokhas and NepYork. He is the author of three books, “Kampan,” "UNTRANSLATABLE" and “Zero Mile.” He writes about social issues, immigration, and politics.
