Statement on the Defeat of Proposal 6: Moving City Elections to Presidential Election Years

New York, NY (November 4, 2025) – Citizens Union issued the following statement on the defeat of ballot proposal six, which would move the City’s primary and general election dates so that City elections are held in the same year as Federal Presidential elections, when permitted by state law:

“We are deeply disappointed that Ballot Proposal 6, an effort to move New York City’s elections to high-turnout presidential election years, did not pass. Supported by a broad coalition of civic, community, and voting rights organizations, this measure was designed to strengthen our local democracy by increasing participation in city elections and ensuring that millions more New Yorkers—particularly young people and voters of color—had a stronger voice in choosing who governs our city.

Bringing this reform to New York City voters was intended to reverse the decades-long decline in voter participation in mayoral elections, which hit a record low 23% turnout in 2021.

Despite the defeat of ballot question 6, we are encouraged by the unusually high levels of participation in this year’s municipal election. Preliminary election night numbers indicate that over 2 million New Yorkers cast a ballot this November, representing approximately 40% voter turnout.

This significant increase – the most ballots cast for mayor in half a century– is worth celebrating, but we should not assume that the turnout we saw in this general election represents a new normal. The incoming Mayor and state leaders must work to ensure that the civic energy we saw in this election cycle is not a once-in-a-generation event. This means investing more in voter education, civic programming, and supporting pro-voter reforms, like open primaries.

Citizens Union will continue to champion election reforms that increase voter turnout, close participation gaps, and engage more New Yorkers in their local democracy – as we have done for over a century.”