LI voters are turning out. Join them on Election Day.

Four years ago, more than 123,000 Nassau County residents and more than 98,000 in Suffolk took advantage of the state's relatively new early voting system.

It was, the editorial board said then, a "win" for the region.

This year, those numbers soared, as 191,793 voters in Nassau and 178,609 in Suffolk headed for the polls during the nine-day stretch of early voting. On top of that, more than 55,000 residents already have voted absentee.

Statewide, the number is more impressive — more than 1.9 million New Yorkers voted early — a 67% jump from four years ago.

It's an energy we don't often see in a midterm year. Voters are eager to send a message and anticipation about the outcome is high. 

It's not an ordinary midterm, in which control of Congress in at least one chamber might flip. This year, control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, along with statehouses and legislatures, hangs in the balance. The national landscape is dotted with deep divisions, uncertainty and concerns for our future. The conflict in Iran is destabilizing the Middle East, and higher costs of living are eroding families' budgets and future expectations, while the impacts of artificial intelligence loom and healthcare costs overwhelm many of us. Voters want their worries to be heard.

In New York there are races of consequence with key congressional seats up for grabs and the gubernatorial contest at the top of the ballot. 

It's key, though, that the local races don't get lost in the mix, as votes for town supervisors and local lawmakers directly affect our everyday lives. The issues that took center stage this election cycle included both the national themes and the most local of topics, like housing, water quality, flooding and road conditions. They're all on people's minds this week.

There are 2.1 million Long Islanders registered to vote this year, with 14,483 more newly registered voters than in 2024. The number of registered Democrats fell, while Republicans saw a small boost of over 2,100 during that same time frame. But it's worth paying attention to the third category — the "blanks," as they're known, as voters across the Island are increasingly choosing to remain unaffiliated with a party. The number of voters registered as "blanks" has risen by more than 55,000 in Nassau and Suffolk since November 2024.

It's a telling statistic. In both counties, those registered as Democrats outpaced Republicans in the early 2026 vote count, although party affiliation doesn't necessarily indicate a voter's ballot choices. But importantly, more than 83,000 registered "blanks" voted early this year. They'll be a deciding factor in many of this year's contests.

For weeks, voters have been inundated with nonstop ads, mailers, signs, texts and calls, as candidates have tried to make their message resonate.

Now, it's your turn. If you haven't already voted, seize your moment on Election Day.