Elections and Voting

Public Comment for Voting Rights Act Preclearance – Moving New York City’s Elections to Even Years

August 18, 2025 - Citizens Union respectfully urges the Office of the Attorney General to grant preclearance for Preclearance Submission No. 701, a proposal to shift elections held for City office in New York City from odd years to even years, contingent upon a change to the New York State Constitution, which was adopted by the Charter Revision Commission to be voted on at a referendum held on November 4, 2025

Citizens Union Applauds Charter Revision Commission Approving an Even-Year Elections Ballot Question for this November

July 21, 2025 — Citizens Union issued the following statement from Executive Director Grace Rauh ahead of the final meeting of the 2025 Charter Revision Commission, which is expected to approve a ballot question to move New York City’s local elections to even-numbered years. This reform has long been championed by Citizens Union, which has provided the Commission with testimony, research, and comments addressing various aspects of election consolidation

Memo of support for S1356A (Skoufis)/A3649B (Taylor), requiring New York join multistate voter list maintenance organizations

May 9, 2025 - S1356A/A3649B would amend article five of the Election Law by adding a new title that details the authority, requirements, and process of joining multistate voter list maintenance organizations. Section 2 of the bill allows the State Board of Elections (SBOE) to join such organizations, including the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), and pay for their membership

Citizens Union Applauds Charter Revision Commission for Advancing Open Primaries and Even Year Elections 

April 30, 2025 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Board Chair John Avlon applauding the Charter Revision Commission for including two transformative reforms in their report issued today: moving New York City elections to even-numbered years and implementing a top-two open primary system. These long-standing priorities of Citizens Union represent important steps toward a more inclusive, participatory, and representative local democracy:

Citizens Union Calls on Charter Revision Commissions to Implement Bold Reforms to Strengthen Democracy and Government Accountability

February 24, 2025 - Citizens Union today released a new report urging both New York City Charter Revision Commissions to take decisive action to strengthen democracy and enhance government accountability. The report, published ahead of Citizens Union’s testimony before the Mayoral Commission this evening, calls for comprehensive reforms, including establishing a process to remove mayors for misconduct, implementing top-two open primary elections, moving city elections to even-numbered years, and expanding the powers and independence of the Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB).

Testimony for the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing

Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.

Memo of Support for S590 (Krueger)/A3665 (Simone), Charter Revision Process Reform

February 3, 2025 - An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to the city charter referendum process; and to repeal paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 5 of section 36 of the municipal home rule law, relating to limitations on the submitting of a question to the qualified electors of a city when there is a question submitted by a charter commission.

Voting Rights Groups Call for City Council to Reconsider Seddio BOE Nomination

December 9, 2024 - Several good government groups and political club sent a letter to the New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and top Council officials expressing concern over the possible appointment of Frank Seddio, former chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, for Commissioner of Elections. Seddio has been nominated by the Brooklyn Democratic Party for a term that begins on January 1, 2025. A date for the confirmation has not been set.

Citizens Union Responds to Independent Budget Office Findings on Fiscal Savings of Moving Local Elections to Even-Numbered Years in NYC

August 15, 2024 - the City of New York Independent Budget Office (IBO), released a letter outlining how moving local elections on-cycle with state and federal elections would result in approximately $42 million in savings every other year. Citizens Union welcomes the findings, which highlight yet another benefit of consolidating New York City’s municipal elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections.

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