Instant Runoff Voting Could Stop Expensive, Low-Turnout Runoff Elections
September 11, 2013 - Citizens Union calls on the City Council to pass IRV legislation.
One-stop Nonpartisan Guide To NYC 2013 Elections Now Available Online
August 13, 2013 - Citizens Union Foundation and Gotham Gazette announce GothamVotes2013.
Bipartisan Election Reform Enacted In Albany Yesterday
June 21, 2013 - New Election Night Closing Procedures Will Mean Faster and More Transparent Vote Counting.
Good Government & Civil Rights Groups In New York Oppose Lever Machines Returning New York State To The Past
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.
Citizens Union Calls For Systemic Change And Enactment Of Six Concrete Reforms To Stem The Crime Wave Of Public Corruption
April 3, 2013 - Responds To federal complaint against Senator Malcolm Smith and City Councilmember Dan Halloran with proposals for campaign finance reform, new power for State Attorney General and nonpartisan elections.
Citizens Union Pleased By City Board of Elections’ Increased Transparency in 2012 Annual Report
March 19, 2013 - Good Government Group's request for more substantive and meaningful annual report met. Includes in-depth operational data for each election held this past year. Citizens Union provides its own analysis of high and low points; report highlights needed legislative and administrative changes to improve administration of elections and voter engagement.
Good Government Groups Commend Speaker Silver for Moving Forward Early Voting Legislation
February 12, 2013 - Assembly Committee Vote on A689/S1461 Makes Passage of Early Voting a Priority this Legislative Session.
Good Government Groups Praise Legislative Leaders Silver and Stewart-Cousins for Advancing Early Voting
January 4, 2013 - Introduction of A689/S1461 Makes Early Voting Priority for 2013 Legislative Session.
Citizens Union Report Finds City Council Elections Are More Competitive Than State Races
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.
Citizens Union Calls on Board of Elections to Investigate Assemblymember Carmen Arroyo to Determine Whether Election Law Was Violated
November 14, 2012 - Photographs and affidavits submitted to state supreme court and appellate division raise questions about election-day conduct warranting an investigation.
Citizens Union Endorses Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. For Senate District 15
October 24, 2012 - As senator, Addabbo has a record of support for redistricting and election reform.
Civic Groups And City Councilmembers Urge Passage Of Election Reform Bills That Will Improve Election Administration And Encourage Voter Participation In New York City
October 15, 2012 - Effort Aims to Eliminate Persistent Challenges on Election Day.
Citizens Union Issues Endorsements For November 2012 General Elections In New York City
October 11, 2012 - Eric Adams, Tony Avella, Marty Golden, And Diane Savino for State Senate; Joe Borelli, Jeffrey Dinowitz, Ron Kim, Nicole Malliotakis, And Nily Rozic for State Assembly.
Citizens Union Announces Candidate Preferences In September Primary Elections
August 30, 2012 - Supports challengers to ethically challenged incumbents Shirley Huntley, Naomi Rivera, William Boyland, Jr., and Carmen Arroyo. Supports Barbara Jaffe for Manhattan surrogate. Issues preference for nine challengers, two incumbents; 19 Senate and 42 Assembly primaries in New York City are uncontested.
Citizens Union Calls on City Board of Elections to Modernize Reporting of Unofficial Results on Election Night
July 17, 2012 - Good Government Group provides legal justification for implementing changes administratively without amending state law.
Citizens Union: Today’s Special Election Results In Nearly One-third Of All Sitting State Legislators Having Been First Elected In A Special Election
March 20, 2012 - Undemocratic party nomination process undermines competition for vacant open seats and chooses insiders beholden to party interests, not voters. Reforms needed to open up the process of filling vacancies. Citizens Union urges the legislature to take up bills proposed by Assemblymembers Hakeem Jeffries and Linda Rosenthal.
Citizens Union Backs Lew Fidler In Senate District 27 Special Election
March 14, 2012 - Fidler's commitment to reform campaign finance and restore integrity to representation in the district key factors in endorsement. Experienced Lawmaker would bring needed Gravitas to Albany.
Citizens Union Commends City Board Of Elections For Putting Sample Ballots Online For Election Day
October 25, 2011 - Citizens Union Commends City Board Of Elections For Putting Sample Ballots Online For Election Day.
Statement On Governor Cuomo’s Decision To Call For Low Turnout Special Elections To Fill Six Vacancies In State Assembly
July 1, 2011 - As New York’s leading civic reform organizations, we are disappointed in Governor Cuomo’s decision not to hold regular primaries and general elections this fall for six vacant State Assembly seats and instead issue proclamations to hold special elections for these seats on September 13th. We strongly disagree with this decision, which we believe will result in lower voter turnout, increased confusion at the polls and potentially higher costs to localities.
Citizens Union Report Finds 27 New York Counties Posted Sample Ballots Online Prior To Election Day
November 4, 2010 - Numerous ballot-related complaints from NYC voters on election day reveal need for this common-sense reform. Citizens Union repeats call for City Board of Elections to post sample ballots online for future elections.
Civic Groups Release Top Five Tips for Voters on Election Day Offer Voters Handy
October 30, 2010 - Troubleshooting Guide to Take Into the Polls And Solve Common Problems That Arose During the Primary.
Citizens Union Endorses Harry Wilson For NYS Comptroller And Eric Schneiderman For NYS Attorney General
October 17, 2010 - Visionary and innovative approaches Make Wilson and Schneiderman best choices over capable opponents. Historic Good Government Group also endorses 13 reform-minded State Legislative Candidates in NYC Padavan, Gianaris, Addabbo and 2 challengers - Vincent Tabone and Donna Maria Caltabiano - among the 13.
Citizens Union Backs State Senator Eric Schneiderman In Democratic Primary For Attorney General
August 24, 2010 - Citizens Union today announced its support for Eric Schneiderman by "preferring" him over the four other strong and appealing candidates
Citizens Union Announces State Candidate Preferences In September Primary Elections In NYC
August 24, 2010 - In its 100th year of candidate evaluation, historic civic group supports the reelection of only six incumbent legislators. Good Government Group also supports the election of seven challengers to current incumbents, backs four candidates in open seats and passes on supporting the reelection of seven incumbent legislators.
Citizens Union Report on Special Elections In New York City Convincingly Shows Voter Turnout is Greater in Nonpartisan Elections than Partisan Elections
August 2, 2010 - Good Government Group's study reveals turnout is 57 percent higher for City Council nonpartisan special elections than partisan contests for state legislative seats. Report shatters opponents' argument that voter turnout is similar for non partisan and partisan elections. Citizens Union calls on city charter to embrace a top-two election system and begin the process of giving greater voter choice to New Yorkers.