Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton, a former senator for New York, is
expected to win against Brooklyn-born Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.
For the Republicans, Queens-born Donald Trump is likely to come ahead
of Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Wins will put Mrs Clinton and Mr Trump closer to securing their nominations.
As Mr Trump cast his votes at Central Synagogue in Manhattan on
Tuesday morning, he said: "It's just an honour, and my whole reason for
doing this is to make America great again."
Mrs Clinton voted with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, near
their home in upstate Chappaqua.
They hope big victories in the delegate-rich state will help them regain
momentum and overcome criticism over the strength of their campaigns.
What's New York's state of mind?
Have New York's struggles shaped the Trump campaign?
It has been a fierce campaign in the state, with the leading candidates using their local ties to attract voters. Hillary Clinton was twice elected senator for New York, and a defeat there would be a devastating political blow. Whereas Mr Trump, who was born in the New York City borough of
Queens, lives in a building bearing his name in midtown Manhattan. The primaries are the state's most decisive in decades in selecting the
candidates, and polls will be open until 21:00 (01:00 GMT Wednesday)
Mrs Clinton's side sees the vote as a make-or-break moment, and they
say a victory there will virtually seal her Democratic nomination.
Opinion polls have given her a lead over Mr Sanders, who has won seven
out of the last eight state votes.
"We are not taking anything for granted,'' Mrs Clinton said. "Tell your
friends and your family, everyone, to please vote tomorrow [Tuesday]."
Mr Sanders hopes a victory in New York will keep his candidacy alive, as
there are 291 delegates at stake.
The Democratic campaign has turned increasingly negative, with
both candidates trading barbs about their qualifications.
On the eve of the primary, Mr Sanders accused Hillary Clinton of
campaign finance violations, an allegation her team denied.
How the nomination process works
For Mr Trump, a win in New York will reduce the chances of a
contested nomination at the Republican party convention in July.
The big question is whether he will make a clean sweep of all 95
Republican delegates at stake in New York by earning the majority of
votes.
Polls have given him a clear lead over Ohio Governor John Kasich and Mr
Cruz.
The Texas senator has had a poor performance in New York following an
earlier comment in which he accused Mr Trump of having "New
York values".
Mr Cruz made a few television appearances on Monday defending his
remarks, but was already eyeing voters in Pennsylvania, which votes
next week.
In a campaign event in Buffalo, Mr Trump told his supporters that "no
New Yorker" could vote for Mr Cruz, who did "not represent what we
need.''
But he made a slip-of-the-tongue during a speech about the 11
September 2001 attacks, when he erroneously mentioned the name of a
popular convenience store chain.
"It's very close to my heart because I was down there, and I watched
our police and our firemen down at 7/11, down at the World Trade
Center right after it came down, and I saw the greatest people I've
ever seen in action," Mr Trump said.
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