Elections and Voting

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.

November 14, 2012 - Photographs and affidavits submitted to state supreme court and appellate division raise questions about election-day conduct warranting an investigation.

October 24, 2012 - As senator, Addabbo has a record of support for redistricting and election reform.

October 15, 2012 - Effort Aims to Eliminate Persistent Challenges on Election Day.

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.

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.

July 17, 2012 - Good Government Group provides legal justification for implementing changes administratively without amending state law.

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.

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.

October 25, 2011 - Citizens Union Commends City Board Of Elections For Putting Sample Ballots Online For Election Day.

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.

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.

October 30, 2010 - Troubleshooting Guide to Take Into the Polls And Solve Common Problems That Arose During the Primary.

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.

August 24, 2010 - Citizens Union today announced its support for Eric Schneiderman by "preferring" him over the four other strong and appealing candidates

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.