More than 20,000 first-time voters have registered with New York state in what state officials are calling an "unprecedented surge" of voter interest ahead of the state's April 19 presidential primary.

Nearly 41,000 individuals filed online voter registration applications between March 10th and 20th. The online registration system set a record on Friday with almost 14,000 registration applications received.

Voters must register by March 25 in order to participate in the primary.

The online system also allows users to change their address. It's operated by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles, which sends registration materials to local boards of election.