For Immediate Release
Contact: Jake Oliver, jake@anatgerstein.com, 347 361 9983
New York, N.Y. (June 7, 2022) – Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the State Senate passage of bill S9826 that would move local elections in New York State, excluding New York City to even-numbered years:
“We are profoundly disappointed by the Senate’s decision to pass legislation that excludes New York City residents from a groundbreaking effort to move local elections to even-numbered years.
New York City consistently has some of the lowest voter turnout rates in mayoral elections among the state’s major cities. Moving city elections to even-numbered years is the best way to address this issue, particularly among young voters and in communities of color. Polling shows this reform enjoys strong support from residents of the five boroughs—where it is most urgently needed. It is also the largest and most prominent local election in the nation. Moving it to even-numbered years would lead to significant cost savings. Excluding New York City from this constitutional amendment bill defies logic.
Lawmakers have claimed they want to improve voter participation in all local elections in the state, but excluding New York City from a second statewide election-timing reform contradicts this goal.
The Assembly should not pass this incomplete legislation (A10538 Jacobson). We remain committed to working with lawmakers to advance comprehensive reform that moves all local elections in the state to even-numbered years, including New York City, and we will continue to advocate for amending the state constitution to boost voter participation.”
###