Advocates call on the New York City Council to approve a Resolution supporting moving City elections to even-numbered years
Yesterday, Citizens Union was proud to join a coalition of more than 20 civic, community, and voting rights groups in supporting City Council Resolution 189-A (Ung), which urges the New York State Legislature to approve a constitutional amendment to move New York City’s municipal elections to even-numbered years.
In considering the resolution, the City Council can send a clear message to Albany lawmakers that New York City prioritizes an inclusive local democracy that encourages, rather than discourages, New Yorkers to vote.
Voter participation in New York City municipal elections has been in decline for two decades and could reach a new low of 21-22% in next year’s mayoral race.
At a Council public hearing, we presented new evidence on why New York City should move all local elections to even-numbered years, including:
The 2024 election saw boost in voter turnout for local elections: A new report by the University of California San Diego demonstrates how turnout changed throughout America’s biggest cities when elections were moved on-cycle. San Francisco and Las Vegas held their first mayoral elections in an even-numbered year, resulting in voter turnout increases of twofold and fivefold, respectively.
New research finds off-cycle elections result in severe racial and age disparities: The Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School presented the City Council with a new study of voter turnout, concluding that although voters of every race turn out at significantly higher rates in presidential years compared to midterm and odd-year elections, the increase in turnout is especially dramatic for minority voters.
Even-year elections elevate local, down-ballot issues: The November 2024 election demonstrated how high-profile national elections increase voter turnout for even the lowest contests on the ballot. Proposition 1, a referendum appearing on the back of New Yorkers’ ballot, received more than double the votes than the Mayor of New York City.
For more information on the benefits of moving to even-year elections and how this policy addresses specific concerns for New York City, read the full memorandum in support.