Elections and Voting

January 5, 2018 - Citizens Union is pleased the needed special election to fill 11 seats in the State Legislature has been scheduled by Governor Cuomo.  We maintain that critical reforms need to be put into place, especially since special elections have the lowest voter turnout rates of any elections in New York. New Yorkers are both unable to participate in the process of nominating special election candidates and are not turning out to essentially ratify the choices of party leaders.

September 11, 2017 - Citizens Union today announced its endorsements for citywide and City Council contests for the 2017 New York City general election. 

May 17, 2017 - Five good government groups applauded the New York State Assembly’s passage of a package of nine bills aimed to make voting easier by removing barriers that actually make it difficult for voters to cast their ballots.

September 18, 2015 - Johnson empowers the Bronx democratic party to anoint next DA and ignore voters.

June 17, 2015 - Instant runoff system will increase participation and save NYC at least $13 million.

May 14, 2015 - As the City Council acknowledges the success of the first Student Voter Registration Day (SVRD) pilot program today, the SVRD Coalition calls on the New York City Department of Education to make the initiative a permanent citywide program in New York.

May 7, 2015 - Nearly a Quarter of State Legislative Seats Filled Via Special Election.

December 12, 2014 - Voting rights coalition applauds Mayor and City Council.

November 25, 2014 - Voting rights coalition applauds City Council, Mayor, and Agency Leadership in expansion of City’s pro-voter law

June 24, 2014 - Good government organization reveals 31 percent drop in voter turnout in 2012 compared to earlier years when primary elections were held simultaneously.

February 4, 2014 - Most New Yorkers will no longer have to squint or use a magnifying glass to read their election ballot when they vote. The City Board of Elections today voted to limit the number of required languages on voters’ ballots to three – down from as many as five in previous elections – paving the way for increasing the font size of candidates’ names and removing unnecessary clutter from the ballot.

September 11, 2013 - Citizens Union calls on the City Council to pass IRV legislation.

June 21, 2013 - New Election Night Closing Procedures Will Mean Faster and More Transparent Vote Counting.

May 22, 2013 - Good government groups issued this statement today voicing their strenuous opposition to S.4088-B (Golden/No Number Yet in the Assembly), a bill that would authorize the New York City Board of Elections (City Board) to use mechanical lever voting machines in and for any non-federal elections. The bill has passed the Senate and the Assembly is seriously considering a return to lever machines.

February 12, 2013 - Assembly Committee Vote on A689/S1461 Makes Passage of Early Voting a Priority this Legislative Session.

January 4, 2013 - Introduction of A689/S1461 Makes Early Voting Priority for 2013 Legislative Session.

November 19, 2012 - Council races are more contested, feature more candidates, with campaigns more evenly financed than state legislative races. Public matching programs play a large role; campaign finance reform needed for state elections.