May 8, 2025
Our Reform Agenda
- Move local elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years across New York
- Improve voter engagement practices in CUNY and SUNY colleges
- Improve agency-based voter registration in city government
- Amend the constitution to allow same-day voter registration
- Amend the constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting
- Allow any NYC voter to vote in any early voting site in their borough
- Maintain and strengthen Ranked Choice Voting in New York City
- Move local elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years across New York
- Improve voter engagement practices in CUNY and SUNY colleges
- Improve agency-based voter registration in city government
- Amend the constitution to allow same-day voter registration
- Amend the constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting
- Allow any NYC voter to vote in any early voting site in their borough
- Maintain and strengthen Ranked Choice Voting in New York City
Highlights:
1915
Slate voting reversed; Citizens Union enables voters to choose candidates across parties
2004
CU helps to pass NYC's Young Adult Voter Registration Act.
2019
Ranked Choice Voting passes in a voter referendum
Recent Action on Boost Voter Participation and Protect Voting Rights
Statements
April 30, 2025
Citizens Union Applauds Charter Revision Commission for Advancing Open Primaries and Even Year Elections
February 7, 2025
Citizens Union and Reinvent Albany Call for a Real Reform in How Special Elections Are Run in New York
October 9, 2024
Citizens Union Responds to Onondaga Supreme Court Ruling Striking Down Law Aligning Local Elections with Even-Numbered Years
Reports
September 24, 2025
Even-Year Elections Drive Dramatically Higher Turnout for Races All the Way Down the Ballot, New Report from Citizens Union Finds
June 30, 2010
Citizens Union Issues Report with Recommendations for Increasing Avenues for Participation in Governing and Elections in New York City
June 10, 2025
Citizens Union Announces Broad Candidate Support For Moving New York City Elections To Even-Numbered Years
November 15, 2023
Citizens Union Analysis of the November 2023 Election Finds Significant Voter Turnout Drop in Off-Year Local Elections
Bill Memos
May 9, 2025
Memo of support for S1356A (Skoufis)/A3649B (Taylor), requiring New York join multistate voter list maintenance organizations
February 25, 2025
Memo of Support, S2543 (Myrie), provides for statewide voter guides
May 21, 2024
Voting Rights, Disability Rights, Civic, and Community Groups Support Bill to Move City Election to Even-Years
May 21, 2024
Memo of Support, S6875 (Myrie)/A9612 (Walker), voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals
Visit Citizens Union's Library for insights on Boost Voter Participation and Protect Voting Rights.