New York governor election live updates for the 2026 race between Kathy Hochul and Bruce Blakeman

A Democratic governor has occupied New York's Executive Mansion in Albany for nearly two decades. Republican Bruce Blakeman is looking to change that, but polls suggest he still has an uphill climb in his quest to unseat incumbent Kathy Hochul.

Click here to read more.   

The New York State Board of Elections put out a statement explaining the issue impacting voting machines in Westchester County. 

"The issue affecting voting machines throughout Westchester County resulted from an update to the county's election programming that occurred after the initial preparation and testing of Election Day voting equipment. A change affecting a contest in one municipality required updated election programming, which was subsequently tested and deployed for early voting and for Election Day machines in that municipality. However, Election Day machines elsewhere in the county continued to use the original programming, and therefore could not recognize and accept the ballots being used for Election Day," the BOE said in a statement.

"The immediate priority is to restore scanning capability to at least one voting machine at every polling location, with additional machines being brought online as the day progresses," they added. 

Voting continues in the meanwhile under emergency ballot procedures, in which completed ballots are "securely maintained under bipartisan oversight and will be scanned and counted in accordance with established procedures." 

The BOE said the impacted scanners rejected the ballots rather than incorrectly tabulating them. 

"Every valid vote will be counted," the BOE said. 

New Jersey voters are casting their ballots in a number of races, including the Senate and House, where the balance of power is on the line. 

Early voting numbers may give a clear edge to Democrats, but Republicans say it's too early to count them out. 

Click here to read more.

Regarding the voting machine issue in Westchester County, the New York State Board of Elections did not say exactly what the issue was, but they said what it wasn't. In a statement, a spokesperson said "Paper thickness (or any other paper characteristic) was not the issue. This is not a vendor or machine issue." 

Voting machines at polling sites in Westchester County, New York, were not accepting election ballots Tuesday due to a ballot printing issue, according to County Executive Ken Jenkins. 

The scanners started experiencing problems when the polls opened at 6 a.m.   

Voters are being instructed to stay in line and fill out a paper ballot, which will be placed in orange emergency ballot bags to be counted later. 

The New York State Board of Elections said there is no disruption to voting.  

Click here to read more. 

New Yorkers can register to vote whenever they want, including Election Day, but they won't be able to cast a ballot in the 2026 midterm elections unless they met an October deadline.

The deadline to register to vote in time for this election was Oct. 24, and for New Jersey it was Oct. 13. 

For more information, click here. 

New York and New Jersey voters are headed to the polls to vote in the midterm elections. 

You won't be asked for any form of ID when you go to your polling location in either state, unless you are a first-time voter who didn't provide proper ID when you initially registered to vote. 

If you are a first-time voter, you may be asked for an ID with your current address, as well as other proof of your current address.

For more information, click here. 

Polls opened for voting in New York and New Jersey Tuesday morning at 6 a.m.

Polls will close at 8 p.m. in New Jersey. 

Polls will remain open in New York until 9 p.m. 

For more information, click here.