FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
To read the letter, click here
New York, NY (February 7, 2025) Today, Citizens Union and Reinvent Albany sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in response to the efforts to change the special election calendar in New York.
In the letter, Citizens Union and Reinvent Albany called for:
- No to the control of party insiders over party nominees: End closed-door decisions in special elections where party leaders handpick nominees, and instead implement a primary election in advance of the special election or a nonpartisan special election, like done in New York City.
- Yes to election consolidation to increase voter turnout: Consolidate special elections with regular elections to boost voter turnout, but avoid leaving seats vacant for extended periods to ensure constituents have representation.
- No to expediting legislation to serve political objectives: Do not change special election rules mid-cycle, subjecting the election process to political manipulation.
About Citizens Union
For over 125 years, Citizens Union has been a force for reform, accountability, and ethics in New York City and State government. A nonpartisan organization, our current priorities include advocating for moving local elections to even-numbered years to boost voter turnout, strengthening ethics oversight and enforcement, and ensuring a judicious Charter Revision process. Learn more at www.citizensunion.org.
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