Local Elected Officials and Governance
VOTING
What is absentee voting and how can I request an absentee ballot?
Absentee voting is the process by which a person votes without physically going to a polling site. There are a number of reasons why someone may vote absentee, including: illness, physical disability, military service, detention in jail and awaiting trial, etc.
When can I start voting?
The good news is that you can vote early! Election Day is Tuesday, November 7th, 2023, but there is no need to wait until then. New York’s early voting period is from Saturday, October 28th to Sunday, November 5th.
The Board of Elections will keep you updated about absentee voting, requesting an absentee ballot online, and where you can vote early.
Community Boards + Neighborhood advisory boards
What are Community Boards?
Community Boards are local advisory groups that allow you to directly participate and influence what is happening in your local community. Anyone who lives, works, or has significant interest in a community can become a Community Board Member.
Every Community Board has smaller committees that help community members address specific areas impacting their neighborhoods. These include economic development, land use, social services, education, housing, and public safety, among others. Community Boards also play a very important advisory role with zoning changes and they make recommendations in the City’s budget process.
How do I learn more about my Community Board?
If you want to learn more, the NYC Department of City Planning publishes Community District Profiles of all 59 community districts (also known as community boards!) where you will find information on demographics, geographic boundaries, and resources in your district.
How do I join my Community Board?
You can apply online, or contact the Borough President’s Office or your local Council Member.
What are Neighborhood Advisory Boards?
Neighborhood Advisory Boards (NABs) provide another opportunity to get involved in your local community. NABs operate in low-income communities, or Neighborhood Development Areas (NDAs), and help the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) identify funding opportunities and ways to fill needs in a local community.
Not every neighborhood has an NAB or NDA. You can find a map of all of Brooklyn’s NDAs here.
How do I join my Neighborhood Advisory Board?
If you are interested in joining your Neighborhood Advisory Board, you can fill out this application or get in contact with DYCD’s Youth Connect by phone (800-246-4646) or email (youthconnect@dycd.nyc.gov).
New York city Elected officials
City Council
What is the City Council?
The New York City Council is the legislative body of New York City. The Council is composed of 51 Council Members who serve as our local elected representatives. They propose and vote on laws (legislation) that impact many areas of our everyday lives.
What do our Council Members do?
City Council Members help to run our New York City government. They hold our Mayor accountable and monitor the performance of City agencies. This makes sure that we (their constituents!) are getting the services we need.
Some examples of the agencies they hold accountable are the NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Taxi and Limousine Commission. Most of the legislative work that happens at the City Council occurs in committees. These include: Criminal Justice, Economic Development, Education, and Public Housing.
How long can they serve?
City Council Members can serve a maximum of two four-year terms.
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Borough president
What does the Borough President do?
The Borough President is an elected official that provides oversight for our borough and highlights issues impacting our communities. They also appoint community board members, hold an advisory role in the land review process, and are a non-voting member of the City Council.
Who is our Brooklyn Borough President?
Antonio Reynoso is the current Brooklyn Borough President. He was elected in 2021 after serving as the City Council Member for District 34.
How long can they serve?
The Borough President can serve up to three four-year terms.
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Public Advocate
What is the Public Advocate?
The Public Advocate is a citywide elected position that serves as the “watchdog” for New York City. In addition, the Public Advocate is the first in line to succeed the Mayor, is a non-voting member of the New York City Council, and is the only elected official who can file lawsuits against the city.
Who is our current Public Advocate?
Jumaane Williams is our current Public Advocate. He was elected in 2019 in a Special Election after serving in the New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s 45th Council District. BYD also endorsed Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate.
How long can they serve?
The Public Advocate can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.
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Comptroller
What is the Comptroller?
The Comptroller serves as the city’s chief financial officer, monitoring the city’s finances, fiscal health and budget. They have the power to audit city agencies, register all city contracts, and they manage our city’s public pension funds.
Who is the Current Comptroller?
Brad Lander is the current New York City Comptroller. He was elected in 2021 after serving as the City Council Member for District 39.
How long can they serve?
The Comptroller can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.
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Mayor
What is the Mayor?
The Mayor is New York City’s chief executive. The Mayor oversees the city’s agencies, budget and administers our city’s services. The Commissioners of our city’s agencies, which deliver many programs and services to New Yorkers, are appointed by the Mayor.
Who is our current Mayor?
Eric Adams is the current Mayor of New York City. Before being elected in 2021, Adams served as Brooklyn Borough President.
How long can the Mayor serve?
The Mayor can serve up to two consecutive four-year terms.
new York state elected officials
New York State Assembly
What is the State Assembly?
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The laws they vote on impact New Yorkers across the entire state. There are currently 150 Assembly Members.
What do our Assembly Members do?
Our Assembly Members work to hold state agencies accountable. As their constituents, it is their job to make sure we are getting the services we need and our state government is functioning properly. The Assembly works very closely with the Senate to vote and pass laws that impact us at the state level, help establish our state budget, and hold the Governor accountable.
How long can they serve?
Assembly Members are elected every two years, and there are no term limits on the number of two-year terms they can serve.
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New York State Senate
What is the State Senate?
The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature. The Senate works very closely with the Assembly to vote and pass laws that impact us at the state level. The laws they vote on also impact New Yorkers across the entire state. There are currently 63 New York State Senators.
What do our State Senators do?
Our State Senators work to hold state agencies accountable. As their constituents, it is their job to make sure we are getting the services we need and our state government is functioning properly.
How long can they serve?
State Senators are elected every two years, and there are no term limits on the number of two-year terms they can serve.
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Attorney General
What is the Attorney General?
The Attorney General is New York State’s chief legal officer, “People’s Lawyer,” and head of the state’s Department of Law. The Attorney General is officially independent of the Governor, but the position advises the Executive branch of the state government. The Attorney General’s job is to also protect the legal rights of the citizens, resources and organizations of New York. This includes consumer protection and defending actions on behalf of New York State.
Who is our Attorney General?
Letitia "Tish" James is our current New York State Attorney General. Before being elected Attorney General in 2018, Letitia James served as New York City’s Public Advocate.
How long can they serve?
The Attorney General is elected every four years. There are no term limits.
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Governor
What is the Governor?
The Governor is the chief executive and head of the New York State government. The Governor signs bills into law at the state level, sets forth the budget for the state and enforces our state’s laws, including election law.
Who is our Governor?
Kathy Hochul is the current New York State Governor. She previously served as the state’s Lieutenant Governor.
How long can they serve?
The Governor is elected every four years. There are no term limits.
Federal elected officials
UNITED STATES SENATE
What is the Senate?
The United States Senate serves as one of the checks and balances to the powers of the Federal Government and shares full legislative power with the House of Representatives, another branch of our government. One example of the Senate’s power is its ability to try impeachments.
In the Senate, all states are represented equally. Regardless of size or population, each state has two senators.
What are some examples of Senate Committees?
Some of the Senate Committees include Budget, Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Finance, and Appropriations.
Who are the current U.S. Senators for New York?
New York State is currently represented by Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles “Chuck” Schumer. Both Senators Gillibrand and Schumer served in the U.S. House of Representatives before becoming U.S. Senators, with Schumer representing Brooklyn in Congress.
How long can U.S. Senators serve?
U.S. Senators serve six-year terms and there are no term limits.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
What is the U.S. House of Representatives?
The House of Representatives is one of Congress’s two chambers (the other is the U.S. Senate) that makes and passes federal laws. Along with the Senate, the House is charged with passing federal legislation that gets sent to the President.
There are 435 voting representatives in the House, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
What are some examples of House Committees?
Some of the House Committees include Foreign Affairs, Small Business, Ethics, and Veterans’ Affairs.
Who are our Brooklyn Congressional Representatives?
Nydia Velázquez represents the 7th Congressional District of New York, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Maspeth, Ridgewood, and Woodhaven, as well as the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick, East New York, East Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. Before Congress, Velázquez, served as the Director of the Department of Puerto Rican Community Affairs in the United States.
Hakeem Jeffries represents the 8th Congressional District of New York, which includes the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Canarsie, East New York, Ocean Hill, East Flatbush, Bergen Beach, Gerritsen Beach, Howard Beach, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Sea Gate, Clinton Hill, Flatlands, Fort Greene, Ozone Park, Brighton Beach, and Coney Island. Before serving in Congress, Jeffries was a member of the New York State Assembly.
Yvette Clarke represents the 9th Congressional District of New York, which includes the neighborhoods of of Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Gerritsen Beach, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Before Congress, Clarke represented the 40th District in the New York City Council.
Dan Goldman represents the 10th Congressional District of New York, which The district contains all of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Cobble Hill, Red Hook, Gowanus, Prospect Heights, Park Slope, and Sunset Park, as well as portions of Borough Park and Bay Ridge.
Nicole Malliotakis represents the 11th Congressional District of New York, which includes all of Staten Island as well as the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bay Ridge, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, southwestern Gravesend, western Sheepshead Bay, and parts of southern Bensonhurst. Before serving in Congress, Malliotakis was a State Assembly Member.
How long can House Members serve?
Representatives serve two-year terms. There are no term limits.
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PRESIDENT
What does the President do?
The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of the United States, who also acts as the head of state and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress.
How long can the President serve in office?
The President can serve two consecutive four-year terms.
Who is our current President?
Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States. Before being elected in 2020, Biden served as Vice President under President Barack Obama.