Citizens Union believes our democracy is strongest when more of us are participating. That’s why we’ve fought for – and won – reforms that expand and protect the right to vote in New York State.
Throughout the 20th century, Citizens Union has been at the forefront of crucial voting reforms. Early electoral reform efforts we advanced and won included signature identification of voters (1914), ending slate voting by allowing voters to support candidates from different political parties on one ballot (1915), and instituting permanent personal registration (1957), which overturned the requirement voters re-register before every election. Decades of advocacy to make the New York City Government more democratic also led to the first enactment of proportional representation in the City Council (1936) and the abolishment of the undemocratic Board of Estimates (1988).
Since 2019, New York has been slowly reforming its regressive voting laws that depressed voter participation. After decades of advocacy, New Yorkers can now use early voting days, pre-register to vote at 16, access absentee ballots more easily, and check in at poll sites on electronic poll books. Individuals on parole now have their right to vote restored once they are released from prison, and students in many colleges have access to poll sites on campus. Several crucial reforms are in different stages of implementation, including Online Voter Registration, Automatic Voter Registration, and even-numbered year county and town local elections.
In New York City, voters now use Ranked Choice Voting to choose their local elected officials, from the mayor to their Council Member. Citizens Union has long advocated for Ranked Choice Voting because it gives voters more choices and saves taxpayer money by avoiding costly runoff elections. It was successfully implemented for the first time in the 2021 municipal election cycle.
Recent Activity – Elections and Voting
Citizens Union and Reinvent Albany Call for a Real Reform in How Special Elections Are Run in New York
February 7, 2025 - 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.
Testimony for the 2025 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing
Feburary 4, 2025 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2026. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.
Memo of Support for S590 (Krueger)/A3665 (Simone), Charter Revision Process Reform
February 3, 2025 - An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to the city charter referendum process; and to repeal paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of subdivision 5 of section 36 of the municipal home rule law, relating to limitations on the submitting of a question to the qualified electors of a city when there is a question submitted by a charter commission.
Statement from Citizens Union in Response to Department of Investigation Report Revealing Harassment and Hostile Work Environment at the NYC Board of Elections
January 8, 2025 - Citizens Union issues the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the report released today by the Department of Investigations revealing that NYC Board of Elections Executive Director Mike Ryan harassed employees and created a hostile work environment
Voting Rights Groups Call for City Council to Reconsider Seddio BOE Nomination
December 9, 2024 - Several good government groups and political club sent a letter to the New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and top Council officials expressing concern over the possible appointment of Frank Seddio, former chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party, for Commissioner of Elections. Seddio has been nominated by the Brooklyn Democratic Party for a term that begins on January 1, 2025. A date for the confirmation has not been set.
CU Joins Coalition to Push for State Amendment to Boost NYC Voter Turnout
December 4th - In considering the resolution, the City Council can send a clear message to Albany lawmakers that New York City prioritizes an inclusive local democracy that encourages, rather than discourages, New Yorkers to vote.
Citizens Union Responds to Onondaga Supreme Court Ruling Striking Down Law Aligning Local Elections with Even-Numbered Years
October 9, 2024 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to a New York state Supreme Court judge’s ruling that the new state law that will move many local elections in line with state and federal elections in even-numbered years violates the state Constitution
Citizens Union Applauds Court of Appeals Ruling Upholding Early Mail Ballot Law
August 20, 2024 - Citizens Union has released the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum applauding the Court of Appeals ruling upholding the law allowing any registered voter to request an early mail ballot:
Citizens Union Responds to Independent Budget Office Findings on Fiscal Savings of Moving Local Elections to Even-Numbered Years in NYC
August 15, 2024 - the City of New York Independent Budget Office (IBO), released a letter outlining how moving local elections on-cycle with state and federal elections would result in approximately $42 million in savings every other year. Citizens Union welcomes the findings, which highlight yet another benefit of consolidating New York City’s municipal elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections.
Statement from Betsy Gotbaum, Executive Director of Citizens Union, in Response to the New York Times’ Decision to Discontinue Endorsements in Local NYC Races
August 13th, 2024 - Citizens Union has issued the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to The New York Times' Decision to Discontinue Endorsements in Local NYC Races
Citizens Union Responds to Senate Passage of Bill to Move Local Elections to Even-Number Years, Excluding New York City
June 7, 2024 - 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
Advocates respond to last-minute attempts to exclude New York City from even-year election reform
June 4, 2024 - The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Brooklyn Voters Alliance, Citizens Union, Common Cause/NY, Disabled In Action of Metropolitan NY, Dutchess County Progressive Action Alliance (DCPAA), New York Civic Engagement Table, Reinvent Albany, Stand Up America, Village Independent Democrats, and YVote issued the following joint statement in response to a bill introduced in the state legislature yesterday (S9826 Skoufis/A10538 Jacobson) that would move local elections throughout New York State, excluding New York City, to even-numbered years
Voting Rights, Disability Rights, Civic, and Community Groups Support Bill to Move City Election to Even-Years
May 21, 2024 – Citizens Union, the Let NY Vote coalition, and over two dozen advocacy groups signed on to a memo in support of S9126 (Skoufis)/A10466 (Walker), which would align city and other elections with presidential or gubernatorial elections. This change would strengthen our democracy by significantly increasing the number of people who vote for local offices and reducing racial and age-based gaps in voter participation.
Citizens Union and the Let NY Coalition calls Governor Hochul and Assembly Speaker Heastie to include election reform priorities in the 2024 state budget
March 22, 2024 – Citizens joins the Let NY Vote coalition in a letter urging the Assembly and the Governor to join the Senate in ensuring legislation to establish he elections database and join ERIC remain in the final budget.
Memo of Support, S6173B (Skoufis)/A7052 (Sillitti), requiring New York join multistate voter list maintenance organizations
February 7, 2024 – Memo supporting legislation requiring New York to join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) or another multistate voter list maintenance organization
Testimony for the 2024 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing
February 6, 2024 - Citizens Union appreciates the opportunity to submit testimony regarding Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposed Executive Budget for State Fiscal Year 2025. We will focus on the proposed funding for the Public Campaign Finance Board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying, and the State Board of Elections.
Citizens Union Supports Disqualifying Candidates Who Engaged in Insurrection from the Ballot in New York State
January 25, 2024 - Citizens Union released a statement urging the State Legislature to create a viable mechanism for disqualifying candidates under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. This issue has been raised in a number of states, including Colorado and Maine, that have disqualified former President Donald Trump from appearing on their state’s ballots. The New York State Board of Elections is meeting on February 6th to finalize the state’s ballot for the upcoming presidential primary election.
Citizens Union Applauds Governor Hochul For Signing Legislation To Move Local Elections To Even-Numbered Years
December 22, 2023 - Citizens Union's statement following the Governor signing into law bill S3505B (Skoufis)/A4282A (Paulin). This marks a momentous achievement in the ongoing effort to bolster civic participation in New York. Aligning local elections with high-profile races will lead to increased voter turnout, particularly among young people and people of color.
Let NY Vote Members Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Bill Moving Local Elections to Even Years
November 20, 2023 – Dozens of member organizations and partners of the Let NY Vote coalition sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, urging her to sign S3505B/A4282B into law. This bill will move some local elections to even years, giving underrepresented New Yorkers a more meaningful voice in their elections and government. The bill passed the State Senate and State Assembly in June 2023, and it is the only election reform passed by the legislature that has yet to be signed by the Governor.